Faith in Nature (UK) Nature Governance: nature on the board

Summary

In August 2022, Faith In Nature, a natural household and beauty products company based in the United Kingdom, became the first company in the world to appoint Nature to its Board of Directors. The initiative formalized Nature’s representation within the company’s governance structure, marking an innovative step toward integrating Rights of Nature principles into corporate decision-making. The company stated that “everything we do has an impact upon the natural world, and yet the natural world itself has no say on these decisions.” By voluntarily recognizing Nature’s legal and moral standing, Faith In Nature sought to ensure that the natural world has an institutionalized voice in business strategy and policy.

Nature Governance Structure:
Nature was formally granted one vote as a director on the Board. A Nature Guardian was appointed to act on Nature’s behalf, supported by a committee of environmental experts who may be consulted or delegated specific responsibilities. To enact this change, Faith In Nature made two amendments to its Articles of Association: 1. The objects clause was revised to include an obligation “to have a positive impact on Nature as a whole and to minimise the prospect of any harmful impact of the business and operations on Nature.” 2. The Board was authorized to appoint a Non-Executive Director to represent Nature and to delegate powers to at least one guardian who acts in Nature’s interests.

This approach has been designed to work in the UK where it can be implemented exactly as Faith In Nature has done so. Consideration was also given to implementation in the USA, but not from another jurisdiction.

Background and Context:
Faith In Nature initially explored how Nature might be treated as a stakeholder within the business (a party to whom the company is accountable). After researching legal precedents, the company determined that under English and Wales company law, a director could legally represent the natural world, non-humans and environmental interests. The initiative, known as Nature on the Board (NOTB), was designed to demonstrate how corporate governance could evolve to include nonhuman representation without requiring legislative reform.

Transparency and Reporting:
Acknowledging public skepticism, the company emphasized transparency as a safeguard against “greenwashing.” It committed to regular public reporting on how Nature’s representation informs decision-making, and encouraged other organizations to adopt similar measures. As stated by Faith In Nature, “By making Nature a director, we hope to make better-informed decisions around topics that impact it, and inspire others to implement Nature’s Rights in their own models.”

Impact Statement

Faith In Nature’s appointment of Nature to its Board is a novel private sector eco-jurisprudence framework, operationalizing the Rights of Nature within corporate law for the first time. The case demonstrates that environmental responsibility can coexist with commercial success. The initiative has inspired a movement of nonhuman governance models, and has served as a prototype for other businesses and NGOs exploring similar frameworks. It continues to influence nature-based governance experiments, academic discourse on corporate law reform, and advocacy for systemic change in production and consumerism.

Involved Organizations

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