WWF partners for the environment – ambitious and sustainable

WWF’s corporate are based on constructive dialogue and mutual challenges. WWF complies with strict guidelines to maintain its independence. This includes prudent due diligence and the right to publicly and critically comment on a partner in every partnership.

• Due diligence: WWF carries out an assessment with each partner company to explore negative effects, but also the potential for the company to have a positive impact on the environment. WWF fundamentally excludes certain companies from a partnership. This includes companies from the coal and arms industry and those whose core business is the production of nuclear power.
• Commitment: WWF agrees on goals that are to be reached with its partners and which are reported on regularly.
• Transparency: WWF publishes the agreed company goals and the requirements placed on companies for all its partnerships. WWF issues an annual report on the status of goal achievement and discloses the financial contribution of the partner.

Companies that commit to achieving the ambitious goals towards WWF can publicise their collaboration. If the company benefits from the reputation of the WWF brand, WWF will receive a share of the additional turnover. The income is used for projects protecting the nature and environment. In the 2018/19 fiscal year, WWF Switzerland earned CHF 5.5 million through corporate partnerships, which corresponds to around 12 percent of its total income.

Partnerships have a positive impact on the environment: reduced CO2 emissions, more sustainable procurement, more ecological products, raising customer and employee awareness, commitment to environmental issues towards industry associations, and more efficient use of energy are just some of the goals we have achieved.

Sustainable business practice: Environmental protection through tangible goals and measures. WWF advises and supports companies in making value chains more sustainable and reducing the main drivers behind global warming and the loss of biodiversity. These bilateral partnerships can have an impact on the environment that is otherwise impossible. The partnerships prove that industries and markets can be changed and that sustainable management is possible.

Purpose-driven marketing: Raising consumers' awareness of important environmental issues, helping to change consumer behaviour. This is achieved through joint communication (including marketing campaigns and licencing agreements), as well as through measures which promote the purchasing of products from sustainable sources, such as FSC-certified wood and paper. The partners support WWF in its campaigns to conserve endangered habitats, such as the rainforests, or to protect endangered species, such as tigers.

Sponsorship and donation campaigns: Financing and realising projects to protect the environment. The partner companies provide the financial and material resources for a project. There are two prerequisites for fundraising campaigns: either the company has already started to make its business practices more sustainable, or its business only has a minor impact on the environment.