Business4Nature project

Business4 Nature is a collaborative project funded by the Species Survival Fund where businesses drive innovation and solutions to tackle biodiversity loss and support nature recovery. It is where nature-based solutions thrive and where nature-focused and creative business minds come together.

The Business4Nature project is a strategic collaboration between the University of Derby, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the East Midlands Chamber. The project develops and supports pathways for businesses to become part of the solution to biodiversity loss and nature restoration.

The project pivots broadening of environmental strategies from a well-established Environmental Impact Minimisation (EIM) paradigm towards an Ecological Impact Enrichment (EIE) paradigm, which encourages proactive organisational responses towards ecological positive gain such as increase in biodiversity (Baranova, Horry and Booth 2025).

The project seeks to understand barriers and enablers of policy and business engagement with the nature-based solutions (NBS). We support Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) journey of businesses and contribute regional BNG ecosystem which include policy, regulators, business, farmers, landowners, and public.

Nature-Based Solutions are actions that protect, sustainably manage, or restore ecosystems to address societal challenges that benefit both human well-being and biodiversity. These solutions harness natural processes to tackle issues such as climate change, disaster risk, and water security. The main types of NBS are:

• Ecosystem restoration: Restoring wildlife and habitats
• Green infrastructure: Bringing natural elements like green roofs and walls into urban or office settings
• Sustainable land management: Adopting practices that enhance soil and whole ecosystem health
• Ethical supply chains: Evaluating supply chains and seeking to minimise waste, improve energy efficiency and use sustainable suppliers

Nature-based solutions could help your business to:

• Value and care for nature
• Strengthen their brand and reputation
• Support local community
• Enhance employee wellbeing and attract talent
• Achieve sustainability goals
• Build resilience to climate change

Invest in Nature through Nature-Based Solutions. Grow your business and support community and environment.

The Business4Nature project aims to develop a toolkit for businesses and policymakers to boost nature economy in the region. Case studies illustrating the uptake of the nature-based solutions and contribution of regional businesses to Biodiversity Net Gain are developed as part of the project.

University of Derby Business4NatureTeam:

Dr Polina Baranova, Associate Professor in Strategy and Sustainability – Project Lead

Dr Claire Roe, Associate Lecturer and Researcher

Contact our research team to discuss how Nature4Business project can support your Biodiversity Net Gain Journey:

Email the team

Our Research

Our research shows that only 5% of regional businesses engage regularly with nature based solutions. Strikingly, over 45% of regional businesses have never supported nature thus far. Please read our latest report on Green Growth Trends in the East Midlands.

Baranova, P., Horry, R., Booth, C. (2025). To Infinity and Beyond the Environmental Impact Minimisation Paradigm. In: Gorse, C., et al. Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design. SEEDS 2021. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-73947-7_1

East Midlands Businesses and Nature – policy briefing (in development)