What Part Can BNG Units Play in Companies’ ESG Targets?
As Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting becomes an essential measure of corporate responsibility, more companies are looking for tangible ways to back up their sustainability claims. Biodiversity, once an overlooked area of ESG, is now rapidly gaining attention, and BNG units are emerging as a credible, measurable tool for demonstrating environmental impact.
So, what exactly are BNG units, and how can they support your organisation’s ESG performance?
What Are BNG Units?
BNG stands for Biodiversity Net Gain: a legal requirement in England that mandates most developments to deliver a 10% gain in biodiversity, compared with pre-development conditions. To support this, organisations can purchase biodiversity units generated by habitat banks.
Each unit represents a measurable gain in habitat quality, registered and verified using Natural England’s Biodiversity Metric. These units can be used to offset a project’s ecological impact or contribute to wider ESG initiatives.
Learn more in our simple guide to biodiversity units.
Why BNG Units Make Sense for ESG Strategy
Measurable Environmental Impact
One of the core principles of ESG is that actions must be measurable. Biodiversity units offer a structured, metric-based system that allows companies to quantify their positive contribution to nature.
Unlike one-off donations or soft environmental pledges, purchasing BNG units from BioGains means investing in a real, legally secured improvement in UK habitats, backed by 30 years of monitoring and reporting.
Alignment with UK Regulation
Using BNG units as part of an ESG strategy ensures that companies are not only compliant with planning policies but going further to support national biodiversity targets. All units offered by BioGains are registered with Natural England’s Biodiversity Gain Site Register, ensuring full transparency.
Stakeholder and Investor Confidence
Investors and stakeholders increasingly expect businesses to show how they are protecting nature. A credible, verifiable investment in biodiversity via BNG units shows leadership and accountability. It also helps build trust with local authorities, communities, and regulators.
Communications and Reputation
BioGains supports corporate clients not only with unit delivery, but with materials that help tell the story. This includes summary documents, impact statements, and optional media assets. These can support sustainability reports, press releases, internal ESG reports, and investor communications.
How to Integrate BNG Units into Your ESG Plan
- Identify your goals – Whether it’s offsetting a development, enhancing your CSR programme, or supporting nature-positive investment, be clear about your objective.
- Contact BioGains for a proposal – Provide your Biodiversity Metric or project outline, and we’ll advise how many BNG units are needed, and where they can be sourced from.
- Purchase and register your units – Once agreed, the units are registered with Natural England, and a management plan is initiated to ensure habitat delivery.
- Incorporate into reporting – Use the documentation and ongoing updates from BioGains to showcase your biodiversity investment as part of your annual ESG disclosures.
Real Action, Not Just Targets
In an age where ESG performance is under increasing scrutiny, BNG units allow companies to go beyond promises and deliver real, traceable environmental benefits. Backed by regulation and rooted in science, they offer a simple but powerful way to invest in the UK’s natural capital.
Whether your focus is compliance, reputation, or long-term sustainability leadership, biodiversity units with BioGains provide the structure and accountability that modern ESG frameworks demand.
To learn more about how your organisation can benefit, visit our Corporate Services page or contact us directly for a tailored quote.