Nature enters corporate governance

FaithInNature is a Scottish cosmetics company and the first in the world to recognise the legal rights of Nature inside its BoD. It’s a revolutionary business model which sees Nature as a partner rather than a resource to be exploited.

Milena Bernardi 

Founded in 1974 by Rivka Rose, a great plant enthusiast, FaithInNature, whose name means literally “Faith in Nature”, is classified as a one of the foremost sustainable companies. In 2022, after almost 50 years of activity, the company decided that acting responsibly with respect to the environment, and having a Sustainability Director, was not enough. It therefore decided to appoint a nature representative to the Board of Directors, an authentic management figure with the right to vote who acts in the name and on behalf of Nature. The decision was the result of an elementary observation: everything that we do has an impact on the environment, while the latter has no say in the matter.

From a silent resource to an active part of the decision-making process
Before making any decision, FaithInNature’s BoD asks itself a question: What would Nature say? The question is put to the appointed director represented by a member of Lawyers for Nature, one of the legal teams that have contributed to creating the new model, and who works alongside a committee of experts on the subject in order to support the environmental cause. All decisions taken by the Board against the opinion of the representative must be suitably motivated. Finally, once a year a “Nature report” is published which describes the overall impact of company activities.

Reduce, recycle, regenerate
In the meantime, the company has managed to reduce the quantity of energy used in the production process by as much as 180,000 kWh in a single year. The vast majority of plastic used in packaging is 100% recycled (this has been the case for the small 400 ml bottles since 1999) and the introduction of new 500 ml bottles in 100% recycled aluminium is another step in the direction of circularity. FaithInNature also applies zero waste policies (-3.92% in the last year compared to the previous one), while ingredients are at Km 0 and don’t have transport impacts. The factory and the warehouse are 100% powered by renewable solar energy, while the water used in the new Ainsworth site is heated by eight biomass boilers powered by wood pellets made from sawdust waste.

Creating a replicable model
FaithInNature’s goal has always been to create a practical model which is easily implementable in as many companies and organisations as possible, because only in this way will the project reach its maximum potential.

"Thinking of nature only as a resource to exploit has led us to the brink of ecological disaster. Historically, "success" has meant “profit”; today it means having a healthy environment in which to prosper" the company affirms.