A holistic framework for assessing nature-related risks and advancing sustainable business performance
The impacts of business activities go beyond climate, and many companies depend on other Earth systems for raw materials and ecosystem services.
That’s why, at Quantis, we use a planetary boundaries lens to assess environmental pressures and guide sustainability strategy. A planetary boundaries approach provides a science-based framework for assessing environmental impacts, mitigating business risks and informing strategic priorities in a changing landscape.
But what are planetary boundaries?
The Planetary Boundaries framework was developed in 2009 by Johan Rockström of the Stockholm Resilience Centre to identify the processes that regulate the stability and resilience of Earth’s systems, and to define quantitative thresholds for operating within those limits.
The framework provides a science-based approach to understanding how human activity interacts with Earth’s systems and where thresholds risk being exceeded. Current research indicates that seven of the nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed.
Because Earth’s systems are interconnected, environmental challenges cannot be addressed in isolation. A holistic approach that considers all nine planetary boundaries helps organizations build resilience, prioritize action and integrate sustainability into their business decisions.
Business relevance of the Planetary Boundaries framework
The Planetary Boundaries framework provides a structured, science-based lens for assessing environmental impacts and dependencies across interconnected systems. At Quantis, we use this lens to evaluate trade-offs, identify exposure to risk and prioritize action across multiple environmental dimensions – rather than focusing on climate alone.
Applied in analysis and strategy development, this lens can help organizations:
- Mitigate physical, transitional, reputational and liability risks
- Improve operational visibility and resilience
- Anticipate regulatory and market shifts
- Strengthen credibility through science-informed commitments
By broadening the scope beyond a single issue, this approach supports more informed decision-making and integrates sustainability considerations into each unique business strategy.
How Quantis can help
Applying a planetary boundaries lens requires thoughtful analysis and structured action. Quantis works with organizations to assess environmental impacts and dependencies, translate insight into strategic priorities, and integrate sustainability into core business strategies.
We apply this lens through a clear, phased approach that moves from understanding impacts to implementing change across the organization:
Assess and establish the baseline and set targets.
Our experts work with clients to measure their environmental impacts and dependencies. With a unique perspective on frameworks such as the Science Based Targets Network’s (SBTN) integrated guidance for nature targets, we identify key metrics and current baselines in order to form a sustainability strategy with achievable, meaningful targets.
Design a structured path forward.
Building on assessment insights, we develop clear priorities, science-aligned targets and practical roadmaps. From refining operating models to strengthening governance and oversight, we define the structures required to manage environmental exposure and support long-term performance.
Operationalize sustainability across the enterprise.
We support implementation across leadership, operations and value chains — aligning incentives, capabilities and systems to ensure sustainability objectives are embedded in day-to-day execution and performance management.
Ready to align sustainability with business performance?
What are the planetary boundaries ?
The nine planetary boundaries are the thresholds human activities can’t cross without generating abrupt or irreversible environmental changes. We’ve outlined the nine boundaries below, with crossed boundaries marked with an asterisk.
Climate Change* → the short and long-term shifts in global temperature and weather patterns
Freshwater Change* → resource pressure due to water cycle disruptions, water contamination and unsustainable resource utilization
a) Greenwater* → rainfall, soil moisture and evaporation
b) Freshwater Use (Blue water) → extraction of water in rivers, lakes, and groundwater
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion → the breakdown and thinning of the ozone layer
Atmospheric Aerosol Loading → air pollution and how it affects humans and ecosystems
Ocean Acidification → the increased absorption of carbon dioxide into the world’s oceans forming carbonic acid, which significantly impacts marine ecosystems
Biogeochemical Flows* → the overuse of nitrogen and phosphorus leading to disruptions in Earth’s various cycles
Land-System Change* → the conversion of forests, wetlands and grasslands into areas suitable for human use and exploitation
Novel Entities* → toxic and long-lived substances, both man-made and natural, that have harmful geophysical and biological consequences on the planet
Biosphere Integrity* → the preservation of diversity in species, diversity in genotypes and abundance of species from local and global extinction to ensure the integrity of ecosystem services; also known as biodiversity loss
a) E/MSY → measure of how much of Earth’s biocapacity is being used to support human activities
b) BII → measure of the extent to which ecosystems have lost their original biodiversity due to human activities
