Biodiversity Is Everyone’s Business: Insights from Sustain SC’s May 22 Workshop
On May 22—World Biodiversity Day—Sustain SC brought together a cross-section of business leaders, HR professionals, operations managers, public health experts and sustainability advocates at Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center for a half-day workshop focused on biodiversity.
“The Economics of Biodiversity and Healthy Workplaces” workshop explored how biodiversity is not only vital to the health of our natural world, but also to the resilience of our economy, the well-being of our workforce and the future of sustainable business in South Carolina.
Here are five key insights from the event:
Biodiversity is not just a conservation issue—it’s a business imperative. From supply chain risk to regulatory pressure, companies who prioritize biodiversity are better positioned for long-term success.
Biodiversity directly impacts human health, building performance and workplace productivity. Nature-based solutions and healthier environments can reduce absenteeism, boost well-being and enhance employee retention.
Small, meaningful actions can have lasting impacts. Whether it’s installing pollinator gardens, adding outside work areas or incorporating natural materials into buildings, incremental changes matter.
Local businesses have the power to lead. While climate change is a global challenge, protecting biodiversity is something South Carolina companies can act on today.
Cross-sector collaboration is essential. Addressing biodiversity requires participation from HR, operations, public health, facilities and sustainability teams alike—this is not a siloed effort.
Connecting Commerce and Conservation
Sustain SC CEO Leslie Skardon opened the day with a clear message: biodiversity is not just a conservation issue; it’s a business imperative. From new reporting requirements to supply chain resilience, water management to workforce wellness, biodiversity impacts every corner of a company’s operations.
Through a mix of expert insights and real-world case studies, the workshop showed how South Carolina businesses can better understand and act on the connections between nature, economic growth and employee health.
Dr. Andrew Predmore, Executive Director, The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University, delivered the keynote, reframing biodiversity as an economic asset worth twice the global GDP. His call to action was urgent but empowering: the choices we make locally, as businesses and individuals, can have real and lasting impact.
From Theory to Practice: The Business Case for Biodiversity
In a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Sustain SC’s Kristen Austin Gunter, experts outlined how biodiversity ties directly to employee health, building performance and economic productivity.
Ashley McLeod of Heritage Landcare shared how companies are embracing small, meaningful actions to support biodiversity on-site. From pollinator gardens to habitat restoration, these actions will have a ripple effect on the environment and people.
Dr. Susan Johnson of Nature at Work connected biodiversity to employee wellbeing, citing strategies like urban farms and greenspaces that reduce burnout and improve performance.
Amanda Brookes of Catalyst Partners emphasized how sustainable building design, like natural lighting and the use of organic materials, can enhance health and reduce absenteeism.
Each panelist emphasized a central truth: healthy people and healthy environments go hand-in-hand. And when companies invest in biodiversity, they aren’t just supporting the environment—they’re strengthening their workforce and bottom line.
Local Action in Practice: A Case Study from Beaufort County
The workshop also highlighted local action already underway. Taylor Brewer of Beaufort County Public Works brought both insight and heart to the conversation through her case study showing how Beaufort County is bringing practical, community-centered biodiversity strategies into everyday operations.
She shared how simple efforts like eliminating single-use plastics, promoting outdoor breaks and adding plants throughout county buildings have already begun to take root in the workplace culture and, in turn, are acting as catalysts for broader, longer-term sustainability practices.
Her message was clear: start where you are, use what you have and bring others along. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress that people can see and feel.
Participants then joined breakout discussions to reflect on what they had learned and heard throughout the workshop and what biodiversity means for their organizations. Questions explored current efforts, supply chain impacts, reporting practices and what’s holding businesses back from doing more. Common barriers included time, cost and lack of internal alignment, but the energy in the room made it clear: there’s a strong desire to move forward.
What's Next?
To close the session, Trip Chavis of Milliken Advisors offered a call to action challenging every participant to take one step back to their workplace.
Trip also invited attendees to complete this survey which is part of a Biodiversity Credits Project developed in partnership with the Longleaf Alliance along with other key stakeholders, aimed at developing standards for biodiversity credits for the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. The survey is a key part of this project as they gather data to understand the demand and criteria for these credits.
From local governments to global reporting standards, biodiversity is increasingly in the spotlight. And as we heard throughout the day, biodiversity isn’t just a corporate priority; it’s a cultural one. We can’t solve everything at once, but we can take action. Starting with our buildings, our campuses, our landscapes and our supply chains.
Together, we can build a South Carolina where commerce and conservation not only coexist but thrive.
This event was funded by the Central Midlands Council of Governments via an assistance agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
