Responsible businesses around the world are working to become sustainable and environmentally conscious. They are recognising the dependence of their operations on healthy ecosystems and are adopting practices that restore and protect natural habitats.

This new wave of innovators is pushing the sustainability boundaries and embracing a revolutionary approach termed ‘

regenerative business’.

At Earthly, we work with these businesses every day, helping them invest in high-integrity

nature-based solutions

that contribute to measurable environmental outcomes, support evolving disclosure and reporting requirements, and strengthen their journey towards regeneration.

A

regenerative business

is a company that designs its operations, supply chains, and decision-making processes to create positive outcomes for nature, people, and the economy. Unlike traditional sustainability methods that focus on reducing harm, regenerative businesses improves the health and resilience of the systems they depend on, leaving them better than they found them.

Being a regenerative company goes beyond reducing carbon footprints, using recycled materials, reduction of environmental impact and minimising harm. It involves actively contributing to the restoration and enhancement of ecosystems. 

In essence, regenerative companies actively work on improving the health of the entire ecosystem they operate within. They create a business model that actively regenerates natural resources, strengthens communities, and fosters lasting well-being for all stakeholders.

Regenerative businesses are proactive stewards of the planet, fostering a sustainable future for all, through:

Regenerative business practices can lead to a more sustainable, resilient, and responsible approach that benefits the environment, society and the long-term success of the business itself.

Here are some potential benefits of adopting a regenerative business model:

Nature-based solutions alone could deliver up to

37%

of the CO₂ reductions needed by 2030 - making ecosystem restoration one of the most cost-effective climate tools available to any business.

At its core, regenerative business is about improving the relationship between business activities and the natural world.:

Regenerative prioritise people alongside profit, they can create stronger relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and local communities.

Communities that have economic stakes in nature projects actively protect them, reducing reversal risk and strengthening the social licence businesses need to operate,

according to Sylvera's 2026 market research

.

Transitioning to regenerative business practices could unlock

$4.5 trillion in economic value by 2030

- businesses that act now are best positioned to capture that opportunity, not as a cost of doing business, but as a direct return on nature investment:

Consumers, investors and other stakeholders increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate meaningful action on sustainability.

Regenerative practices can help organisations build trust and stand out in a competitive market:

A

2023 Kearney poll of 800 executives

found that 58% cited the need for action-oriented leadership on regeneration, showing that the pressure to act is coming from inside organisations, not just outside them.

As sustainability regulations and disclosure requirements continue to evolve, regenerative approaches can help businesses understand, manage and respond to environmental and social risks:

A commitment to regenerative business practices can help create a stronger sense of purpose and engagement:

Regenerative businesses may contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by adopting practices that protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Carbon credits with

verified biodiversity co-benefits

now command measurable price premiums in voluntary carbon markets, meaning investing in ecosystem health is increasingly a financial decision as much as an environmental one.

A new green current is surging, and it's not just about sustainability – it's about regeneration. 

Take

Klim Eco

, for example. This agritech platform is a champion of regenerative agriculture. 

They understand that healthy soil is the bedrock of a thriving planet. By promoting practices like compost tea, cover crops, and reduced tillage, they're not just mitigating emissions, they're sucking carbon out of the atmosphere. This decarbonisation of agriculture is a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change.

In fact, a study conducted for Nestlé found that an annual investment of

$500m-$600m

into regenerative agriculture in coffee could trigger over $2bn in additional farmer income, demonstrating the commercial case as much as the environmental one.

But Klim's impact doesn't stop at the field's edge. They also empower farmers by connecting them to markets and fostering a direct relationship where farmers become agents of change. 

Finally, their agritech platform offers documentation and financing options for regenerative measures, alongside access to knowledge and a vibrant community. 

Klim Eco is a powerful illustration of what's possible when businesses embrace regeneration. In their case it's happy farmers, healthy soil, and a greener planet.

While the terms "restoration" and "regeneration" are often used interchangeably, they have some differences in their underlying environmental goals.

Restoration focuses on bringing something back to a previous state, typically one pre-dating human interference or natural disaster. It involves repairing damaged ecosystems, rebuilding lost infrastructure, or repopulating endangered species. 

