50 Investible Opportunities for a New Nature Economy Supplementary Appendix 2026

51 Steel slag , a by - product of steel making, can be used in downstream industries (e.g., as a fertilizer proxy in agriculture) – Pollutant r eduction : Recycling steel slag reduces landfill disposal volumes and pollution risks associated with steel slag disposal which may contain trace amounts of heavy metals and other contaminants. – Use of waste products: Recycling steel slag helps conserve natural resources by repurposing a by - product which otherwise go to waste. Archetype Scalable Nature impact Transformative impact Suitability of financing and de - risking instruments Technological / process maturity Capital intensity Scalability Bonds Loans Equity Other De - risking Commercial bonds Thematic bonds Sustainability - linked bonds Impact bonds Commercial loans Thematic loans / project finance Sustainability - linked loans Impact loans Commercial equity Private equity Venture capital Impact equity Blended finance Insurance Advanced market commitments Legend: Low High Low suitability High suitability Payments for ecosystem services Land ecosystem Freshwater ecosystem Ocean ecosystem Resource use Pollution Co - benefits Climate Social ✓ – Established applications: Proven recycling technologies exist to use steel slag in concrete production and as a fertilizer substitute . – Minimal initial investment: Many steel mills have existing infrastructure in place for handling by - products. – Financing suitability characteristics: Steel slag recycling companies typically require moderate capital investments for processing infrastructure, quality control, and transportation. Established firms can access commercial loans and project finance to expand capacity and improve operational efficiency. Investments can focus on standardizing composition and quality of inputs to support growth in market demand. Advanced market commitments can also support demand certainty for steel slag processors and recycling companies.– Revenue potential : By offering a cost - effective alternative to conventional fertilizers, steel producers can diversify revenues through agricultural market entry. Negative impact Positive impact Financing target Processors and recyclers Chemicals, Plastics & Pharma Construction Materials Energy Mining Technology Transportation & Logistics Cross - sectoral Automotive Fashion & Textiles Leisure Waste Management Metals & Steel Agri, Food & Forestry Conditions Matches efficacy and quality of conventional materials Financial impact Revenue increase✓ Opex reduction – Capex reduction – Steel slag recycling FINANCING THE NATURE - POSITIVE TRANSITION