Description of BS 8583:2015 2015

This British Standard gives guidance for businesses on managing business risks and realizing opportunities in relation to biodiversity. It provides advice for businesses on how to co-exist with biodiversity in a mutually beneficial way, which can constitute one of the environmental aspects identified in their environmental management system, or can be addressed within their wider management systems or processes.

The standard gives guidance on biodiversity in relation to the following three areas:

• management of premises and facilities;

• management of day-to-day business operations;

• management of the supply chain.

The standard is applicable to businesses of all types and sizes. It is primarily intended for UK businesses, including those with an international supply chain, but can also be used by businesses outside the UK.

The standard sets out a four-step process for businesses to follow to enable them to make biodiversity improvements.

The standard does not give detailed advice regarding protected species and sites and it does not give detailed guidance on the information that has to be provided in a planning application. The standard also does not give detailed guidance for businesses heavily involved in land management or development, although some guidance is given in Clause 4.

NOTE 1 Detailed information on biodiversity in relation to planning applications is given in BS 42020.

NOTE 2 It is recognized that, for many businesses (e.g. retail and wholesale), their supply-chain might be the only aspect of normal business operations that could affect biodiversity. For these businesses, Clause 5 on incorporation of biodiversity considerations into management of standard operations is likely to be of less relevance than it might be for other types of business such as those concerned with financial investment, property/development, engineering and construction or rail. Clause 4 on incorporation of biodiversity into land and premises management systems, is likely to be of relevance to any business that operates from premises and this Clause also provides advice on landscape-scale biodiversity improvements that can be delivered by businesses in partnership with other organizations.

NOTE 3 A list of conservation organizations is given in Annex A.

A flow chart giving guidance on the use of the standard is given in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Guidance on use of BS 8583

About BSI

BSI Group, also known as the British Standards Institution is the national standards body of the United Kingdom. BSI produces technical standards on a wide range of products and services and also supplies certification and standards-related services to businesses.