Business Case for Due Diligence

Within the UK, there is support from across civil society and increasingly from the business community itself for the introduction of a mandatory due diligence obligation on business and investors. Government have undertaken a high-level impact assessment covering the likely costs to business and government.

In recognition that this initial assessment was based on a number of assumptions they have kicked off a full impact assessment. They are interested in receiving evidence from external organisations to inform this process.

WWF would therefore like to provide evidence of the financial value at risk for UK headquartered companies resulting from environmental degradation and of the financial benefits to business of proactive action to address environmental risks, supported by real world case studies. WWF would therefore like this study to set out the business case for a Due Diligence Obligation providing data on: • The risks of the depletion of nature to business, drawing out financial value at risk/impact. • The benefits of a forward-looking risk based due diligence obligation to business (for example supply chain resilience, avoiding stranded assets, social license to operate, recruitment and retention of talent, reduced staff turnover etc, levelling the playing field in corporate environmental responsibility) • Case studies of action being taken by business on a voluntary basis, providing evidence off the financial and wider benefits. The study should focus on UK headquartered companies.