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Over the past 5 weeks, millions of us have been captivated by Sir David Attenborough’s latest series. We’ve been treated to an insight into the fascinating world of plants and fungi by the Green Planet team, who have put the spotlight on organisms that are often consigned to the background of nature documentaries.
There have been so many incredible stories squeezed into just five 1 hour-long episodes. In this blog, we’ll focus on some of the most captivating organisms Attenborough and his team introduced us to, and look more closely at the biological mechanisms behind their fascinating survival strategies.

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The brutal world of plants and fungi is often overlooked in the search for dramatic nature stories. However, there are hundreds of case studies of deception, stealing, and murder to be found in our “green planet”.
Deep in the South American rainforests, one fungus is responsible for <a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/leaf-cutter-ants-fungi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">destroying 50,000 healthy leaves every day</a>. But this fungus is sneaky, and enlists another species to do its dirty work &#8211; leafcutter ants. These ants slice up leaves and bring them back to their “fungus gardens”, where the fungus breaks down the leaves into a substance that the ants can digest more easily. The benefit for the ants of this symbiotic relationship is clear &#8211; without the fungus they would find it much more difficult to obtain the nutrients they need to survive. 
But what about the plants whose leaves are destroyed by the ants to feed the fungus? It would seem that, as far as the plants are concerned, the fungus is simply an evil, damage-inducing agent in the rainforest. However, this isn’t the case. The truth is that the plants damaged by the fungus’ leafcutter friends may not survive without the fungus. 
If you analyse the air within the rainforest you’ll see microscopic particles: fungal spores. These spores play a vital role in the ecosystem &#8211; <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140407" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they form the nucleus of raindrops in the rainforest</a>. Without these spores, the climate of the forest would be much drier, putting many plants’ survival at risk. Consequently, the fungus is a lynch-pin holding together the whole ecosystem, so it’s leaf-destroying activity seems a small price to pay!

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While many plants share some basic characteristics, like the ability to photosynthesise and the presence of a cell wall that surrounds each of their cells, the variety of plant life in our world is huge. Over millions of years, plant species have evolved to survive in their specific environments, leading to plants looking very different from one another. The changing outward appearance of a species over time is known as phenotypic adaptation. 
The evolution of the appearance of a species is a very long process, taking place over many generations. Each generation, the individuals with genes that make their appearance best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing their beneficial genes (and the physical traits they produce) onto their offspring. After many iterations of this process, which can be thought of as genetic fine-tuning, a species consists almost exclusively of individuals that are better suited to their environment than their ancestors.
These slow changes have resulted in some fantastic adaptations, such as Lithops’ “living stone” appearance that prevents animals from eating them when in search of nutritious, edible plants in the deserts of southern Africa. 

Another deceptive plant is Ceratocaryum argenteum. Living in the desert, it needs to ensure its seeds get buried in the cool sand before they get too hot. This grass has evolved an ingenious way of doing this, enlisting their friendly neighbourhood dung beetles! Dung beetles bury antelope droppings in the sand, away from the hot sunlight, to lay their eggs on. Distinguishing between C. argenteum seeds and antelope droppings is very difficult for the dung beetles given the seeds’ incredible adaptations. 
Just as genes influence the visual appearance of an organism, in this case they also dictate the scent of the seeds, causing them to emit chemicals that make the seeds smell like antelope droppings too! It’s mind-blowing to think that just small iterative changes, driven by random mutations in the plant’s DNA over many generations, have resulted in the seeds becoming convincing replicas of antelope dung, precisely imitating the sensory cues well enough to fool the dung beetles into going to the trouble of burying the seeds.

