Environment HiPP: the organic baby food giving biodiversity a boost It is estimated that, between 1970 and 2010, the earth lost 52 % of its biodiversity. This should be a concern for all of us including producers who rely on raw materials for their natural ingredients. Fortunately, HiPP , an organic baby food producer, has made biodiversity a key part of its work for some 20 years now. Founded in 1899, HiPP began focusing on organic baby food since 1956. Today, it is one of the world’s largest organic food makers and a market leader in Germany, with over a million jars leaving its plant at Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria each day. Demand for organic products in the EU is still rising, with the organic market growing by 7.4 % in 2014 and retail sales valued at EUR 24 billion. Focusing on sustainability thus has the potential to bring big financial benefits. ‘For HiPP, sustainability is a prerequisite to creating quality of life and fitness for the future. This means thinking beyond quarterly reports and taking orientation from sustainable values. On the one hand, it involves rejecting “quick bucks” and “bargain-basement prices”. On the other hand, it has brought increasing sales and turnover,’ says Stefan Hipp, Managing Partner of the family-owned company. A long-term objective of the company is to advance the biodiversi- ty-friendliness of its products. This led HiPP to set up a 180-hectare model farm at Pfaffenhofen which explores organic agriculture practices such as pesticide-free growing methods and enhancing soil quality through crop rotation and humus creation. As Stefan Hipp tells us, ‘The very existence of our world depends on biodiversity. For this reason the company has declared protection of biodiversity to be a top priority. In recent years HiPP has undertaken numerous actions that contribute to preserving the diversity of species, focusing on Ehrensberger Hof as a biodiversity research farm.’ HiPP hopes to recreate a similar success story to the one they had when they helped to introduce banana farmers in Costa Rica to organic farming methods using no pesticides or herbicides. This helped to conserve natural habitats and protect biodiversity. Unlike on plan- tations, the banana plants are widely spaced which allows disease or fungal infection to be quickly contained by simply removing the affected tree. HiPP also works with other organisations through its membership in Biodiversity in Good Company, an alliance of firms looking to integrate biodiversity protection into their business. And HiPP’s commitment to biodiversity goes even further and includes a strong focus on green jobs. HiPP offers a variety of green jobs and qualifications in different departments. In addition, ‘the sustaina- bility department organises environmental excursions and EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WINNER OF BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY AWARD