We live in a time when organisations are larger than ever before, and their impact, both positive and negative, can be greater than ever.
Fortunately, in recent years, more and more companies are moving sustainability to the top of their agendas and seeking methods to reduce their environmental footprints.
Each part of the world is at a very different stage in this transformation towards a more sustainable economic system. Even though there is still so much to do, we are optimistic that the trend is moving in the right direction and even bringing new opportunities, such as within the Blue Economy, as we mentioned in a previous article.
Reducing the amount of material and waste, reusing materials, and recycling what can’t be reused anymore. These are probably the first and simplest steps any organisation can take towards becoming more sustainable and can be applied to everything, from their offices to their operations and systems.
The impact can be significant. However, in most cases, organisations can’t produce their goods or products in a completely zero-waste and footprint-neutral way, or doing so would significantly increase their costs making their products unaffordable. So what can businesses do to reduce the negative impact of their footprint?
Organisations that are committed to continuous improvement are adapting their systems, implementing innovations, searching for materials from sustainable sources and switching to greener alternatives. But they can go a step further, and also give back to nature.
There are questionable practices when it comes to companies becoming involved in nature conservation with the goal of cleaning their image rather than the environment, crossing the lines of greenwashing.
We consider that if an organisation wants to give back to nature, their efforts should start from within the company. Nature restoration should be just one of the many tools an organisation uses to become more sustainable, and it should also be regenerative. So if a company damages nature by 1 unit, it should give back 1.5.
One of the many ways businesses can give back to nature is, you guessed it, by supporting oyster restoration.
Instead of seeing giving money to nature as part of a CSR effort, it should be tied into the resilience and sustainability of supply chains. If an organisation relies on a natural system to produce its products, then it should ensure the health of this system in the same way as it might invest in the upkeep of a factory. Oyster reefs are wild fish factories.
Oyster restoration is a practice that not only helps restore the nearly extinct oyster reefs and revitalise marine ecosystems but also offers significant benefits for the environment that help counteract the footprints of corporate and societal activities. Some of the many benefits are:
Water quality enhancement
Oysters are natural filter feeders, capable of filtering seawater by consuming algae, plankton, and other particulate matter, including excess nitrogen waste. By supporting oyster restoration projects, businesses can indirectly contribute to enhancing water quality.
Bring the ocean back to balance
Oyster reefs can manage nitrogen from the water column and sequester significant amounts of carbon, helping mitigate the impacts of climate change and ocean warming. Oyster reef regeneration is therefore a great tool to help bring the ocean back to balance.
Ecosystem regeneration and support biodiversity
When we talk about oyster reef regeneration we are not talking about oysters as individual creatures, but as a whole ecosystem. Oysters grow on top of each other, forming a three-dimensional structure that is the home for hundreds of species, generating biodiversity and increasing fish stock.
Foster community engagement and social responsibility
Besides the environmental benefits, oyster restoration projects can also contribute to fostering community engagement. Our oyster restoration projects are community-led, involving local communities and stakeholders at every stage of the project. Fishermen will lead the deployment of the Mother Reefs into the sea and monitor their development, providing them with a new type of work using their knowledge and equipment.
In conclusion, oyster restoration can be integrated as one of the tools that companies use to improve sustainability and mitigate their impact. By partnering with oyster restoration initiatives, businesses can not only support their environmental and social responsibilities but also pave the way for a more sustainable future for both the organisation and the planet as a whole.