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Lots of us will be familiar with the concept of parts of plants moving. In The Green Planet, Attenborough shows us the Ivy-Leaved Toadflax, often found clinging onto walls in the UK, whose flowers move towards the light, while the seed heads move away from light. This movement towards or away from light is known as phototropism. Famously, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4701145/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sunflower heads exhibit a specific type of positive phototropism &#8211; heliotropism</a>, turning throughout the day to follow the Sun as it moves across the sky. 
Attenborough also introduced us to another common British plant, with two very rare traits in the plant world &#8211; most of its cells do not contain chlorophyll and therefore most of the plant isn’t green, and it doesn’t have roots through which to obtain nutrients. Instead, Dodder plants, of which there are around 150 species in the genus Cuscuta, get their nutrients by parasitising other plants.
Once the Dodder plant seeds germinate, the seedlings grow quickly, trying to find a suitable host plant from which to steal nutrients. Until recently, very little was known about how the seedlings find suitable hosts. <a href="https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/cn/dodder-%E2%80%93-thinking-plant-challenges-classifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It had been hypothesised</a> that perhaps the light reflection off potential host plants’ leaves could influence the direction of growth of the seedlings, but no one had been able to prove this. 
Researchers from Pennsylvania State University <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2006_runyon_j001.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carried out some fascinating experiments</a> to try to determine what exactly was influencing the direction of growth of dodder plant seedlings, and discovered something fascinating! They found that it was likely that the plants were detecting volatiles (chemical signals) given off by other plants and using them to decide which direction to move in. In one of their experiments, the researchers placed a number of fake plants sprayed with volatiles from various species of plants equidistant from a dodder plant. They found that the plant appeared to be choosing one set of volatiles (replicating one type of potential host plant) more often than others.
The concept of plants making choices is new, so this discovery revolutionised the way we think about plants. It showed that, even without a brain, some plants must have a mechanism for making choices &#8211; a trait very rarely associated with non-animal organisms.
Another type of plant movement, which caused a headache for farmers long ago, is walking seeds. Yes, seeds that can walk! Before oat was selectively bred to remove this trait, its seeds had two long, bristle-like appendages called awns that twisted as they dried in the Sun, then untwisted when they got wet. This twisting and untwisting mechanism made the seed move along the ground, which wasn’t ideal for the farmers trying to collect them! Once the seed was in a suitable crevice, these awns also helped to drive the seed down into the crack so that it ended up in a suitable position for germination. Selective breeding, whereby only plants with smaller awns that were not able to make the seeds move were selected to produce the next generation of crops, has allowed modern farmers to grow oat crops whose seeds don’t run away!

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Of course, humans have done great damage to our “Green Planet” throughout history. However, encouragingly, in this series Attenborough highlights several case studies that show it is rarely too late to correct these mistakes.
One of the most harrowing sights we see that demonstrates the destructive power of humanity is the land-use change associated with deforestation of rainforest to create pastures for raising cattle. Satellite imagery showing acres of lush green landscapes turning brown and dry over just a few years can make it hard to believe that the life that once lived there could ever return.
But, as Attenborough shows us, it can indeed return! Attenborough tells us about the restoration of life to a former cattle ranch in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil demonstrates the resilience of nature, and how, given a chance, it can return to even the most desolate environment. 
The owners of this former cattle ranch began the process of rewilding the site by clearing the grasses that had been introduced for the cattle to graze on. They then planted seeds collected from trees in the nearby remnants of the rainforest to ensure that the species they planted were appropriate for the area to maximise their ability to support local biodiversity.
The results surpassed the landowners expectations. Streams that had been dry for decades burst back into life thanks to the trees holding water in the land. Animals began to colonise the site too. First came the pollinators drawn in by the new plants that had taken root. Other animals followed close behind, including a Maned Wolf (which are only found in South America and are <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4819/88135664" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Near Threatened according to the IUCN</a>), and a Puma and her cubs were spotted by a camera trap on site as well!

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Through the course of the series, countless stories of survival &#8211; seemingly against all odds &#8211; have captured our attention. It’s clear that we have a duty to preserve the amazing diversity of plants and fungi with whom we share our planet because our world would be a less magical place without them.
Beyond their intrinsic value, the direct benefit of healthy plant and fungi populations on human health and wellbeing means that we must protect and conserve them if we are to sustain humanity for generations to come. 
Something that is made obvious throughout this series is that humanity, over the course of human history, has tried to manipulate the green aspects of our planet to suit our interests. This has often backfired, and we have learnt time and again that failing to value nature often leads to unforeseen and negative outcomes for humans. Therefore, we must apply our knowledge and experience about the value of our plants and fungi, and support their health in order to preserve our own. As Attenborough says, “We must now work with plants to make the world a little greener, a little wilder”.
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<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up today</a> to join Ecologi and help make the world a little greener!

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

The good news timeline

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey. 

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Ecologi acquires Net Zero Now

In a landmark move set to reshape corporate climate action, we’re excited to announce that Ecologi, the UK&#8217;s most trusted climate action platform, has acquired <a href="https://netzeronow.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net Zero Now</a>, the sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction platform for businesses.
The combined entity operating under the Ecologi brand will create a single solution for industry climate leadership towards net zero. The integration combines sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction with world class verified climate projects that supports businesses wherever they are on their net zero journey.

