Clean / Impact Business Opportunities

Drivers, Business Opportunities, and Resources for Zero Waste

Recent (2 March 2021) interview of In3 Group’s managing partner Daniel Robin by Companies for Zero Waste founder Scott Donachie (be sure the audio is on), 9 minutes:

Business Opportunities to meet the moment

Here are six immediate business opportunity areas, in no particular order, except that they’re all needed “sooner or later” so … probably now would be good:

1. Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems: more about regenerating soils, preserving and rebuilding topsoils than the controversy around cattle as a source of protein, this one sector is arguably the key to restoring water cycles, drawing down atmospheric carbon into soils, and restoring health and prosperity to a sector that seems unable to save itself. Farmers that are surrounded by land with no topsoil remaining continue to farm as if that’s reasonable. It isn’t. They’re confusing Mother Nature with a Fairy Godmother.
2. Waste-to-Value: Dealing with accumulating garbage, waste materials that don’t “go away” (there’s been no “away” since the 1990s or perhaps even earlier) on their own. This includes both toxins like plastics that escape from captivity, as well as biological nutrients that are displaced, often a source of methane or other greenhouses gases (GHGs). Anyone that can secure sufficient volumes of waste rubber or plastics, or biomass wastes (food waste, sawdust, manures, etc.), can make a profitable business.
3. Electrify / Decarbonize Transportation: Electric Vehicles (EVs) are slowly emerging as an advantageous form of passenger vehicle transportation, but there are known issues (fears) that have delayed adoption. Some say they’re waiting for a breakthrough in mobile device storage (batteries remain relatively expensive and heavy, so could hydrogen fuel take on new importance?), while hybrids and charging infrastructure expand in most markets. Air travel is also ripe for innovation, ushering in the “greening” of that sector, alongside electrification of airports, trucks, buses and commercial transportation generally.  Definitely an opportunity, as the transition is happening, albeit much too slowly.
4. Renewable Energy: Shift power generation to renewable sources, end the “fossil folly” and gradually de-commission Coal, Gas-fired and Nuclear Power plants. Petrochemicals have similar downsides in that they’re finite and the supply chains are “dirty” with few disposal options that help clean up the mess we’ve already made. At best, this shift to renewable energy will help slow the rate of destruction of habitat and healthy soils, air, water … so we must switch over as fast as impact capital can allow, but do not mistake being “less bad” for being “good” — assuring that we will draw down enough atmospheric carbon to move the needle toward cooler and more stable temperatures. Renewable Energy is simply Ground Zero for meaningful change. It is working well in most markets, with massive job creation and emissions reductions, with power generation replacing the need for new fossil or nuclear plants entirely, but so far with limited penetration. Will this trajectory continue and grow? This flourishing needs to take over and multiply even more quickly, globally, especially in poorer countries that rely on dirty fuels like kerosene or diesel for cooking, lighting or power. Using electricity derived from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels to cook eliminates the harm caused by the by-products of combustion of both liquid fuels such as nasty kerosene or solid fuels like charcoal. Such distributed energy can “leapfrog” over lack of infrastructure in these cases and eliminate the need to import petroleum or CNG from other countries.
5. Decarbonize Buildings, Manufacturing, Chemicals: The number of unhoused persons makes a strong case for more affordable, efficient and smaller homes, but also ones that will last (fire and earthquake resistance), are truly livable (in safe neighborhoods, tightly insulated, excellent air circulation, free from toxins and pathogens, etc.), making the case for “green buildings” and better living through “green chemistry”, increasing our reliance on “biorenewables” — natural, organic, clean, healthy and sustainably sourced. This includes switching to bioplastics, cleaners that use biogenic surfactants (Client: WISE Solutions), etc. Why use a petroleum-derived toxic pesticide to kill bugs, for example, when citrus oils do as good a job? And if we’re extremely clever, we’ll seek to build with materials like bamboo or hemp that also sequester carbon (client: BamCore) and/or repurpose waste materials as part of the design. Rapid deployment using modern modular or partially pre-fabricated structures would help, too.
6. Smart Cities, Energy Efficiency, Lighting & Controls, whether new construction or retrofits, can lead to “impact” or “sustainable finance” opportunities that are quite lucrative and deliver better places to live and work. I’d also throw on this pile decarbonizing the major polluters within cities, namely waste-intensive and energy-consuming production of cement, steel, and industrial chemicals.

Consider market timing alongside basic business model “design” for triple bottom line performance, benefit to people and planet as well as profits. This is our shorthand definition of “impact”, where In3 offers access typically to as much capital as needed, and probably more than most people can imagine that’s already committed under attractive terms & conditions. Access is simply a matter of pre-qualification.

Although we focus mostly on project finance (see In3’s mid-market project investment strategy), we remain open to compelling, game-changing new ventures with strong potential in these areas. Otherwise, what’s the point? The “single bottom line” of just making money is out, as seductive as that may seem. There’s actually no reason to focus on minimizing environmental or social harm when being “good” (effective designs) are no less profitable in the mid- to longer run. Making a “flash in the pan” profit may feel good for a short time, but is that good enough for you? It is greed and profiteering without a conscience. There’s no room in today’s marketplace for such ethical impairment and irresponsible behavior. Fine to crawl before walking or flying, if that’s what it takes, or blending a desire for great wealth and affluence with social and environmental benefit, not far behind, but never take your eyes off that longer-term prize.

Related:

1. Editorial article: “Climate Stabilization through a Bioinspired Approach” plus why Bill Gates has “More Money than Brains” when it comes to climate change
2. Problems solved by In3 Capital Partners for access to mid-market project finance
3. Funding for projects in these and other industry sectors starts here
4. Upcoming events in waste-to-value.