‘When retail businesses act responsibly, society can benefit’

Children who are born today will face a vastly different world by the time they reach the age of 60.

The UK alone has lost almost half of its biodiversity since the Industrial Revolution, including 97% of wildflower meadows in the last century. As a nation, we’re experiencing catastrophic nature loss, with the most recent State Of Nature Report revealing that one in six species is at risk of extinction in Britain.

The impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are monumental. Without urgent action our children could witness the loss of the Amazon rainforest, the thawing of the arctic permafrost and mass species extinction and habitat loss, which would leave our planet unrecognisable.

The evidence is clear. Nature is in crisis, and we must act now to save it.

Every child deserves a healthy planet

In addition to the moral incentive, it is in our best interests to act. As a food brand, we rely on nature to do business: pollination contributes to a third of global food production. 

Protecting nature is essential to limit carbon emissions and adapt to the climate emergency. Research shows approximately one-third of the emission reductions required could be achieved by conserving and restoring nature.

Businesses can and must step up to play their part by developing more meaningful partnerships and fostering collaboration.

That’s why I’m so excited about this year’s Anthropy* event. Our work at Ella’s Kitchen aligns directly with Anthropy’s framework and mission to help create a more positive, sustainable and ultimately successful society.

At Ella’s Kitchen, our mission is to help ensure that every child grows up happy, healthy and never hungry. And core to this is the belief that every child should grow up on a healthy planet buzzing with life.

Purposeful nature partnerships

That’s why we launched our long-term partnership with the RSPB this year. A key aim of this is to protect and restore 30 million sq ft of nature-rich wildflower and grassland meadows by 2030.

To help deliver this “30 by 30” target, we are supporting nine projects across RSPB’s UK reserve network, from Sussex to the Hebrides, delivering new areas of wildflower meadows and species-rich grassland, as well as providing long-term monitoring and management of existing areas.

However, central to our partnership is how we can learn from each other. We will be examining every aspect of our business, from our people policies to sourcing practices, to see how we can share knowledge and networks to further embed nature throughout our business. We will also use our unique platform to support parents, carers and their children to connect with and help protect wildlife across the UK.

As well as the practical ways we can embed nature within our businesses, we are also looking at how we use our voice to champion nature. Our new “five for the under-fives” campaign is calling on policymakers to prioritise nature and our children’s futures.

Drive change, build brand trust 

When businesses act responsibly, society can benefit. Purpose-driven businesses also drive better performance, with mounting evidence showing that the pursuit of purpose can build brand trust and boost customer engagement.

Working in partnership with nature will only become more important. We’re already seeing a new generation of consumers use their purchasing power to help drive social and environmental change.

But we cannot achieve change alone. Across the retail sector, we must work with partners, suppliers, customers, and other business to educate and inspire on the importance of nature in a sustainable food system.