Nature trends and innovation with our CEO Eva Zabey
This Q&A was originally published as part of a wider piece on nature trends published by Springwise.
Businesses rely heavily on healthy ecosystems – not just for raw materials, but for essential services like clean water, fertile soil, pollination, and climate regulation.
These natural systems underpin industries from agriculture and tourism to energy and pharmaceuticals, yet their value is often invisible until disruption occurs. In fact, a 2021 World Bank report highlights the economic risks of environmental degradation, warning that the collapse of key ecosystem services – such as those provided by forests, wetlands, and coral reefs – could lead to a global GDP decline of $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. To explore how companies can respond, Springwise spoke with Eva Zabey, CEO of Business for Nature, a global coalition that mobilises businesses to act for nature.
Q. Tell us about Business for Nature and its goals
Business for Nature is a global coalition of over 100 partner organisations united to advocate and act for nature. These are primarily global, national, and sector business associations, alongside leading conservation organisations that have a track record of working with business.
As the leading voice of business, our collective mission is to activate and accelerate the transition towards a nature-positive economy for all. It highlights a clear objective: to go beyond merely reducing harm and instead drive systemic change that regenerates nature.
We work on two fronts: shaping global and regional policy and enabling national implementation. Our strategy for 2025/2026 includes supporting countries with national strategies aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), advocating for government-led ‘nature-positive’ sectoral pathways, and helping businesses develop credible nature strategies.
Ultimately, we aim to encourage governments to adopt ambitious nature policies and help them articulate the role of businesses in delivering these policies, recognising that businesses cannot solve the global nature crisis on their own.
EXPLAINER Global Biodiversity Framework (BGF)
Known in full as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the GBF is an international agreement adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (known as ‘COP 15’). The framework sets out four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030 that focus on ecosystem and species health. Among the 23 targets is the so-called ’30x30’ target, which calls for 30 per cent of the earth's land and sea to be conserved through the establishment of protected areas.
Q. What are some of the most important trends you are seeing when it comes to nature-related innovation?
We’re seeing innovation when it comes to companies embedding nature in their business strategies, recognising how their activities both impact and also fundamentally depend on nature and the resources it provides. To address the urgency of the nature crisis, however, we need to see exponential increases in companies’ actions to contribute to a nature-positive economy, which requires systemic transformation.
There are signals of change where companies are starting to move beyond traditional sustainability measures to develop truly innovative, lower-impact solutions. This strategic shift is driven by the recognition that protecting, restoring, and regenerating nature is essential for long-term business resilience and competitiveness.
Some of these examples include:
Biodegradable materials: A major focus is on replacing conventional, fossil-fuel-based materials with biodegradable alternatives. For instance, companies such as Unilever, PepsiCo, and Estée Lauder are developing and investing in biodegradable plastics made from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plants, which breaks down harmlessly in the environment. This is a direct response to the plastic pollution crisis and reduces reliance on finite resources.
Natural infrastructure: This trend involves a strategic choice to use and restore natural ecosystems to provide services traditionally delivered by man-made infrastructure. For example, companies using wetlands for water purification instead of constructing expensive treatment plants. This approach is often more cost-effective, more resilient, and provides multiple co-benefits like increased biodiversity and carbon storage.
Biomimicry: Companies are also looking to nature itself for inspiration to solve human problems. Biomimicry is an innovation strategy that emulates nature's designs and processes to create sustainable solutions. A famous example is the Japanese bullet train's nose cone, which was modelled after a kingfisher's beak for greater efficiency and noise reduction. Companies are creating everything from wind turbines that mimic humpback whale fins for greater efficiency to developing waterproof, breathable, and 100% recyclable textile, inspired by the lotus leaf’s water-repellent properties. This approach is a powerful reminder that some of the most elegant and effective solutions are found in the natural world.
Co-benefits: Danish renewable energy company Ørsted has initiated conservation programmes, including the creation of artificial nesting sites for seabirds along England's east coast and an initiative to restock the sea with cod.
Q. What is the one news item from the past six months that you believe will have the biggest impact on nature?
One of the most impactful recent developments is the push for deregulation of key EU policies under the cover of a need for simplification, specifically the EU Omnibus Package. Weakening sustainability rules would create costly uncertainty, penalise proactive businesses that have already invested significant resources in preparing for them, and ultimately affect the competitiveness of EU businesses.
The EU's leadership in sustainability reporting is crucial for meeting its commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework and for fulfilling its role as a global regulatory leader. Backtracking now would damage this credibility and weaken its position as a key partner in international value chains.
Our position is clear: policymakers should focus on simplifying the rules without compromising their integrity or scope, while providing practical support for companies to implement them.
This is more than just a bureaucratic debate; it’s a moment that will define the EU's commitment to nature. Many front-running businesses such as IKEA, Nestlé, Unilever, L'Occitane, Mars, Ferrero, Tony’s Chocolonely, and Primark have publicly urged the European Commission to proceed with implementing these directives.
“Policymakers should focus on simplifying the rules without compromising their integrity or scope.”
Q. Are there any nature/biodiversity trends that you think have been oversold?
The idea that nature-related reporting is a burden has been oversold. At Business for Nature, we believe that mandatory nature-related assessment and disclosure is a critical part of creating a strong policy environment because "what gets measured gets done." When used right, reporting is not a burden but a catalyst for positive change that drives better-informed decisions.
Robust reporting drives companies to manage their impacts and dependencies on nature, which is crucial for building resilience and future-proofing performance. By way of example, research from financial institutions like MSCI shows that companies with high ESG ratings have a demonstrably lower cost of capital than their lower-rated peers, as they are viewed as more resilient and less risky by investors.
Finally, corporate reporting is an essential commitment of the Global Biodiversity Framework (Target 15a). Disclosure provides regulators, investors, and financial institutions with the crucial data they need to inform decisions and ensure a stable financial system.
“Robust reporting drives companies to manage their impacts and dependencies on nature, which is crucial for building resilience and future-proofing performance.”
Q. What are the key things you’ll be looking out for in the coming six months?
Our focus for the coming six months will be on the transition from high-level global commitments to concrete, on-the-ground implementation.
We'll be looking for tangible evidence that the ambition of the Global Biodiversity Framework is being turned into reality.The GBF provides a clear roadmap to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Now, national governments need to implement their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and set national targets. But governments can’t do this alone. Achieving a nature-positive future demands a holistic approach. Businesses have a strong responsibility and must play a central role.
This is why Business for Nature is working directly with partners in several markets, including Mexico, Indonesia, and Nigeria to deepen public-private collaboration. Our aim is to create robust and ambitious action plans for businesses that provide a practical demonstration of how this kind of cooperation can accelerate the delivery of national biodiversity goals.