On the other hand, regeneration goes beyond restoration. It aims to create a system that's even more healthy and resilient than the original. This is accomplished through transforming degraded land into thriving ecosystems with enhanced biodiversity, improved soil health, and sustainable resource management. 

Sustainable businesses focus on minimising negative impacts on the environment and society while maintaining current levels of resource use. They embrace sustainable practices like reducing emissions, using renewable energy, recycling, ethical sourcing, and fair labour practices. The outcome is often maintaining the status quo or slowing down degradation.

Regenerative business, however, takes this a step further by actively improving the environment and society beyond their current state. They go beyond sustainability to leave a net positive impact by building a handprint that actively heals and regenerates.

It's important to note that the concepts are not mutually exclusive. Sustainability is often seen as a stepping stone to regeneration. Businesses can start by adopting sustainable practices and then progress towards more regenerative approaches as they learn and grow.

A 2024 review of

84 regenerative business

cases across 15 sectors by ScienceDirect found that stable, successful regenerative businesses exist in nearly every major industry, and that many have been operating on regenerative principles since the 1870s. The predominant sectors leading regenerative innovation today are food, consumer goods, and fashion.

According to a

ReGenFriends study

, nearly 80% of US consumers want brands to go beyond sustainability and commit to regeneration. This highlights a shift in consumer preferences, with many finding the term "sustainable" too passive and lacking in ambition.

To become a regenerative business, you need to start with small, purposeful steps. Here's a guide to help you get started on your regenerative business journey:

By taking these steps and leveraging the

Earthly platform

, businesses can embark on a transformative journey towards regenerative practices, actively contributing to the health of the planet for future generations.

One of the biggest barriers businesses face on their regenerative journey is knowing whether the nature projects they invest in are actually delivering the impact they claim. With over

66 certifications

in the voluntary carbon market alone, separating high-integrity projects from greenwashing risk is difficult, especially as SBTi, TNFD, and CSRD requirements tighten and nature investment moves from nice-to-have to business imperative.

Earthly removes that uncertainty. Our marketplace lists only nature projects that have passed

Keystone 3.0

, our 160-point assessment framework evaluating every project across biodiversity, community, carbon, and people impct. When you invest through Earthly, you have a credible, verified starting point - with impact data and reporting ready for SBTi, TNFD, CSRD, and beyond.

Explore our nature projects on the

Earthly marketplace

, or

speak to our team

to find the right fit for your business.

What is a regenerative business?

A regenerative business is a company that seeks to create positive outcomes for nature, people and the economy through the way it operates, sources, invests and makes decisions. Unlike traditional sustainability methods, regenerative businesses aim to improve the health and resilience of the systems they depend on.

What is the difference between a sustainable and regenerative business?

Sustainable businesses focus on reducing negative impacts and maintaining resources over time. Regenerative businesses go a step further by actively restoring ecosystems, supporting communities and creating net-positive outcomes for nature and society.

Why are regenerative businesses becoming more important?

Growing concerns around climate change, biodiversity loss and supply chain resilience are encouraging businesses to look beyond sustainability. Regenerative practices can help organisations respond to stakeholder expectations, strengthen long-term resilience and prepare for evolving reporting and disclosure requirements.

Can any business become regenerative?

Yes, businesses of all sizes can begin their journey towards regeneration by understanding their environmental impact, setting clear sustainability goals, adopting responsible sourcing practices and investing in initiatives that support nature and communities.

How can businesses support regeneration?

Businesses can support regeneration in many ways, including adopting regenerative sourcing practices, reducing waste, investing in ecosystem restoration, supporting biodiversity projects and collaborating with organisations that deliver measurable environmental outcomes.

What role do nature-based solutions play in regenerative business?

Nature-based solutions help businesses contribute to climate action and biodiversity recovery by protecting, restoring and improving natural ecosystems. They can form an important part of a broader regenerative business strategy when combined with efforts to reduce environmental impacts across operations and supply chains.

What regenerative business models can my business adopt?

There are several practical models businesses are already using - regenerative sourcing, circular production and even investing in nature-based solutions like carbon credits and voluntary biodiversity credits. The right model depends on your industry, supply chain, and sustainability goals. Earthly's guide to

regenerative business models

breaks down the four most impactful approaches with real-world examples to help you find your starting point.