Integrate nature into your business

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The steps below will help get you started in understanding your nature footprint and taking effective action. They are designed to get you thinking about your relationship with nature, to set actions and measure progress.
For more information or support, please contact Gemma Coate ([email protected])

Assess and commit

Understand your relationship: Identify how your business impacts nature as well as how it depends on it. Focus on what is most important. Consider biodiversity (plants, animals and ecosystems), water use and quality (both marine and freshwater), soil health, land use changes, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Understand the risk or opportunity these provide your business.

Create actions: Now you have understood your relationship with nature, use this to develop some practical actions for your business to implement. Your actions should support you in avoiding or mitigating your nature impact, or provide opportunities to strengthen how you depend on nature. Some examples of actions can be found below.

Understand your scope, resources and success measures: What part of your business operations do you want to focus on? Is it one site, the whole supply chain, one product or a service you offer? What budget do you have? What are your timeframes? What people do you need to bring into this work? Clearly articulate what success will look like.

Develop a monitoring and measurement plan: How will you measure your success? What data do you have now? What data do you need to capture? Who needs the relevant KPIs? This will help you track and evaluate progress.
Invest
If your action involves investing in on-the-ground nature projects, here are some pointers:

Look for projects that:
- Are a good fit for your business, considering your location, impacts, goals and environmental interests like planting, wetland restoration, marine protection, etc.
- Align with other business values. E.g. community, education, jobs, uplifting mātauranga Māori or building a relationship with mana whenua.
- Gather data or support your sustainability goals.
- Explore our partner projects here.
Build meaningful partnerships:
- Consider the commitment you can make both financially and with time. Do you want to be actively involved or just make a donation?
- Aim for partnerships that benefit both parties for at least three years.
- Understand partner needs (staffing, equipment, knowledge) and offer support.
- Set clear goals you can both measure and share.
- Maintain regular communication.
Give what you can:
- Your investment can be money, time, resources or expertise.
- Share your knowledge. Help with marketing, business development or other skills.
- Contributing time can help staff develop meaningful connections to the project. This engagement can deepen their connection to their role in your organisation.
Transform

Collaborate: Get input from staff, suppliers and customers to develop your plans and put them into action. Work closely with experts in nature projects, councils and research institutions. Partnering with others can lead to shared benefits like learning, lower costs and achieving goals.

Shift business models: Rethink your business to manage nature-related risks and opportunities. This might involve changes to your team structure and the resources you use. Share your successes and inspire other businesses.

Set up systems that work: Establish clear governance and processes to turn your plans into effective action across your operations.

Advocate for change: Join SBN and support our nature work. Share knowledge with other businesses and push for policies to protect and regenerate nature.
Communicate

Promote and champion: Develop a communications plan. Use effective storytelling to engage stakeholders. Highlight how your investments help the environment and community. Encourage volunteering, mentoring and support from your staff. Inspire others in your industry to follow your example.

Transparent reporting: Report your findings, challenges and plans for action. Share progress in sustainability reports and on your website. Avoid overstating (greenwashing) or underselling (greenhushing). Align with common frameworks or standards. You can find some in the essential reading list below.

Engage stakeholders: Regularly engage with internal and external stakeholders, including mana whenua, communities, NGOs and experts to inform and improve your nature outcomes.
Essential reading and listening

The Business of Nature - Sam Rowland and Kirsty Brennan
This Climate Business - Podcast

Regenerating Nature in Aotearoa New Zealand – The Transformative Role of Business
Sustainable Business Network

Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy
Department of Conservation

The Biodiversity Plan (Nature’s Paris Agreement)
Convention on Biological Diversity

The Nature Strategy Handbook
Business for Nature

Specific Sector Actions Towards a Nature-Positive Future
Business for Nature

GRI 101 Biodiversity
Global Reporting Initiative

IUCN Nature positive for business: Developing a common approach
IUCN

The Chairperson’s Guide to Valuing Nature
Climate Governance Initiative

New Zealand director duties to manage nature-related risk and impact on natural capital Legal Opinion 2023
Chapman Tripp Legal and The Aotearoa Circle

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
TNFD

See this explanation on TNFD from Thinkstep-anz
Thinkstep ANZ

Science Based Targets for Nature
Science Based Targets

World Economic Forum Article on nature
WEF

Biodiversity loss, extreme weather events, shortages of natural resources and pollution are listed in the top 10 most severe risks to business in the next ten years.
World Economic Forum, 2024

Why businesses should act

Stay ahead of the curve. With customers, markets, investors and insurers taking notice, nature is no longer just an environmental concern, it's a business imperative.
Every business benefits. All businesses depend on nature, from raw materials to everyday essentials like reliable power and clean water. Valuing these contributions ensures long-term sustainability.
Reduce risks, enhance reputation. Investing in nature helps mitigate climate change risks, strengthens supply chains, and boosts your brand reputation among environmentally conscious consumers and employees.
Enhance your community engagement. Strong collaboration will deliver extra benefits, as your business can potentially access additional expertise, resources, learning opportunities and connections.
Unlock new opportunities. Sustainability isn't just about reducing harm, it's about innovation and growth.

Practical actions for your business to implement*

Run a session with staff so they understand how your business impacts nature/nature action.
Reduce water usage
Investigate where you source office materials, paper, coffee, tea, etc. Ensure they are certified against deforestation
Look at planting native plants on your site, to help increase biodiversity and mitigate against flooding and extreme weather events
Explore a community partnership with an on-the-ground nature project
Source all wood, paper and packaging from sustainably managed forests e.g. Forest Stewardship Council standard, by 2030
Reduce waste to landfill by 30% by 2030
Reduce food waste by 30% by 2030
Look at your use of chemicals and sediment runoff into waterways to reduce pollution
Donate 5% of profits to on-the-ground nature projects
Pilot a new product in a nature-friendly way
Run the business through a nature-focused framework like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) or Science Based Targets Network (SBTN)
Measure your water usage and see how you can prevent inefficiencies and reduce use

*This is not an exhaustive list, but provides inspiration for a wide range of businesses.

The Business of Nature

Tune into this podcast episode to hear about the Lyttleton Port Company becoming the first NZ business to introduce the TNFD framework.

Listen now

Nature, commerce & COP16

Manu Caddie, representing the Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust, was part of the Indigenous Caucus at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Manu talks to Vincent Heeringa from This Climate Business about his experience.

Listen now