Nature-Inclusive Governance: How to Onboard Nature as a Stakeholder

We cannot do business (nor live) on an empty planet. 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨’ 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, yet - perhaps due to its quiet nature - it's heard the least. How do you give a voice 🎤 to nature in your business?

Earlier this month, B Lab Benelux, the Earth Law Center and Nyenrode Business University released an excellent, free guide to help companies onboard nature as a stakeholder. Using practical examples of companies that have already incorporated nature as part of their governance structure, the toolkit lays out the four main, emerging models:

🌿 1. Nature as an inspiration e.g. Willicroft

🌳 2. Nature as an advisor e.g. Corporate Regeneration

🌊 3. Nature as a director e.g. Faith in Nature, Danone Belux

🦌 4. Nature as a shareholder e.g. Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely

Next, the toolkit shares which steps to take to onboard nature and the jurisdiction-specific legal templates for the 4 different models (in progress).

Governance is a fundamental pillar of any corporate sustainability strategy. A nature inclusive governance structure helps your company to prioritize nature in its strategy development & decision making, meet (oncoming) nature-related reporting requirements and, most importantly preserve, protect and restore nature for all.

Photo: Ombu, by Remke van Zadelhoff