Business Sectors

Programme focus areas

WWF-SA’s Sustainable Business focus is on food, finance and energy, recognising that these are some of our most fundamental needs. In these sectors our aim is to tip the markets so that goods and services are made and consumed more sustainably. As the interface between producers and consumers, companies provide one of the best levers for change in policy, practices and consumer behaviour.

There are complex and challenging issues at stake, and we recognise that by partnering with business in areas of common cause we can start to drive fundamental systems change that supports the transition to a green economy.

Food

We are dependent on a food system that is affected by, but also contributes to, resource depletion and climate change. WWF’s market transformation work aims to promote the protection of natural ecosystems, which produce the critical goods and services that underpin food security in the country. From a consumer point of view, this has resulted in the choice editing by business of unsustainable products. From a business point of view, this has resulted in reduced supply risk and recognition of sustainability as a pre-competitive issue.

Private sector finance

Our work with companies in private sector finance is focussed on helping the sector address non-financial risks, thereby improving overall risk management and business resilience. The aim is to influence financial flows to support a green economy, by taking externalities into account and addressing the implementation of standards such as the Equator Principles and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Climate change

Our business and climate change programme supports the business case for the transition to a low carbon economy, by recognising sector leaders in emissions reduction and those companies that enable and find solutions to climate change.