EXISTING FACILITIES
The Imperative language states that facilities should be “responsibly located” with respect to ecological habitats. This does not apply to existing facilities and only applies to newly constructed facilities, where distances from sensitive ecosystems can be feasibly planned and therefore must be followed. Additionally, no part of the factory or facility property boundary should be built on greenfield, or land that was deliberately converted from a greenfield for the purposes of establishing this facility on or after 2015. Existing facilities do not need to meet the minimum distance or greenfield requirements of the Imperative.
IUCN LIST OF SPECIES CLARIFICATIONS
Using the IUCN Red List tool, manufacturers should use the default precision of the map’s point search, which creates a 25km radius around the marker, roughly a minimum search area of 2000 sq. km (these are default search parameters at the time of this writing).
- Using the map, use the zoom function to place a marker on the map plot of the facility, which automatically utilizes the default radius stated above.
- In the “Red List Category” filter, choose “CR – Critically Endangered” and “EN – Endangered” categories. Document species in Animalia and Plantae Kingdoms.
- From the List tab, manufacturers may copy this information into a document or take screenshots for documentation submission for this Imperative.
Manufacturers are not required to use the paid export function for the results of the search from the IUCN Red List tool, but may be interested in an official report for manufacturer initiatives not relating to the Living Product Challenge.
LANDSCAPE PLAN CLARIFICATIONS
To begin developing I01-3 Landscape Plan, manufacturers must complete Step One (identify the Reference Habitat) of the facility location and Step Two (assess baseline ecological condition) using the LBC Ecology of Place Clarifications. The manufacturer must self-identify the appropriate Transect of the facility site and must develop a Landscape Plan for the facility such that the minimum level of ecological function by Transect is achieved.
Manufacturers will find it useful to collect information from site plans and other design documentation for the facility, as well as consulting site maintenance staff, local or regional ecological and environmental organizations, and other appropriate stakeholders with knowledge of the land and site.
Figure 1-1 Minimum Level of Ecosystem Function Improvement by Transect.
Manufacturers can, but are not required to, follow Step Three of the LBC Ecology of Place Clarifications and model the Landscape Plan after the LBC Adaptive Plans to provide the “description of how the site will be transformed over the 3-Year certification period.” If doing so, Manufacturers should use the three-year timeline as stated in the LPC Imperative language, rather than the 12-month timeline used for LBC projects. Manufacturers may also model and develop their own Landscape Plans that otherwise meet the intent of the Imperative.
The focus of the Landscape Plan is the ecosystem function of the facility site and its immediate surroundings, and how a Manufacturer’s actions can protect and improve that function. While a Manufacturer may not have direct control over the immediate surroundings, it is asked to consider the relationship between the facility and its context, and specifically how actions around the facility can both avoid detrimental impacts on, and improve the condition of, the broader ecological setting.
Manufacturers are encouraged to target the highest level of performance feasible, given the facility’s landscaping capacity, Transect, and the specific natural and human history of the site and immediate surroundings.
NON-OWNERSHIP OF FACILITY
If the manufacturer does not own the final manufacturing facility and can demonstrate that it does not have control over the landscaping of the site, it is not required to fulfill the I01-3 Landscape Plan requirements.
PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES
To demonstrate no harm to endangered species means to demonstrate the presence or absence of endangered or critically endangered species using the IUCN tool (plants + animals). See documentation requirements.
