Graduation Year
2020
Graduation Month
May
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
School or Department
Biological Sciences, Division of
Major
Biology – Ecology and Organismal Biology
Faculty Mentor Department
Business School
Faculty Mentor
Jakki Mohr
Keywords
Business sustainability, ecosystem services, natural capital, business
Subject Categories
Business
Abstract
Historically, business practices have negatively affected the natural environment. Many environmental problems originated from businesses’ view of nature as a source of cheap inputs. Moreover, businesses haven’t accounted for negative environmental impacts on “natural capital” (e.g. water, forests, pollination, etc.) from manufacturing, pollution, toxic waste, shipping, and transportation. Given that “you can’t manage what you don’t measure,” various organizations are developing models and metrics to quantify business impacts on natural capital, and leading businesses are forging ahead with financial valuations. For example, the Kering Group displays their natural capital valuations through an interactive “Environmental Profit and Loss” calculator, displaying global environmental impacts in Euros. Despite the compelling logic of accounting for impacts on nature, few businesses do so. Our research conducted through in-depth interviews with businesses, NGOs, consultants, and others highlights the array of motives behind these companies’ efforts, as well as the challenges they have overcome. In addition, our research demonstrates that valuations of natural capital affect decision making in powerful and unexpected ways.
Honors College Research Project
Yes
GLI Capstone Project
no
Recommended Citation
Thissen, Carmen L. and Mohr, Jakki J., "Lessons from Leaders: Mainstreaming corporate valuations of impacts and dependencies on nature" (2020). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 288.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/288
Included in
© Copyright 2020 Carmen L. Thissen and Jakki J. Mohr