What does Nature Positive mean?

In the face of escalating environmental challenges, the concept of nature-positive has emerged. Nature-positive means actively restoring and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring that nature is left in a better state than before through conservation, regeneration, and sustainable practices. It's the guiding star for biodiversity recovery. The United Nations aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve full nature recovery by 2050. This ambition seeks measurable gains in the health, abundance, diversity, and resilience of species, ecosystems, and natural processes.

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The term nature-positive reflects a transformative shift in how society and businesses perceive their relationship with nature. It underscores the urgency of integrating biodiversity considerations into decision-making processes, recognising that the health of our ecosystems is intrinsically linked to human well-being and economic prosperity.

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The Importance of a Nature-Positive Approach

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Biodiversity is the foundation of the ecosystem services that sustain human life, including pollination, water purification, climate regulation, and soil fertility. A healthy, biodiverse ecosystem ensures resilience against environmental changes and disruptions. The importance of biodiversity extends beyond ecology, economies depend on the services it provides.

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However, human activities have accelerated the degradation of ecosystems, leading to the extinction of species and the loss of natural habitats. This phenomenon, known as biodiversity loss, is not just an ecological crisis but a profound challenge for economies, societies, and the planet as a whole. The World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Risks Report ranks biodiversity loss as the second most severe global risk for the next decade.

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The Rising Popularity of Nature-Positive Initiatives

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In recent years, the corporate sector has increasingly acknowledged the importance of biodiversity, moving beyond just climate commitments to embrace the UN's goal of becoming nature positive. This concept, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, has gained momentum as governments and businesses recognise the strategic necessity of protecting nature for long-term sustainability.

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Financial institutions are also acknowledging the dependency of global GDP on natural ecosystems. As companies strive to align their operations with environmental outcomes, there is a call for clearer frameworks to accurately measure and report biodiversity impacts, urging both businesses and governments to solidify their commitments to nature conservation.

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Companies Leading the Way

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City Developments Limited (CDL)

As an ongoing user of Xylo Systems, CDL is setting the pace for nature-positive real estate. The company has embedded biodiversity into its operations, becoming an early adopter of TNFD-aligned reporting and integrating biodiversity risk into strategic decision-making.

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CDL leads in sustainable building with 123 BCA Green Mark-certified developments, the use of low-carbon materials, and a commitment to net-zero carbon. The company has raised S$6.3 billion in sustainable financing, invested in blue carbon credits, and launched nature-focused community projects like the CDL Green Gallery and Eco Train initiative.

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Furthering its regenerative efforts, CDL developed a tropical MicroForest outside City Square Mall, an urban greening project built in just three months to address the urgency of the climate crisis. Created in collaboration with the National University of Singapore and NParks, the 2,800-square-foot living exhibit showcases native flora and contributes to cooling urban environments, improving thermal comfort, air quality, and biodiversity. Equipped with sensors to compare temperature and humidity levels with surrounding urban areas, the MicroForest is part of CDL’s research-driven approach to scale nature-based solutions in cities.

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CDL is also reducing water and waste intensity, ensuring 100% green lease participation, and maintaining best-in-class ESG governance, earning a top 22 ranking on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations list. By integrating biodiversity into business, CDL proves real estate can be a powerful driver of environmental regeneration.

Learn more about CDLs commitments and their MicroForest here.

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Kering

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Kering, the first fashion company to adopt science-based targets for nature, is leading a biodiversity-positive transformation in the luxury sector. The company has set ambitious goals to achieve a net-positive impact on biodiversity by 2025, committing to regenerating one million hectares of farmland in its supply chain through the Kering for Nature Fund while protecting an additional one million hectares of critical ecosystems outside its supply chain via UN REDD+ and conservation initiatives.

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Kering is pushing for deforestation-free and conversion-free supply chains, ensuring all raw materials, including leather, cotton, cashmere, and wool, are sourced sustainably. The company uses Environmental Profit & Loss (EP&L) assessments to track biodiversity impact and aligns with the Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN). Kering is also scaling regenerative agriculture projects and pioneering sustainable material innovations to reduce reliance on virgin resources. As a founding member of The Fashion Pact, Kering is working with over 250 fashion brands to drive industry-wide biodiversity protection, proving that luxury and nature conservation can go hand in hand.

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Learn more from Kerings biodiversity strategy, standards for raw materials & manufacturing processes, environmental profit & loss report and their commitment to the FashionPact.

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Holcim

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Holcim is making a measurable impact on biodiversity by committing to nature-positive operations by 2030, backed by science-based indicators. The company has assessed its biodiversity baseline through the Biodiversity Indicator and Reporting System (BIRS), in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and uses the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) to prioritise conservation in high-biodiversity areas.

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Holcim is actively restoring land during extraction, optimising buffer zones, creating wildlife corridors, and establishing wetlands to enhance ecosystem resilience. Their progressive rehabilitation strategy aligns with the mitigation hierarchy, ensuring biodiversity is not just protected but actively regenerated within its operations.

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Read more about Holcim’s nature-positive strategy and their partnership with International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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These companies demonstrate that a nature-positive approach isn’t just possible, it’s already happening. With bold commitments, cutting-edge strategies, and real, measurable actions, they’re proving that businesses can thrive while restoring biodiversity.

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Why Businesses Need to Act Now

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With over $44 trillion of global economic value, more than half the world’s GDP, moderately or highly dependent on nature, biodiversity is not just a moral obligation but a business imperative. However, assessing biodiversity has historically been time-consuming, costly, and complex. There is a growing cost to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, emphasising the urgency for businesses to integrate biodiversity considerations into their strategies.

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Recognising the need for swift and accurate biodiversity assessments, Xylo Systems offers a cutting-edge platform that enables businesses to measure and manage their biodiversity impact effectively. By leveraging advanced technology and data, Xylo Systems conducts biodiversity assessments to quantify biodiversity values accurately and efficiently, providing tailored recommendations on preserving and enhancing biodiversity, ensuring alignment with legal requirements.

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The urgency for businesses to adopt nature-positive strategies is underscored by the increasing regulatory, investor, and consumer pressure for transparency in environmental impact. Companies that proactively address biodiversity loss not only mitigate risks but also position themselves as leaders in sustainability, gaining a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving market landscape.

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In conclusion, embracing a nature-positive approach is no longer optional for businesses; it is a necessity. By integrating biodiversity considerations into their core strategies, companies can contribute to global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for both the planet and their enterprises.

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