<h2>The game-changing impact of this acquisition</h2>
The strategic acquisition solves two fundamental challenges in corporate climate action: businesses have been forced to choose between fragmented solutions and generic ‘one size fits all’ approaches that ignore crucial sector-specific needs. By combining Net Zero Now&#8217;s sector-specific protocol expertise with Ecologi&#8217;s platform funding top-tier climate projects, we&#8217;re creating a tailored and complete solution helping businesses lead their industries towards net zero.

Reduce emissions.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Measure Scope 1, 2 &amp; 3 emissions with sector-specific industry GHG protocols</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set short term and long term reduction target emissions aligned to SBTi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tailored reduction plans for sector-specific emissions pathways</li>
</ul>
Restore our planet.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compensate for unavoidable emissions as you reduce them through 
funding verified, high-quality carbon avoidance and removal credits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Contribute to global climate goals by funding climate Impact Funds for 
beyond value chain mitigation and/or as part of your products &amp; services</li>
</ul>
Report on progress.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate sustainability standards e.g. CSRD, SECR, SBTi, CDP, B Corp</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sector specific standards e.g. Accountancy, Hospitality, Public Sector</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Custom climate impact reports and embeddable dashboards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Communications toolkit for board and stakeholder engagement</li>
</ul>

Climate leadership starts here

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Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now, said:
<blockquote>Businesses want to take climate action, but they want to know they’re doing it right and what’s right for a restaurant business is not the same as what’s right for an accounting firm.  They need industry-specific guidance and clear pathways to climate leadership. By joining forces with Ecologi, we&#8217;re creating a platform that allows us to provide credible, simple and affordable, sector-specific, end-to-end climate solutions for businesses in our existing sectors and collaborate with industry partners on new sector-led solutions.</blockquote>

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The acquisition aligns with Ecologi&#8217;s mission to accelerate business climate action and grow our 24,000 strong customer base. Established sector protocols including hospitality and professional services will be the initial focus with plans to expand across additional industries throughout 2025.
With organisations under increasingly complex stakeholder and industry compliance demands for environmental accountability, this end-to-end solution also ensures streamlined reporting, monitoring progress, supply chain transparency, and voluntary disclosures. This transforms business leaders into climate leaders with the confidence to tackle their climate commitments head-on, communicating and meeting critical regulatory requirements like SECR, CSRD and SBTi.

<h2>More about Net Zero Now</h2>
Founded in 2021, Net Zero Now has developed a proprietary sector-led approach, which combines climate expertise alongside the sector knowledge and experience of relevant industry bodies, industry influencers and larger businesses to reach a consensus around what Net Zero means in practice for businesses in each sector. To date, the company has measured and validated 1.8 MtCO2e lifetime emissions supporting more than 50+ leading brands including Coca Cola Europacific Partners, L&#8217;Orèal, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Subway, Hard Rock Cafe, Adnams, Edgbaston and James Cowper Kreston.

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Case studies

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4 hospitality companies leading the way on climate action

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have in the hospitality industry — it&#8217;s a business necessity. With increasing regulatory pressure, shifting customer expectations, and the growing impact of climate change, hospitality businesses are finding that taking action isn&#8217;t just about responsibility—it&#8217;s about resilience. This is particularly evident as 70% of Brits are now actively trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle (Nutritics, 2024), and 44% say sustainability is important in their choice of venue to visit (Morning Advertiser, 2023). From tackling food waste to cutting carbon emissions, the sector is facing both challenges and opportunities to drive meaningful change.
At the heart of this transformation is the food system. The hospitality industry relies on farming—a sector responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and one that is increasingly vulnerable to climate disruption. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and supply chain instability are already affecting food availability and costs, making sustainability not just an ethical priority but a commercial imperative. This is reflected in consumer behavior, with 47% of consumers wanting more information about carbon footprints on menus, and 41% saying this information would influence their order (CGA Strategy, 2023).
Fortunately, forward-thinking hospitality businesses are stepping up, driven by clear market demand—34% of UK pub and restaurant goers are prepared to spend more in venues with strong sustainability credentials, increasing to 47% for Gen Z and Millennials (Sustainability Beat, 2023). This generational shift is significant, with consumers aged 18-34 being nearly twice as likely to pay more for sustainability than those aged 55+ (WaterAid, 2023).
As the food and beverage industry awakens to its environmental responsibilities, and with climate change threatening to fundamentally disrupt global food security, restaurants and food service enterprises are stepping up to take meaningful climate action. These pioneering businesses are demonstrating how sustainability can enhance business performance while making a positive environmental impact, even as they navigate the unique challenges of being both a contributor to and victim of climate change.
Read about four hospitality companies that are championing climate action, and explore how they are turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Whether it&#8217;s engaging employees, measuring carbon footprints, or developing new sustainable service offerings, these venues are setting the standard for a greener future in hospitality.
<ol>
<li>Hawksmoor: Leading Sustainability in Fine Dining</li>
<li>Freemans Event Partners: Pioneering Sustainable Event Catering</li>
<li>Lisini Pub Co: Family Legacy Meets Sustainable Innovation</li>
<li>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</li>
</ol>

