Spotlight on Nature: Case Studies for Business Transformation towards a Nature-Positive Future

The report highlights the economic and environmental imperative for businesses to transition to 'nature-positive' models, noting that over half of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature. It details six corporate case studies: IKEA's sustainable forestry, Aditya Birla Group's circular resource use, Yara's soil health technologies, Walmart's sustainable seafood sourcing, Ørsted's net-positive biodiversity in offshore wind, and Suntory's water replenishment. The document emphasizes the synergy between nature-positive solutions and net-zero climate goals, suggesting that natural climate solutions could provide 30% of the emissions reductions needed by 2030.

• Significant economic value is at risk due to nature loss, with over half of global GDP ($44 trillion) in 2019 being moderately or highly dependent on nature.
• Nature-positive solutions, including circular business models and precision-agriculture, could unlock up to $10.1 trillion in annual revenue opportunities and cost savings by 2030.
• There is a significant gap in corporate target-setting for nature compared to climate; while 79% of Fortune Global 500 companies had clear climate targets as of 2023, less than 10% had targets for biodiversity loss and nutrient pollution.
• IKEA is implementing a 'Forest Positive Agenda' to ensure all wood is sourced from sustainable sources (FSC certified or recycled) and aims for one-third of its wood-based range to be made from recycled wood by 2030.
• Aditya Birla Group is pursuing a 'zero waste to landfill by 2030' target, exemplified by a partnership where Hindalco Industries supplies over 1 million tonnes of processed bauxite residue (red mud) annually to UltraTech Cement as a limestone substitute.
• Yara is addressing the fact that 52% of the world's agricultural land is degraded by deploying nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) tools and organic fertilizers to support long-term soil health.
• Walmart is targeting 100% observer monitoring and zero high-seas transhipment by 2027 for its seafood supply chain to combat overfishing and illegal fishing.
• Ørsted aims for all existing and future projects to achieve a net-positive impact on biodiversity by 2030, utilizing site-specific projects like BioReef in the Danish North Sea and ReCoral in Taiwan.
• Suntory Holdings has reduced water used in production at owned plants by 28% since 2015 and aims to replenish more than 100% of water used in half of its owned plants globally by 2030.
• Natural climate solutions (NCS), such as reforestation and peatland restoration, could provide up to 30% of the net emissions reductions required by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). Spotlight on Nature: Case Studies for Business Transformation towards a Nature-Positive Future. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Spotlight_on_Nature_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Spotlight on Nature: Case Studies for Business Transformation towards a Nature-Positive Future. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Spotlight_on_Nature_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Spotlight on Nature: Case Studies for Business Transformation towards a Nature-Positive Future |date=September 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Spotlight_on_Nature_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024spotlight, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Spotlight on Nature: Case Studies for Business Transformation towards a Nature-Positive Future}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Spotlight_on_Nature_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }