SBTN · Step 1
SBTN Step 1: Assess
Step 1 identifies which of your activities and pressures on nature are likely material, and where in your value chain they occur.
Sector level
Step 1a · Materiality screening
Use the SBTN Materiality Screening Tool to score each economic activity against pressure categories. At minimum, the five pressures in scope for SBTN v1 must be screened. Pairs scored at or above the materiality threshold go on to Step 1b.
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Company data
Step 1b · Value chain assessment
Gather data to estimate pressures and the state of nature across direct operations and the upstream value chain, to confirm whether targets are needed and where they are most critical.
Pressure categories screened in Step 1a
Land/Water/Sea Use Change
Terrestrial ecosystem use
Threshold 8 · In SBTN v1 scope
Freshwater ecosystem use
Threshold 8 · Encouraged
Marine ecosystem use
Threshold 8 · Encouraged
Resource exploitation
Water use
Threshold 8 · In SBTN v1 scope
Other resource use
Threshold 8 · Encouraged
Climate Change
GHG emissions
Threshold 9 · In SBTN v1 scope
Pollution
Non-GHG air pollutants
Threshold 7 · Encouraged
Water pollutants
Threshold 7 · In SBTN v1 scope
Soil pollutants
Threshold 6 · In SBTN v1 scope
Solid waste
Threshold 7 · Encouraged
Invasives and Other
Disturbances
Threshold 7 · Encouraged
Biological alterations/interferences
Threshold 6 · Encouraged
Source: SBTN Materiality Screening Tool v1 (May 2023), UNEP-WCMC, BCG and SBTN; pressure categories based on ENCORE.
Practical tips
- Screen consistently, at either production-process level or ISIC-group level. Do not mix the two.
- Evidence is needed to exclude any activity–pressure pair flagged as material.
- Including pairs without a score is recommended where you have relevant data.
See the requirements page of our tool guide for details.
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