Natural Capital Investment
Conservation and stewards of land to help solve the climate crisis.
Why invest in natural capital?
Investing in natural capital means focusing on the conservation of our landscapes, which includes planting trees, restoring peatland, and protecting biodiversity and local ecosystems. These activities create nature-based credits that we believe are integral in solving the climate crisis.
Decarbonisation is just one part of the puzzle to achieving net zero. Even with a path to removing emissions, there will always be residual hard-to-abate emissions that companies should be offsetting.
Growing numbers of companies have net zero targets not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because there are clear commercial advantages.
Demand for high quality nature-based credits is expected to increase in a market where the supply isn’t there yet.
How we’re restoring the UK landscape
Watch our video to see how we’re generating trustworthy carbon credits through our robust investment management and high-quality conservation.
Our approach to natural capital investment
Companies need to offset their emissions authentically and avoid reputational risk. And investors need to invest in the responsible restoration and management of land.
We focus on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) activities which actually remove existing CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in natural carbon sinks for the long-term. Partnering with trusted operators to bring best-in-class conservation and rigorous investment management, we are creating real impact through the generation of high quality carbon credits that are worthy of trust.
Our holistic nature-based approach creates value for all stakeholders and helps investors capture the growth potential in the carbon market.
Trusted carbon credits
Produced by high-quality conservation and land management in the UK through bespoke intervention, locally sourced trees and species-rich woodlands, and a data-led approach.
Multiple layers of value creation
In addition to nature-based credits, targeting predictable and sustainable ancillary cash flows through property restoration, ecotourism, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
Community driven
Aligned with the needs of local communities, restoring the natural landscape, creating local jobs, providing open-access areas and avoiding planting on agricultural land.
“We have an opportunity to kickstart a natural capital economy. By focusing on the quality of conservation, investors can target attractive, sustainable returns and accelerate the transition to net zero.”
Jonathan Digges, Chief Investment Officer
Meet the team
Jonathan Digges
Michael Toft
Alex Godfrey
Gabi Slemer
Other investment capabilities
Renewable Energy Investment
Sustainable Infrastructure
Latest insights
Octopus Investments announces £150m Local Government Pensions Scheme investment into affordable housing
Octopus Investments appoints Lieven Debruyne as Executive Vice Chair
A catalyst for real estate transformation
In the news
April 2024t
Investing in affordable housing: an opportunity to level up the UK
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Investments, writes that housing is referenced over 150 times in the UK Government’s levelling-up whitepaper, standing tall as a critical piece of the puzzle in tackling regional inequality.
Coverage in Institutional Asset Manager
April 2024
Octopus appoints Head of UK Institutional Distribution
Sian joins from BlackRock, where she spent more than six years fundraising for the group’s Alternatives platform, most recently as a Director in the Multi-Alternatives Product Strategy Team.
Coverage in Pensions & Investments
March 2024
Octopus funds development of new PBSA in London
UK real estate investor and lender Octopus has provided a loan to facilitate the purchase of land for a new purpose-built student accommodation development in London.
Coverage in Property EU
February 2024
Octopus and Acacia expand senior living portfolio with £35m investment
Octopus is investing £35m, on behalf of its UK care homes strategy, to finance three elderly care homes as part of a partnership with operator Acacia Care. The homes, located across sites in Leicestershire and Norfolk, will provide over 200 beds to Octopus’ portfolio of more than 100 homes.
Coverage in IPE Real Assets
February 2024
Octopus draws in Big Society Capital investment for UK affordable housing
Octopus Investments, a UK-based investment manager, has raised a further £10m for its Affordable Housing Strategy from social impact investor Big Society Capital (BSC), which follows an initial £50m capital raise back in December.
Coverage in Impact Investor
January 2024
The challenge ahead
With so many changes to prepare for in the year ahead, Pensions Age asks Jonathan Digges, Chief Investment Officer at Octopus Investments: What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the industry in 2024?
Coverage in Pensions Age
January 2024
Multiple Keys Needed to Unlock Social Impact
Octopus Investments’ Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing, and Mike Toft, Head of Care Homes, shed light on the UK’s significant funding gap in social infrastructure, and the role institutional investors like pension funds can play in bridging the gap.
Coverage in ESG Investor
December 2023
Octopus holds first close for UK affordable homes strategy
Octopus Investments, part of Octopus Group, has held a £50m first close of its affordable housing strategy, set up to accelerate the UK’s much needed delivery of good quality and affordable homes.
Coverage in Property EU
October 2023
Affordable Homes, Family Businesses and Investment
Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus Real Estate, is joined by Helen Keenan, Chief Executive of Grosvenor Hart Homes, in a recent podcast to discuss some of the challenges and possible solutions in the affordable housing market.
Podcast on Family Capital
September 2023
New funding solution needed for UK affordable housing
The UK affordable housing sector offers an opportunity for investors to close a funding gap, a new report by Octopus Real Estate says.
Coverage in Sustain
August 2023
Deep Tech – What you need to know and why the sector is increasingly attracting family offices
In Family Capital’s latest podcast episode, deep tech specialist Zoe Reich from Octopus Ventures highlights two promising deep tech businesses addressing water scarcity and biodegradable plastics.
Podcast on Family Capital
July/August 2023
UK venture capital: spinning out for success
Academic research produces excellent technology and medical firms, but the funding is not always available to take things further.
Coverage in IPE
July 2023
The road to zero-emission transport in the UK
The transition to electric is most welcome – but in the UK, there is a major hurdle: infrastructure, says Lukasz Michalak at Octopus Investments.
Coverage in Funds Europe
June 2023
What’s New In Investments, Funds? – Pacific Asset Management, BNP Paribas, Others
The latest news in investment offerings, financial products and other services relative to wealth advisors and their clients.
Coverage in Wealth Briefing
June 2023
Octopus Investments launches deep tech strategy
Octopus Investments has launched a deep tech venture capital strategy that will back pre-seed startups in the UK and Europe.
Coverage in UK Tech News
June 2023
People Moves 23 June: Who is hiring who within the industry?
An overview of this week’s most important hires and departures within the net zero investment community.
Coverage in Net Zero Investor
May 2023
Electric cars: Investment boost for charging network firm Weev
An investment company has bought a significant stake in Weev, a firm which is developing an electric car charging network in Northern Ireland.
Coverage in BBC News
May 2023
£50m investment will see thousands more electric vehicle charging points across Northern Ireland
Electric vehicle charge point operator Weev has received £ 50 million worth of funding for its plans to address the shortage of charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
Coverage in ITV News
May 2023
Australia’s hydrogen potential and what it means for Asia
Octopus Investments CIO Jonathan Digges sits down in the studio with ESG Clarity to discuss Australia’s hydrogen potential and how this can benefit Japan and Korea.
Coverage in ESG Clarity
March 2023
Invest with care
Social care investment has a troubled track record, but more sustainable models are now meeting strong appetite from asset owners.
Coverage in ESG Investor
January 2023
Octopus Investments launches UK Affordable Housing strategy for institutional investors
Octopus Investments has announced it has launched an Affordable Housing strategy for institutional investors, to accelerate the delivery of genuinely affordable homes in the UK.
Coverage in Institutional Asset Manager
January 2023
Real estate investor outlines £300m affordable housing strategy
Real estate giant Octopus Real Estate has launched an affordable housing strategy for institutional investors with a target of £300m in commitments throughout the year.
Coverage in Inside Housing