Our brand new nature guide for businesses explores the rising corporate demand for nature tech solutions, and seeks to inspire more companies to action by sharing real-world applications of nature tech from the likes of Ramboll, Telus, Volkswagen and many more. 

We explore how companies can integrate nature tech into their operations to drive sustainability and align with nature-positive principles, and provide a structured approach to using nature tech across various industries, from agriculture to finance, helping businesses reduce environmental impact and capitalize on new market opportunities.

As always this guide was a joint collaboration, so a big shout out to our co-creators: Nature4Climate, KPMG, the Climate Collective and Serena. And of course, thank you to the broader Nature Tech Collective community for their support and insights along the way.

Key Insights   

More companies recognize the benefits of nature tech

In 2024, more companies are recognizing the potential risks of environmental degradation - from supply chain disruptions, to polluted and damaged production sites, to rising operational costs, and reputational and compliance issues. However, the path to becoming nature-positive for corporations is rarely straightforward. For this reason, companies are increasingly looking to nature tech to help them understand and manage their reliance on nature, as well as their impacts and opportunities in this space.

The opportunity here is significant, as technologies like AI, machine learning, satellite data, and blockchain become crucial tools for helping businesses reduce environmental risks, enhance transparency, and drive effective conservation efforts.

Regulatory frameworks are increasing the depth of corporate nature tech adoption

As regulatory attention turns to nature and biodiversity and new reporting standards emerge - such as the TNFD’s ACT-D framework (Access, Commit, Transform, Disclose)  - businesses are looking to nature tech to support them along each step of their nature journey: from undertaking early and baseline assessments, to goal setting, to shifting business models and practices, and finally for disclosure reporting.

The introduction of new compliance regulations, such as the UK’s Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is set to increase corporate attention to compliance needs even further. Increasingly, nature tech is becoming a must-have.

Nature tech solutions are successfully addressing corporate challenges 

As innovation in the nature tech solution space accelerates, new windows of opportunity are opening in this space for businesses trying to cut costs, reduce nature-related threats, and develop nature-positive relationships with natural ecosystems. 

Today, nature tech is supporting a range of specific business challenges, from improving field connectivity and communication, to addressing fragmented digital infrastructure which can hamper nature monitoring progress, to better establishing systems of transparency around nature data and Nature-based Solutions carbon credits in a broad sense.  The list goes on.

More financial firms & investors are bullish on nature tech

Nature tech is becoming a pivotal part of large-scale investments in nature-based solutions like reforestation, wetland restoration, and regenerative agriculture. Further, more financial institutions are using nature tech to support their own nature positive corporate journeys - and these companies tend to prefer working with companies that do the same. This year’s report explores the creation of new nature tech funds and enhanced nature-driven due diligence processes by financial organizations.

Looking Ahead at the Nature Tech Collective

As nature tech becomes an increasingly pivotal area for businesses navigating the complex intersection of environmental sustainability and technological innovation, the Nature Tech Collective is dedicated to supporting Nature Positive transitions and nature tech capacity building. Indeed, the latest Nature Guide for Businesses itself exists as a symbol of the strength of collaboration across the NTC community!

Over the coming months, we’ll progress a number of strategic initiatives in response to the trends outlined here: 

• Building a Nature Tech Taxonomy: As the nature tech sector expands, the need for a shared language and lexicon is becoming more apparent. We’re progressing towards a Nature Tech Taxonomy for all: Designed as a categorized and interactive visualization of nature tech solution providers, this tool will point stakeholders to the right nature tech solutions for their needs, and provide an overview for audiences unfamiliar with the market. Learn more here.

• Tech Tools for Corporates: We’re exploring some exciting new AI-powered tools, aimed at supporting businesses identify and understand the nature tech solutions currently available to them.  Watch this space!