Surreal illustration of industry and nature in South Africa

Beyond Greenwashing: Why Corporate Biodiversity Reporting is Crucial for the Future

Mira Elwood in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the truth behind South African companies' approach to biodiversity reporting and what it means for sustainability."

In an era defined by urgent environmental challenges, the concept of biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth—has moved from a scientific abstraction to a critical business concern. Across the globe, species are vanishing at an alarming rate, largely due to climate change and human activities. This crisis has profound implications for economies and societies, particularly in biodiversity-rich countries like South Africa.

South Africa, a global biodiversity hotspot, relies heavily on its natural resources for economic growth. From agriculture and mining to tourism, the country's prosperity is intertwined with the health of its ecosystems. Yet, these vital sectors also pose significant threats to biodiversity, highlighting the urgent need for responsible environmental stewardship. As stakeholders demand greater transparency and accountability, the practice of biodiversity reporting has emerged as a crucial tool for companies to communicate their environmental impact and sustainability efforts.

However, are these reports simply window dressing, or do they represent a genuine commitment to biodiversity conservation? A recent study by Mansoor and Maroun (2016) critically examines the extent of biodiversity reporting among South African companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), focusing on the mining and food sectors. Their findings reveal a concerning lack of detailed reporting, raising questions about the sincerity of corporate efforts to address biodiversity loss.

The State of Biodiversity Reporting in South Africa: A Critical Look

Surreal illustration of industry and nature in South Africa

The Mansoor and Maroun (2016) study assessed the integrated and sustainability reports of major mining and food companies listed on the JSE between 2011 and 2013. Using established biodiversity reporting frameworks, the researchers analyzed the frequency and depth of disclosures related to biodiversity issues.

The results painted a concerning picture. Despite South Africa's well-established corporate governance codes and its advocacy for integrated reporting, the study found limited examples of detailed biodiversity reporting. This was particularly striking given the country's rich biodiversity and the significant environmental impact of the mining and food sectors.

Limited Detailed Reporting: Few companies provided comprehensive information on their biodiversity impacts.
Focus on Compliance: Where biodiversity-related initiatives were mentioned, they often appeared to be driven by compliance with legislation rather than a genuine commitment to conservation.
Generic Disclosures: Many reports lacked specific, measurable data on biodiversity performance.
Lack of Clear Definitions: Few companies clearly defined what 'biodiversity' meant in the context of their operations.
Emphasis on Risk: The most frequent disclosures related to biodiversity risks, but these were often high-level and lacked detail on specific management strategies.

The mining sector, while acknowledging biodiversity risks, tended to concentrate its reporting in sustainability reports, potentially downplaying the issue in its primary communications. Food producers, on the other hand, included more biodiversity-related information in their integrated reports but often focused on generic statements and positive case studies rather than comprehensive assessments of their environmental impact.

Moving Forward: Enhancing Corporate Accountability for Biodiversity

The Mansoor and Maroun (2016) study serves as a wake-up call for corporate South Africa. To ensure genuine progress in biodiversity conservation, companies must move beyond superficial reporting and embrace a more comprehensive and transparent approach. This includes:

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4102/sajems.v19i4.1477, Alternate LINK

Title: An Initial Review Of Biodiversity Reporting By South African Corporates: The Case Of The Food And Mining Sectors

Subject: General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Journal: South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences

Publisher: AOSIS

Authors: Hafsa Mansoor, Warren Maroun

Published: 2016-11-25

Everything You Need To Know

What is biodiversity reporting and why is it important for South African companies?

Biodiversity reporting is the practice where companies disclose their environmental impact and sustainability efforts, specifically concerning the variety of life on Earth. For South African companies, particularly those in the mining and food sectors, this is crucial because South Africa is a global biodiversity hotspot. Their economic growth is closely linked to the health of its ecosystems. As stakeholders demand more transparency, biodiversity reporting becomes a key tool for demonstrating a commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and mitigating the risks associated with biodiversity loss.

What were the key findings of the Mansoor and Maroun (2016) study regarding biodiversity reporting on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)?

The Mansoor and Maroun (2016) study examined the integrated and sustainability reports of major mining and food companies listed on the JSE between 2011 and 2013. The key findings revealed a lack of detailed biodiversity reporting. Many reports lacked specific, measurable data on biodiversity performance. Biodiversity initiatives often appeared driven by compliance rather than genuine conservation. Few companies clearly defined 'biodiversity' in the context of their operations, and the emphasis was often on high-level risk disclosures rather than specific management strategies. The mining sector tended to concentrate its reporting in sustainability reports, while food producers included more biodiversity-related information in their integrated reports, often using generic statements.

How does the mining sector's approach to biodiversity reporting differ from that of food producers, according to the Mansoor and Maroun (2016) study?

According to Mansoor and Maroun (2016), the mining sector often addressed biodiversity risks in sustainability reports, potentially downplaying the issue in primary communications. In contrast, food producers tended to include more biodiversity-related information in their integrated reports. However, the food sector's reporting often focused on generic statements and positive case studies rather than providing comprehensive assessments of environmental impact. Both sectors demonstrated a need for improvement in the depth and detail of their biodiversity disclosures.

What are the implications of limited biodiversity reporting for companies in South Africa?

Limited biodiversity reporting can have serious implications for South African companies. It raises questions about the sincerity of their commitment to biodiversity conservation. Without detailed and transparent reporting, companies risk damaging their reputations and losing the trust of stakeholders who demand greater accountability. Additionally, insufficient reporting can mask the environmental impact of their operations, potentially leading to increased environmental damage, regulatory scrutiny, and economic losses due to the degradation of natural resources that underpin the country's economic growth.

What steps can South African companies take to improve their biodiversity reporting and move beyond superficial practices?

To enhance biodiversity reporting, companies must move beyond superficial practices and embrace a more comprehensive and transparent approach. This includes providing detailed information on their biodiversity impacts, setting clear and measurable targets for biodiversity conservation, and implementing robust management strategies. Companies should also clearly define what 'biodiversity' means in the context of their operations, and actively engage with stakeholders to address concerns and ensure accountability. Furthermore, they should integrate biodiversity considerations into their core business strategies rather than treating them as separate issues, and consider the biodiversity reporting frameworks.