Changing the Nature of Business

Why work with the private sector?

Many companies rely on natural resources and their activities can have a significant impact on the environment. But, they also have a crucial role to play in supporting conservation efforts and being part of the solution.
Changes in corporate practice are essential if there is to be real progress in tackling conservation challenges like climate change, clean energy solutions and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.

In today’s increasingly competitive world, consumers, employees, shareholders and stakeholders are demanding that companies demonstrate sound environmental practices and corporate responsibility.

By engaging in innovative and challenging partnerships with the private sector, WWF works with companies to:

• help them change the way they do business
• reduce their environmental footprint
• and encourage change and innovative solutions




How do we work with businesses?

We work with businesses by:


Our core principles

WWF's approach to working with the private sector is constructive and solutions-oriented. It is both collaborative in its methods and challenging in its objectives.

Our basic guiding principles for corporate engagement are:

  • transparency
  • measurable results
  • the right to disagree
Papua New Guinean worker harvests a ripe palm fruit to ready for the mill. This facility is owned ... / ©: Jurgen Freund / WWF-Canon
By applying stringent production criteria to all stages of palm oil manufacture, oil palm plantations need not flourish at the expense of rainforests.
© Jurgen Freund / WWF-Canon

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/ ©: WWF Int
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© WWF Int
Why? The private sector has a key role and is uniquely positioned to develop global solutions through new business models and innovation.

What? Many business leaders recognize the need to respond to the sustainability challenge but do not know how to turn it to their advantage and use it to drive value creation.

How? The solution: Join One Planet Leaders − a programme designed to support leaders in integrating sustainability into all aspects of business, leading to a more equitable society within the limits of our one planet.

Interested in?

Contact us

  • Maria Boulos

    Director Corporate Relations WWF International, Gland
    T: +41 22 364 9516

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Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.