50 Investible Opportunities for a New Nature Economy 2026

Value ($bn)Activity category (World Economic Forum analysis) Related investible opportunity within this report 87 Alternative meat Alternative proteins 75 Water efficiency in miningNew methods for dust suppression in mine sites 69 Mine rehabilitationPost-mining transition activities 68 Circular models in plasticsAdvanced plastic sorting techniquesSustainable plastic conversion processes for recycling and re-useAdvanced polymers and materials optimized for circular use 68 Circular models in constructionRecycling construction and demolition wasteSustainable cement and concrete blends 62 Sustainable inputs Biopesticides Biostimulants Sustainable fertilizers 51 Wastewater re-use On-site wastewater treatment technology 43 Energy access - urban Data centre heat re-use 32Technology in energy and mining supply chainsAdvanced analytics and AI integration for mining explorationAutonomous drone and remote sensing for mining explorationEarth observation for mine site management 14 Agroforestry Agroforestry 13 Urban green roofsGreen roofs and urban infrastructure 4,219Other business activities/ cross-activitySewage nutrient recovery Food reformulation Seaweed farming Biodegradable and compostable textilesWaterless and low-water dyeingData centre water management 10,100 Total business opportunities for nature-positive transition Note: Opportunities shown do not necessarily map directly to the annual business value identified for the activity (first two columns). Source: World Economic Forum.12 Of course, these opportunities are not one-size- fits-all; how appropriate or scalable they are will vary by geographical context. Risk-return profiles and feasibility can vary between markets due to local ecosystem conditions, policy environments, infrastructure gaps and client maturity. For banks and investors operating across multiple regions, the opportunities can be used as a common reference set that should be adapted to local context. For example, investors may prioritize water-efficiency solutions in water-stressed basins, regenerative agriculture in areas facing soil degradation, or ecosystem-scale collaborations where strong public or community partners are present. Likewise, these opportunities should always be viewed with a systemic lens – opportunities should be taken in the context of the company’s operations more broadly, as well as the local ecosystem, to ensure net-positive change at scale. FIGURE 4 Mapping investible opportunities to the Forum’s list of $10.1 trillion in nature-positive business value (continued) 50 Investible Opportunities for a New Nature Economy 14