Our approach to biodiversity and nature-related impacts and risks

Our business is dependent on natural resources and healthy ecosystems, which are essential for people, the planet and business long-term resilience. Land, water and mitigating environmental impacts from pollution are key focus areas of our biodiversity work.

Neste aims to drive a positive impact on biodiversity in its operations and in its value chain. We are taking a proactive, comprehensive and a phased approach to biodiversity: Net Positive Impacts (NPI) from new activities We aim to generate a net positive impact on biodiversity for all new direct operations, with implementation of the NPI approach from 2025 onwards. No Net Loss (NNL) from all ongoing activities We aim at no net loss of biodiversity from our existing operations and plan to implement an approach to ensure this by 2035. Nature Positive Impact throughout our value chain by 2040 We continue to seek effective collaboration across t our value chain to avoid impacts on biodiversity and create a positive impact on nature.

To achieve these goals, we apply the mitigation hierarchy to manage our biodiversity impacts in a structured, stepwise manner. Our efforts are concentrated on managing risks to biodiversity in key focus areas where our operation and sourcing activities can have the most significant impacts: land, water and pollution.

Understanding nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities is an ongoing focus. These assessments inform our priority actions to address significant impacts and risks that are material to our business. We continuously strengthen our sustainability practices and environmental due diligence to manage nature-related issues effectively.

Systematic monitoring of the environment

Our refineries are located next to waterways. Porvoo refinery is located close to natural habitats. Therefore our environmental monitoring is particularly systematic at the Porvoo refinery.

Environmental monitoring is included in the requirements of our refineries' environmental permits. Ambient air quality is monitored in the vicinity of the Porvoo refinery by automatic monitoring stations. Groundwater monitoring takes place also at selected terminals and retail sites.

Associated with normal operations, our refineries make environmental impact assessments from time to time. At the Porvoo site, this is done also by monitoring the state of bioindicators, such as lichens and mosses.

Preserved and protected areas near our refineries

Nature conservation areas or protected sites are located close to our refinery in Porvoo, Finland. The Stormossen bog, a 75-hectare domed bog, to the west of the Porvoo refinery is protected and is part of the European Natura 2000 network of nature conservation sites.

At the Naantali site, we have some areas that we have protected in the past. The area is forest, voluntarily protected under national legislation. The protected area is three hectares of the total 300 hectares. Other operational sites we own are located in large industrial areas, with a lower likelihood of impacting areas of high biodiversity value.

Our refineries in Rotterdam and Singapore are located on industrial areas built on reclaimed ground.

Environmental management and compliance

Efficient use of water

Deforestation risk in our supply chain

Neste’s commitment to managing deforestation risk is built on a foundation of regulatory compliance, such as the land-use criteria of the EU RED and US EPA RFS. For high-risk raw materials, we supplement these requirements with voluntary initiatives. This effort is regularly evaluated by a non-profit CDP, among others. Read more: Traceability information on Neste’s PFAD supply chain Supplier engagement Traceability and PFAD dashboard

Nature positive – what does it mean?

There’s a new kid on the sustainability buzzword block: nature positive. But what does it mean, and why are sustainability-minded businesses and global decision-makers talking about it?

Sustainability

5 tips on how your business can boost biodiversity

The United Nations warns that “escalating trends of forest loss, land degradation and the extinction of species pose a severe threat to both the planet and people”. What can individual businesses do to boost biodiversity?