Our CEO Louise Saunders recently attended Sustainable Business Network's sold-out Business Investment in Nature symposium. This full-day wānanga included speakers from international conglomerates, medium and large national companies to local/artisan businesses with international customer bases.
Key learnings for conservation and restoration projects:
Many businesses are very interested in funding restoration projects but because this is a new approach, strong relationships and good impact data are key to making progress.
The biggest corporates are subject to intense public and regulatory scrutiny that narrative-based descriptions of impact alone will not cut it; they could face compliance action for claiming impact without credible data.
Global brands must demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and are concerned about their exposure to risks associated with supply chains, ingredients, biodiversity collapse and climate change.
Banks and insurers will be key drivers in business consideration of nature-based risks because it puts their own sustainability and profitability at risk.
Consumers care about the impact of business on nature and the responsibility of businesses to invest in nature regeneration actions.
We are looking at running a Bay of Plenty Sustainable Business Network event in 2025, so please send us through your thoughts on how you would want this to look.
Image credit: Macie J Kisiel
