What is your natural value and why is it important?

Under­standing your company’s relationship with the environment is becoming increas­ingly important, especially as environ­mental challenges increase. The question is no longer whether you should care for nature, but how you measure that care. Here is yours Nature Score comes into play. However, it’s not just a measure of how environ­men­tally friendly your practices are; It reflects your company’s broader impact on ecosystems, resources and even the sustain­ability of your supply chain.

Gone are the days when it was enough to have a waste­basket or use energy efficient light bulbs. Companies are now expected to think bigger – about biodi­versity, nature-friendly strategies and long-term environ­mental goals. How does your company perform? More impor­tantly, how can you improve your Nature Score to ensure you’re doing more than just ticking the sustain­ability box?

What exactly is a nature score?

As the name suggests, a nature score measures your company’s impact on the natural world around you. For example, this takes into account how much waste you produce, how efficiently you use energy and how you contribute to preserving biodi­versity. In addition to looking at your direct impact, your nature score also takes into account how your value chain works. This means you need to look at your suppliers and see how sustainable their practices are, as their actions will ultimately impact your rating too.

Essen­tially, it is a means of assessing how “nature positive” your company is. For example, if your company uses unsus­tainable practices, such as using non-recyclable materials or not disposing of waste properly, this will lower your score. On the other hand, if you take action to improve biodi­versity, reduce carbon emissions and use environ­men­tally friendly materials, your score will reflect these positive actions.

Why should my nature score be important to me?

It may seem like just another business buzzword, but your nature score has real impact on your business.

1. Consumer demand: British consumers increas­ingly want to spend their money with companies that care about the planet. A good nature rating signals that your company takes sustain­ability seriously, which can help you build trust and loyalty with your customers.

2. Regulatory compliance: The UK government does not rest on its laurels when it comes to environ­mental laws. Stricter regula­tions are being intro­duced, meaning businesses must comply or risk fines. Good nature value will help you keep up with regula­tions such as the Environment Act 2021.

3. Risk management: As companies become more global and inter­de­pendent, natural risks can disrupt entire opera­tions. A low natural value indicates areas where your business could be at risk — whether due to resource scarcity or negative impacts on biodi­versity.

4. Attracting Investors: Today, investors are looking beyond financial perfor­mance. They are inter­ested in companies that demon­strate strong environ­mental, social and gover­nance (ESG) principles. A high natural value shows potential investors that you are future-oriented and sustainable.

5. Cost Efficiency: Improving your Nature Score can help you reduce costs. Sustainable practices are often accom­panied by more efficient use of resources, which trans­lates into savings on every­thing from energy to materials.

How is a Nature Score assessed?

Your Nature Score is deter­mined by looking at several factors in your business opera­tions:

1. Carbon emissions: This includes the green­house gases your company emits directly and indirectly, from energy consumption to logistics. Companies that rely on renewable energy sources or reduce travel-related emissions tend to perform better.

2. Biodi­versity efforts: How does your company contribute to nature conser­vation? Whether it’s maintaining green spaces or supporting biodi­versity projects, taking actions that help nature thrive will have a positive impact on your score.

3. Resource use: The efficient use of resources such as water and raw materials is crucial. Companies that minimize waste, recycle materials or source from sustainable suppliers will see their scores increase.

4. Waste management: A solid waste management strategy that includes reduction, reuse and recycling signif­i­cantly improves your natural value. Circular economy practices in which materials remain in use for as long as possible are partic­u­larly effective.

5. Gover­nance and culture: Does your company have a clear environ­mental gover­nance strategy? A good nature assessment often requires that sustain­ability be integrated into your company’s culture — from top-level strategy to day-to-day opera­tions.

How can I improve my nature score?

Improving your Nature Score doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some steps you can take to increase your score and minimize your impact on the environment:

1. Reduce carbon emissions: Start by examining your current carbon footprint. Can you switch to renewable energy like wind or solar? Even small changes, like reducing unnec­essary travel or switching to energy-efficient appli­ances, can have a big impact.

2. Support biodi­versity: Consider partic­i­pating in biodi­versity initia­tives. Whether you’re planting trees, supporting local wildlife, or creating green spaces around your office, these actions will help offset any negative impact your business may have on the environment.

3. Sustainable sourcing: Review your supply chain. Do you source raw materials from sustainable suppliers? Sustainable sourcing not only improves your own nature score, but also encourages your suppliers to improve theirs.

4. Adopt a circular economy model: could your products be designed to be reused, recycled or refur­bished? Transi­tioning to a circular economy model can dramat­i­cally reduce waste and improve your environ­mental impact.

5. Involve your employees: A company’s sustain­ability efforts are only as strong as the people behind them. Make sure your team is on board with your goals. Providing training on environ­mental practices or involving employees in green initia­tives can make a big difference.

Tools and assessments to support your business

If you’re not sure where to start, there are tools available to help you assess and improve your Nature Score. Nature­Metrics, for example, offers a Nature Maturity Assessment that assesses your organi­zation across six key topics, including strategy, gover­nance and opera­tional impact. It helps you identify gaps in your natural perfor­mance and provides actionable steps to improve.

This assessment can provide a detailed overview of how well your company is performing in terms of biodi­versity, waste management and sustain­ability practices. It’s an excellent starting point if you want to take meaningful action but aren’t sure where to start.

So what’s your next step? Whether it’s optimizing your energy use, managing waste more efficiently or investing in biodi­versity, every action helps create a better world — and a better company.