One of our portfolio companies supports an industrial customer in redesigning a core production process to reduce waste, recover materials and lower energy use.
Before (financial lens only):
Chemical cost reduction and operational stability Annual cost savings: €120,000
Payback: ~3 years
After (including natural capital):
Avoided waste and landfill, recovered material and lower system risk – all in euros Annual cost savings: €120,000
Natural capital value: €146,000
Total value created: €266,000 per year
Payback: ~1.3 years
Natural capital value includes (for Alder):
Energy & emissions (60%) – lower energy use and reduced CO₂ impact. Materials circularity (30%) – reduced need for virgin raw materials. Waste & water (10%) – avoided hazardous waste and ecosystem pressure.
What this changes
For us (as investors): We identify and scale businesses where total value is systematically underpriced. We allocate capital based on full value creation, not just financial returns.
For our portfolio companies
They shift from selling cost savings to delivering total value creation. By quantifying and clearly communicatng impact in financial terms, they make the benefits tangible for customers. The conversation changes — from “Is this worth it?” to “Why isn’t this already standard?”. Strengthening pricing power, deepening customer loyalty, and reinforcing long-term competitiveness.