The intention of companies to invest in biodiversity and ecosystem services credits through an online-marketplace

authored by

Marlen S. Krause, Bettina Matzdorf

Abstract

We investigated the intention of companies to voluntarily pay for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES), specifically by purchasing BES credits through an online-marketplace. The aim of our paper was to analyse influencing factors on companies’ intentions to buy BES credits through an online-marketplace as well as to gain insights into their investment preferences. We did an explorative, qualitative study by conducting interviews with 26 companies in Germany, followed by a structured content analysis based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Our results showed that some companies perceived an online-marketplace for BES credits to increase transparency, credibility, communication, as well as the ease to be engaged for nature conservation. Hindering factors to buy BES credits were especially the fear of greenwashing accusations and the lack of business case drivers. Most interviewees did not report stakeholder pressures for nature conservation; instead the intrinsic motivation of managers was of high importance. Managers were interested in diverse BES credits with important regional preferences. Based on our results, we discussed the potential corporate target group. In conclusion, our paper showed that an online-marketplace for BES credits might stimulate business investments in nature conservation.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

External Organisation(s)

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)

Type

Article

Journal

Ecosystem Services

Volume

40

ISSN

2212-0416

Publication date

12.2019

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Global and Planetary Change, Geography, Planning and Development, Ecology, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Nature and Landscape Conservation, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.101026 (Access: Closed)