Better business: Re-thinking business models for nature positive outcomes

15 October 2024 - Tweaking business practices such as procurement decisions is not addressing the impact of business on nature at the speed and scale required to meet 2030 nature targets. Transitioning to nature positive aligned business models can accelerate the action needed while addressing companies’ risks and enabling new economic opportunities. 

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New CISL report Better Business: Re-thinking Business Models for Nature Positive Outcomes highlights the need for businesses to undergo a fundamental transition to nature positive aligned business models, aligning with nature-positive principles rather than focusing solely on incremental environmental improvements. Published in October 2024, the report is the first in a series exploring how these business model shifts can be operationalised and scaled as part of the EU-funded A-Track project.

We know that nature is in crisis, with rates of species loss up to 1,000 times higher than would normally be expected, creating significant detrimental impacts on the natural systems that support life on earth, underpin almost all aspects of our economy, and constitute one of our best allies in fighting other global challenges such as climate change. Businesses are increasingly aware of the need to address nature loss, but despite the evolving landscape of guidance, tools and frameworks to help them assess and take action on their nature impacts, few have made the transformative changes that will be needed to meet 2030 targets under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

This report introduces the concept of nature positive aligned business models and explores what these are, different examples of them, and how they might be implemented and scaled. A nature positive aligned business model is defined as a financially sustainable enterprise that prioritizes nature-positive outcomes, such as biodiversity preservation and ecosystem restoration. The report outlines a typology of business model archetypes which describe various forms that these models might take. It includes a change methodology to provide companies with some practical tools as they begin to consider business model transformation, which will be developed as this project progresses.

The AR3T framework from the Science-based Targets Network (SBTN) is used to frame this work, drawing on the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, reduce, restore & regenerate and transform the systems in which a company operates, which is the area in which this work is situated. Examples of where the business model archetypes fit within this framework are described in the report, along with examples of each which are also mapped to the business model canvas (which describes how businesses propose, create, capture and deliver value).

Get involved with this work

We are looking for businesses interested in the concepts presented in this report to work with us to refine, develop and test these ideas further. Businesses will benefit from working with CISL’s experts to understand how they might implement a business model shift while contributing to cutting edge research. Please contact Edmund.dickens@cisl.cam.ac.uk for further information, and sign up to receive A-Track project updates here.

Funding

This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101082268 (A-Track project), as well as from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK Government’s Horizon Europe Guarantee and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).

Citing this report

University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), Capitals Coalition, WBCSD and Tecnalia. (2024). Better business: Re-thinking business models for nature positive outcomes. A-Track. Cambridge, UK: University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Nature Positive Solutions Accelerator 2025

At CISL, we are excited to announce the forthcoming Nature Positive Solutions Accelerator for startups, launching in 2025 as part of the wider A-Track project. This initiative, led by CISL’s Innovation team, Canopy, will empower startups working towards nature-positive solutions, providing them with the resources, mentorship, and partnerships needed to scale their impact. The accelerator will also serve as a practical testing ground for the nature-positive business model archetypes developed in CISL’s groundbreaking study, "Better business: Re-thinking business models for nature positive outcomes". 

Through this programme, we aim to identify, support, and scale startups with business models that exemplify or enable nature-positive outcomes, restoring and protecting nature through their operations. With a history of accelerating over 500 sustainability-led startups in areas like net zero and circular economy, Canopy is uniquely positioned to foster impactful collaborations across industries, finance, and government. We are eager to explore partnerships that can enhance the accelerator’s reach and unlock transformative solutions, aligned with the European Green Deal and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Get in touch to find out more.

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