New guidance highlights billions in economic opportunities from nature investment
British businesses are being urged to place nature at the centre of corporate decision-making as the government and industry leaders launch new guidance aimed at helping companies cut costs, manage risk and unlock growth opportunities.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), working alongside a coalition of business groups, has unveiled a package of resources designed to encourage board-level action on nature and biodiversity.
The initiative includes a short film featuring King Charles III and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, a “Boardroom Briefing on Nature” aimed at company chairs and non-executive directors, and a collection of case studies showing how investment in nature has improved financial performance across different sectors.
The guidance comes amid growing pressure on businesses to address environmental risks and adapt to the economic impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
According to the materials released on Thursday, the UK’s natural capital assets are valued at around £1.6 trillion, while ecosystem services contribute an estimated £41 billion annually to the economy. Around 900 UK companies operating in nature-related sectors raised £2.8 billion in 2025, supporting approximately 21,000 jobs.
Several major companies are highlighted as examples of how nature-focused investment can deliver commercial benefits.
Water company Severn Trent restored peatlands and woodlands in the Peak District, helping it avoid £18 million in sediment removal costs while reducing annual chemical treatment expenses by up to £743,000. The project also delayed the need for a major infrastructure upgrade by at least 14 years.
Meanwhile, Canary Wharf Group converted an underused dock into a biodiversity-focused public space, achieving a 55% biodiversity net gain. The redevelopment coincided with the company’s strongest leasing performance in more than a decade, with 450,000 square feet of office space signed since the project began.
The launch follows a meeting attended by King Charles, Defra ministers, advisers from Downing Street, business executives and representatives from the Council for Sustainable Business to discuss how nature can play a larger role in corporate strategy and investment decisions.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said businesses must recognise the economic importance of the natural environment.
“More than half of global GDP depends on natural resources and ecosystem services, so it is vital for businesses to move to nature-positive growth,” she said.
“An investment in nature protects the bottom line, ensures resilient supply chains and is what customers and investors now expect.”
Liv Garfield, chair of the Council for Sustainable Business, said boards would increasingly need to factor nature into long-term planning.
“In a world of accelerating climate change, nature will become an increasingly important strategic consideration for boards as they plan to reduce costs and risk, and unlock growth opportunities,” she said.
Paula Rosput Reynolds, chair of National Grid, said businesses could support economic growth while improving the natural environment.
The resources were developed by Defra in partnership with the Council for Sustainable Business, the Green Finance Institute, the Aldersgate Group and the Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Professionals.
