The ocean’s business is everybody’s business. We owe every second
breath to the vast expanses of water that cradle our planet, which
produce more than 50% of the world’s oxygen. The daily diet of three
billion people is based on marine-based food. When put into GDP terms,
the ocean is the world’s seventh largest economy. And yet this
life-supporting system filled with unprecedented economic opportunities
is under serious threat.
breath to the vast expanses of water that cradle our planet, which
produce more than 50% of the world’s oxygen. The daily diet of three
billion people is based on marine-based food. When put into GDP terms,
the ocean is the world’s seventh largest economy. And yet this
life-supporting system filled with unprecedented economic opportunities
is under serious threat.
“In the last few years, we have noticed that impact investing – how
to invest clients’ assets in an impactful way while creating financial
returns – has become a strong priority for our clients. And ocean
conservation has been of particular importance,” says Claudio de
Sanctis, Head of Private Banking Europe at Credit Suisse.
to invest clients’ assets in an impactful way while creating financial
returns – has become a strong priority for our clients. And ocean
conservation has been of particular importance,” says Claudio de
Sanctis, Head of Private Banking Europe at Credit Suisse.
Together with Portugal-based Oceano Azul Foundation, Credit Suisse
recently held its first “Impact Roundtable” on marine conservation. The
conference aimed to spark a debate on the state of the oceans, to create
a community of investors interested in working together to make a
difference, and to raise awareness of investment opportunities in the
blue economy, the newest arm of impact investing. “The opportunities for
clients to invest in marine conservation and the blue economy will
continue to grow alongside the growth in demand from those looking to
help make a difference in the health of our oceans,” said Marisa Drew,
CEO Impact Advisory and Finance at Credit Suisse. “Credit Suisse has
been in a leading position in the impact investing arena for over 15
years and our role in hosting a summit like this, which brings together
those with capital and those with projects, provides a catalyst for
further development of marine thematic investment opportunities.”
recently held its first “Impact Roundtable” on marine conservation. The
conference aimed to spark a debate on the state of the oceans, to create
a community of investors interested in working together to make a
difference, and to raise awareness of investment opportunities in the
blue economy, the newest arm of impact investing. “The opportunities for
clients to invest in marine conservation and the blue economy will
continue to grow alongside the growth in demand from those looking to
help make a difference in the health of our oceans,” said Marisa Drew,
CEO Impact Advisory and Finance at Credit Suisse. “Credit Suisse has
been in a leading position in the impact investing arena for over 15
years and our role in hosting a summit like this, which brings together
those with capital and those with projects, provides a catalyst for
further development of marine thematic investment opportunities.”
Ocean Plastic Crisis: A Problem We Can Turn into Business
Two of the biggest ecological challenges for the ocean are overfishing
and its pollution with plastics. “We estimate that there is as much as
150 million tons of plastic in the ocean. If we do not intervene now, by
2025 this amount will grow to 250 million tons. This means that by
2042, one kilogram of fish will equal one kilogram of plastic,” says
Prof. Martin Stuchtey, Founder and Managing Partner at SYSTEMIQ, a
purpose-driven advisory and investment firm. The surplus of plastic is
also highly unproductive from an economic point of view: “Today we need
four times as much effort, four times as many fleets, four times as much
time to catch the same amount of fish.” He urged investors to look at
the oceans as a very attractive, fast-growing, and sustainable business
and market opportunity.
and its pollution with plastics. “We estimate that there is as much as
150 million tons of plastic in the ocean. If we do not intervene now, by
2025 this amount will grow to 250 million tons. This means that by
2042, one kilogram of fish will equal one kilogram of plastic,” says
Prof. Martin Stuchtey, Founder and Managing Partner at SYSTEMIQ, a
purpose-driven advisory and investment firm. The surplus of plastic is
also highly unproductive from an economic point of view: “Today we need
four times as much effort, four times as many fleets, four times as much
time to catch the same amount of fish.” He urged investors to look at
the oceans as a very attractive, fast-growing, and sustainable business
and market opportunity.
Discussing potential opportunities on how to tackle the plastic
crisis, Fabian Huwyler, Head of Green Solutions, Impact Advisory and
Finance at Credit Suisse, pointed out: “It is important to take a
holistic view to fully understand the drivers and potential solutions to
the various challenges that we have in and around the ocean. It’s not a
one-off local problem, but a systemic one.” He added: “To allow the
blue economy to move in the right direction, we could scale and advance
better and more readily recyclable materials. We could also support
circular business models that support product packaging reduction. Or we
could advance tracking and sorting technologies, which allow greater
recycling.”
crisis, Fabian Huwyler, Head of Green Solutions, Impact Advisory and
Finance at Credit Suisse, pointed out: “It is important to take a
holistic view to fully understand the drivers and potential solutions to
the various challenges that we have in and around the ocean. It’s not a
one-off local problem, but a systemic one.” He added: “To allow the
blue economy to move in the right direction, we could scale and advance
better and more readily recyclable materials. We could also support
circular business models that support product packaging reduction. Or we
could advance tracking and sorting technologies, which allow greater
recycling.”
Turning Innovative Business Ideas into Investment Opportunities
Numerous successful entrepreneurs with innovative business models that
build on a sustainable management of the ocean were put in the spotlight
at the roundtable. The fashion brand “Ecoalf,” for example, recycles
discarded fishing nets, plastic bottles and used tires from the bottom
of the ocean and turns them into clothes, footwear, and accessories. Or
the “I am Water” foundation, which works with coastal communities around
the world to educate children about what is happening under the blue
surface. Its founder, freediver and WEF Young Global Leader Hanli
Prinsloo, is convinced that inspiring children about the beauty of the
ocean is one major step in creating passion and understanding among
communities living near the oceanfront that there is value in preserving
a healthy ocean.
build on a sustainable management of the ocean were put in the spotlight
at the roundtable. The fashion brand “Ecoalf,” for example, recycles
discarded fishing nets, plastic bottles and used tires from the bottom
of the ocean and turns them into clothes, footwear, and accessories. Or
the “I am Water” foundation, which works with coastal communities around
the world to educate children about what is happening under the blue
surface. Its founder, freediver and WEF Young Global Leader Hanli
Prinsloo, is convinced that inspiring children about the beauty of the
ocean is one major step in creating passion and understanding among
communities living near the oceanfront that there is value in preserving
a healthy ocean.
The consensus of the participants at the roundtable was clear: While
solutions to preserve the ocean exist, they are not yet at the scale
needed to address the magnitude of the challenges. But blue economy is a
market in the making with growing opportunities for investors who want
to make an impact.
solutions to preserve the ocean exist, they are not yet at the scale
needed to address the magnitude of the challenges. But blue economy is a
market in the making with growing opportunities for investors who want
to make an impact.
