Nature Assessment and Strategy Planning for Steelcase Inc.

Abstract

The adoption of sustainable business practices is critical for aligning with stakeholder expectations, following regulations related to sustainability, and advancing long-term global resilience. Business can be an important driver of change, and sustainability is no exception. This includes Steelcase Inc., an international manufacturer of furniture, case goods, seating, storage, and partitioning systems for offices, hospitals, classrooms, and residential interiors (Steelcase, 2025). This collaboration between Steelcase and a team of graduate student researchers from the University of Michigan serves as a strategic resource for Steelcase, providing a structured approach to assessing nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities. By leveraging methodologies such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures’ (TNFD) Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare (LEAP) approach and best practices from the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) and the Natural Capital Protocol (NCP) while also adhering to reporting frameworks like CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), this report outlines guidance and recommendations for evaluating, reporting on, and mitigating environmental risks. One focus of this work is to prepare Steelcase for a future nature assessment across its value chain by providing foundational knowledge and initial resources to get started, including a high-level overview of LEAP-aligned processes for assessing impacts and dependencies and a mapping exercise that identifies potentially environmentally sensitive areas within the company’s direct operations. Beyond internal assessments, this report also looks outward and reviews global sustainability trends and regulatory shifts, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), offering insight on the external landscape of nature-related expectations, regulations, and disclosure. Additionally, the report provides an overview of the overlap between TNFD’s framework and CDP’s disclosure system, with a specific focus on aspects of biodiversity. This report further covers existing limitations when integrating nature-related issues into business models, including potential data gaps and methodological constraints, to recommend strategies for reinforcing Steelcase’s sustainability initiatives, enhance disclosure readiness, and support its continued leadership as a responsible environmental steward. As regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations grow, this report will help equip Steelcase with the necessary tools to remain proactive and aligned with forward-thinking sustainability initiatives. In order to support Steelcase in navigating the developing landscape of nature-related disclosures and expectations, we outline short- and long-term recommendations. In the short term, a focus on regulatory preparedness is critical, and Steelcase can do so by remaining abreast of evolving frameworks and disclosure requirements, especially TNFD and CDP. It is recommended that Steelcase conducts a nature-related risk assessment in the near future, building on the guidance and mapping tools provided throughout this project to identify and address the predominant risks, including supply chain biodiversity impacts, water use, and soil degradation. Integrating this data into reporting processes will ensure alignment with investor and regulatory expectations. Additionally, continued collaboration with suppliers and third parties is essential for building upon existing data collection, expanding reporting initiatives, and refining risk assessments using standardized tools to align with evolving frameworks In the long term, we recommend that Steelcase develop a nature transition strategy and continue aligning its sustainability goals with emerging nature-related standards and frameworks (TNFD, 2024). This includes continued and new integration of nature-positive initiatives into its operations, such as circular manufacturing practices, sustainable sourcing, and biodiversity conservation efforts. Additionally, utilizing risk mapping tools, including those provided by the University of Michigan team and WWF’s online tools, and analyzing environmental impacts and dependencies internally or externally by engaging a third-party nature assessment will enhance Steelcase’s ability to refine its nature strategy and continue to ensure data-driven decision-making. As an established sustainability leader in the industry, Steelcase has the opportunity to not only meet the demands of an evolving regulatory and stakeholder landscape but also to continue to demonstrate leadership as a catalyst for nature-positive transformation.