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Annual Risk Assessment

Biodiversity and Land Use Policy

PLNTmatter Biodiversity and Land Use Policy

 

 

📅 Version: Draft 1.0

Effective Date: January 1st, 2025
Policy Owner: SVP Product and Strategic Growth
Review Frequency: Annual or upon feedstock expansion

 

 

1. Purpose

This policy outlines PLNTmatter’s commitment to protecting and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring responsible land use, and promoting regenerative practices throughout our sourcing and production systems. It supports our transition from monoculture-based bamboo sourcing to a global network of diverse, regenerative feedstocks that prioritize ecosystem health and community benefit.

 

 

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All current and future feedstock sourcing operations

  • All partner farms, processors, and land management collaborations

  • All product development that impacts land use directly or indirectly

 

 

3. Industry Alignment

PLNTmatter aligns its biodiversity and land stewardship efforts with:

  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) principles

  • High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approaches

  • Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN)

  • Textile Exchange Biodiversity Benchmark

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) where applicable

  • FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT)

 

 

4. Current Practices: Bamboo Sourcing

  • All bamboo used in PLNTmatter products is sourced from verified and certified farms that do not contribute to deforestation or habitat destruction.

  • Bamboo is grown in designated plantations that avoid high conservation value areas.

  • Our bamboo sourcing is fully traceable and certified non-invasive under local ecological assessments.

 

 

5. Future Strategy: Regenerative Feedstock Expansion

As PLNTmatter expands into diverse feedstocks, we will:

  • Source from regenerative crops such as agave, bamboo, wheat straw, and other regionally adaptive monocots

  • Prioritize agricultural waste streams (e.g., crop residues, byproducts) that reduce land pressure and open new economic value for farmers

  • Ensure all sourcing regions are mapped for ecosystem risk, including biodiversity sensitivity and water stress

  • Partner with farms that integrate biodiversity-enhancing practices, such as intercropping, agroforestry, and cover cropping

  • Implement soil health practices aimed at increasing soil organic carbon in new bamboo operations and other crop systems

 

 

6. Land Use Commitments

PLNTmatter commits to:

  • No conversion of natural ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, or grasslands

  • Respect for customary land tenure and Indigenous rights, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)

  • Implementing land use monitoring systems (e.g., satellite data, field verification)

  • Avoiding sourcing from land at risk of high deforestation or degradation

  • Encouraging renewable energy use in cultivation and land management, based on regional availability and feasibility

 

 

7. Environmental and Chemical Restrictions

  • Highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs), synthetic fertilizers, and soil-damaging chemicals are prohibited across all Tier 4 operations

  • Compliance with EU REACH, ZDHC MRSL, and national regulatory frameworks is required

  • Farmers must follow nutrient management plans to avoid runoff and soil degradation

  • Organic and biologically based treatments are prioritized wherever possible

 

 

8. Climate-Aligned Innovation

  • Climate mitigation strategies are embedded into early-stage innovation and product development

  • Feedstock sourcing, land-use models, and production processes are evaluated for their climate impact prior to commercial scale-up

  • Our Innovation Roadmap incorporates GHG benchmarking and reduction targets into material design

 

 

9. Climate Resiliency Onboarding Criteria

As part of our feedstock partner onboarding process, PLNTmatter requires:

  • Assessment of the feedstock’s resilience to climate stressors (e.g., drought, flooding, temperature variability)

  • Documentation of farming or land management practices that enhance local ecological adaptation and community resilience

  • Priority for partnerships in regions with low water stress and high regenerative potential

  • Integration of climate risk mapping into sourcing decisions to future-proof operations and reduce supply chain volatility

 

 

10. Monitoring & Reporting

  • Biodiversity risks and benefits are assessed annually through our risk assessment framework

  • Landscape impacts from sourcing are evaluated using LCA data, GIS tools, and field-based assessments

  • Partnerships with local NGOs, farmers, and scientific advisors support site-level monitoring

Key performance indicators (KPIs) include:

  • % of feedstock from regenerative systems

  • Biodiversity and soil health improvement metrics

  • Land use risk mapping coverage

 

 

Statement of Commitment

PLNTmatter is committed to contributing positively to the ecosystems from which we source. By embedding biodiversity and land stewardship into our fiber innovation model, we aim to regenerate landscapes, support resilient communities, and create next-generation materials that give more than they take. We further commit to implementing climate-smart practices, eliminating harmful inputs, protecting soil and water health, and scaling only solutions that align with nature-positive outcomes.