Trends Natural capital 3/4
Many beverage carton
manufacturers have put
rigorous traceability
systems in place
hardly known as an environmental champion, acknowledged in a report that current growth patterns are unsustainable
because of the accompanying environmental degradation and advocated placing a monetary value on ecosystems.
The report highlighted efforts by the
Thai government to place a value on its
mangrove swamps. It found that removing the mangrove to create a shrimp
farm might generate nearly $10,000 per
hectare, but if the mangrove swamps are
retained, and their importance in providing a barrier against floods is taken into
account, they could be valued at more
than $16,000 per hectare.
One industry where natural capital
accounting might drive change most significantly, particularly as global population growth continues to put pressure on
finite natural resources, is retail, which
is heavily reliant on natural assets for
food products, packaging, refrigeration
and transport. As the market becomes
increasingly competitive, it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out
amongst the large grocery retailers and
food manufacturers.
In the case of packaging, natural resources, and the species which rely heavily
on them, do not have to be sacrificed in
order for retailers to make economically
sustainable decisions. Natural renew-
