Today, protecting our planet’s biodiversity isn’t only the responsibility of global giants—it’s a call to action for businesses of all sizes. In an era of biodiversity loss and climate urgency, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a unique opportunity to play a powerful role in changing the way supply chains work, protecting forests, and scaling sustainable solutions. Through Canopy’s initiatives like CanopyStyle and Pack4Good, SMEs can join a network of forward-thinking brands committed to mapping their supply chains, mitigating their sourcing risk, reducing their environmental footprint, and helping scale Next Gen alternatives to traditionally forest-sourced materials.
I outline some key steps for SMEs to act on their biodiversity goals, from understanding their impact, to integrating into a collaborative effort of suppliers, innovators, and conservation advocates to drive change through supply chains and secure conservation where it counts.
1. Recognising the Power of Forest Protection for Biodiversity
Forests are foundational to biodiversity, climate resilience, and human well-being. They provide habitats for the vast majority of terrestrial species, support climate stability, and regulate water cycles that underpin global ecosystems. Yet, every year, millions of hectares of these crucial habitats are logged for commodities like paper, packaging, and textiles. The need for transformative action to keep these forests standing has never been more urgent, and SMEs can be a powerful force in this movement.
While large corporations often draw attention, SMEs contribute significant volumes to global supply chains and are uniquely positioned to innovate, inspire, and adopt scalable changes. Canopy’s mission is to empower businesses, whether large or small, with the tools, networks, and strategies needed to eliminate high-carbon forest fibre from their supply chains and to help scale innovative, low-carbon Next Gen solutions, derived from materials normally wasted — recycled textiles, or burned agricultural residues.
2. Partner with CanopyStyle and Pack4Good to Map Your Supply Chain
For SMEs, identifying the origins and impacts of materials can be a complex task. But with CanopyStyle and Pack4Good, Canopy provides businesses with the resources and support they need to map their supply chains and transition to alternatives that are free of vital forests. Here’s how these initiatives can support your SME:
- CanopyStyle focuses on transforming Man Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF) fabrics like viscose and rayon, which traditionally depend on forest inputs. The initiative is over 550 brands strong and growing. Through this initiative, Canopy has shifted over half of global viscose production out of the world’s climate-critical forests, helping brands and producers implement Ancient and Endangered Forest-free practices and adopt low-impact Next Gen alternatives.
- Pack4Good is honed on the paper and packaging sector, offering companies practical steps to shift to low-impact packaging solutions that lower their sourcing risk and help keep forests intact. With guidance on right sizing and responsible sourcing, Pack4Good is a game-changer for SMEs looking to reduce their packaging footprint and advance Scope 3 commitments.
These programmes are designed to demystify the journey toward sustainable practices for SMEs, offering tangible support to map the origins of materials, connect with responsible suppliers, and gain access to cutting-edge Next Gen solutions. Through CanopyStyle and Pack4Good, SMEs can join a collaborative movement to transform today’s supply chains to those that are resilient for the future and don’t compromise biodiversity.
