A post about how to trigger positive feedback loops rather than glossy reports

Big words , large data sets and numerous acronyms are being used to convince corporates to act now before it is too late.

Whether you’re a multi-site tourism operator or a small boutique hotel, climate change, talent loss, and resource scarcity hit your balance sheet just the same.

And when this happens, decisions are made out of fear. Worse, another well-meaning business bankrupts or makes decisions that continue to be negative for the entire sector.

And the absolute worst that can happen when we are unprepared? Well, the most valuable “things” every business relies on, that is people, nature and trust, continue to be affected negatively. And in this scenario, there are no winners. Not even the big guys can survive.

At Between Natures, we believe sustainability should feel like solid business case for thriving in uncertain times. But, sometimes, the daily reality and complex language stand in the way and it is hard to act on risks we do not fully “see” yet.

So, let’s get back to the basics we all deeply know, but are too afraid to say without sounding too simplistic for the big stages of the corporate ESG events.

To tackle the big ideas in sustainability, we’re using a mix of ‘back-of-the-envelope’ math and deep-dive explainers.

Our goal? To show you how a simple shift in thinking creates a positive feedback loop that pays you back directly and to help you see the big and hairy sustainability terms in a different light: not as laborious data analysis for the “big guys,” but as vital vocabulary for every business.

Let’s go.

Nature is our primary partner we cannot ignore

Don’t believe us? Ask yourself:

Is our site—or a key supplier’s site—vulnerable to a 4-day weather interruption? If our primary source of water or raw materials failed tomorrow, do we have a “Plan B” already tested?

Cost of Inaction? Panic Price

Look at your most critical raw material. If a climate event causes a 20% price spike tomorrow, how much extra cash do you need to find this month? Think of it as your Panic Price.

Think of nature as “Our primary partner we cannot ignore”, not an abstract thing out there. When you do that:

• Short-term: You avoid sudden “panic price” shocks to your cash flow.

• Long-term: You secure the very resources your business relies on to exist.

When you demand regenerative materials, you trigger something of a Supply Chain Restoration Loop. Your small demand, joined by others, makes it profitable for suppliers to restore soil and biodiversity. This heals the land and stabilizes the climate, ultimately coming back to you as lower resource volatility and a healthy ecosystem we all depend on.

Transition risks is the timing I cannot ignore

Sounds corny? So, ask yourself:

Are we currently using technology, heating systems, or vehicles that will be illegal or heavily taxed in the next three years?

Cost of Inaction? Rush Premium

Take the cost of a necessary upgrade (e.g., switching to low emitting cars). Now, add a 15% of what we could call a “Rush Premium” for waiting until the law makes it mandatory.

Think of transition risks as “Timing I cannot ignore.” Result?

• Short-term: You avoid “late fees” and the stress of forced compliance.

• Long-term: You build a modern, energy-efficient operation that is cheaper to run.

Early adoption slowly triggers a Market Transformation Loop. As SMEs pivot, green tech reaches a tipping point where these tools become the default, driving down prices. You help decarbonize the grid, which comes back to you as lower energy prices and a stable operating environment for everyone. Not to mention: lower emissions and cleaner air.

Circular Economy is a way to put an end to an engineering failure which is waste

Circular economy is not a silver bullet, but ask yourself, more broadly about waste:

Are we paying for the same item three times (Purchase + Transport + Disposal fee)? Look at your bins—how much of what you paid for is generating zero value for your customers?

Cost of inaction ? Your Silent Cash

Take your monthly material and energy spend. Multiply it by 0.10. Think of it as Your Silent Cash—money you’ve already spent that is ending up in a bin.

The shift?

Think of waste as “An engineering failure.” When you do that:

• Short-term: You immediately reclaim lost margins.

• Long-term: You become less dependent on volatile global supply chains.

This shift triggers something of the Resource Abundance Loop. By keeping materials in use, we reduce the need for destructive extraction. As we move toward a circular economy, the “cost of waste” vanishes, coming back to us all as resources we no longer need to fight for.

Labour is our greatest asset

Labour is the HR stuff and this is handled by the HR staff. But, ask yourself:

If our internal pay structure was made public tomorrow, would it cause a walk-out? Are we training our whole team for disruption, or are we creating a “skills bottleneck” at the top?

Cost of inaction?  Your talent tax

Replacing a mid-level manager costs roughly 50% of their annual salary in recruitment and lost productivity. Think of it as Your Talent Tax.

Think of labour as “Institutional (human) memory, the beating heart and our greatest asset.” When you do that:

• Short-term: You stabilize your team and reduce the high cost of recruitment.

• Long-term: You build a culture of fairness and disruption-readiness that attracts the best talent.

Investing in labour matters i.e., people we employ, triggers the Social Stability Loop. Fair pay and training reduce regional inequality and increase local purchasing power. A prosperous community is a more resilient market, which comes back to you as increased demand and a safer, stronger society. Now imagine, everyone across your supply chain thinks this way.

Community engagement is a priceless permit to operate

Don’t belive me? So, ask yourself:

How many man-hours do we spend resolving local complaints or legal friction? Do our neighbours “stand behind” our business, or are we competing with them for water, space, and energy?

Cost of Inaction ? Your Friction Tax

Calculate the man-hours spent handling complaints or disputes. Think of it as Your Friction Tax.

Think of communities as “A Social License to Operate—a permit you can’t buy.” When you do that:

• Short-term: You reduce project friction and legal disputes.

• Long-term: You create a local ecosystem that supports your right to operate.

This then triggers the Stakeholder Trust Loop. When businesses and communities act as partners, we solve systemic problems (like housing or water access) together. This strengthens the social fabric, coming back to you as brand loyalty no competitor can buy and restoring trust to entire sectors.

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And the big appluse follows in the form of the impact you make

When you start asking yourself questions around key capitals: nature, human and social, finance, produced, you aren’t just saving money today and making better decisions; you are participating in a global feedback loop.

A healthier planet, a more equal society, and a circular economy aren’t just “philanthropy” or buzzwords —they are the solid foundations that will support your business (viewed by as as part of the wider system) for the next fifty years.

When we work with clients, we often use the Enterprise Mapping with all four capitals laid out and value chain on top of the map at Between Natures, we aren’t just trying to be novel or unique. We are helping you find the Positive Tipping Points that is actions which contribute to a world that works for the business that must work.

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Which “simple question” got you thinking? Were you able to calculate some of the costs of inaction?

Has any of the costs of inaction made you realise you must

If you’re ready to turn these numbers into a plan, book an IDEATE session to get you going.