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<h2>Hawksmoor: leading sustainability in fine dining</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li> Achieved B Corp certification in September 2022</li>
<li>Comprehensive review of operational sustainability across all locations</li>
<li>Implementation of energy reduction initiatives</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management systems</li>
<li>Water conservation measures</li>
<li>Integration of sustainability into staff training programs</li>
</ul>
Hawksmoor&#8217;s journey exemplifies how restaurant groups can lead in sustainability within the hospitality sector. Their comprehensive approach includes setting ambitious net-zero targets for 2030 while focusing on immediate operational improvements. The restaurant group&#8217;s commitment is evidenced by their systematic review of day-to-day operations across their locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and New York. What sets them apart is their holistic approach to sustainability: examining energy usage, waste management, and water consumption while maintaining their reputation for quality dining. Their structured approach to employee engagement includes a two-day intensive induction program that emphasises sustainability, making it a core part of their culture.
Ellie Besley-Gould, Head of Purpose at Hawksmoor, said:
<blockquote>We&#8217;ve been heavily involved with the Sustainable Restaurant Association since about 12 years ago&#8230; It&#8217;s a really important area for us to be stepping up the work in, looking at how we can inspire change.</blockquote>

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<h2>Freemans Event Partners: pioneering sustainable event catering</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Achieved 38.4% reduction in emissions compared to projections</li>
<li>Implemented innovative &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; testing area</li>
<li>Introduced shuttle buggies for reduced transport emissions</li>
<li>Deployed hybrid power generators</li>
<li>Established carbon menu labelling</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management through compostable solutions</li>
</ul>
Freemans Event Partners&#8217; journey demonstrates how large-scale event catering can embrace sustainability without compromising service quality. Their innovative approach at the British Grand Prix showcases their commitment to reducing environmental impact in high-pressure environments. The company&#8217;s dedication is evidenced by exceeding their initial 5% emissions reduction target and implementing a groundbreaking &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; area for testing new sustainability initiatives. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: measuring and analysing emissions across all aspects of their operation, from food stalls to logistics and waste management.
Richard West, Sustainability Manager at Freemans Event Partners, said:
<blockquote>Through partnering we&#8217;ve realised that collaboration is key to making lasting and impactful environmental changes in the events catering industry. The process has been much more straightforward than we thought it would be and we look forward to setting even bigger reductions targets as we go forward.</blockquote>

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<h2>Lisini Pub Co: family legacy meets sustainable innovation</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions by 48% through renewable electricity</li>
<li>Won the Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award</li>
<li>Achieved lowest electricity demand in 10 years</li>
<li>Implemented LED lighting and sensor systems</li>
<li>Launched biodiversity project at Dalziel Park</li>
<li>Developed sustainable kitchen practices and menu innovation</li>
<li>Created venue-specific green teams</li>
</ul>
Lisini Pub Co&#8217;s journey demonstrates how family-owned hospitality businesses can transform their environmental impact while preserving their heritage. Their comprehensive approach combines traditional Scottish hospitality with modern sustainability practices across their venues, including the historic Angels hotel in Uddingston. What sets them apart is their innovative approach to sustainability: implementing competitive green teams across venues, achieving dramatic emissions reductions, and maintaining their commitment to quality service. Their structured approach includes both operational improvements and employee engagement, making sustainability a core part of their 45-year family legacy.
Siobhan Edwards, Director Lisini Pub Group, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s not until we&#8217;ve been working in the last year that we&#8217;ve really truly understood our carbon footprint. It&#8217;s the right thing to do, it&#8217;s the right thing for our customers, for our planet, for the environment, and actually it saves us money at the same time.</blockquote>

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<h2>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Established 100-mile radius local sourcing policy</li>
<li>Implemented full venue LED lighting systems</li>
<li>Introduced reusable cups for music events</li>
<li>Developed nose-to-tail food waste reduction policy</li>
<li>Created vegetarian menu options to reduce emissions</li>
<li>Enhanced supplier partnerships for sustainability</li>
<li>Achieved an impressive 3-star rating in the Food Made Good Standard, scoring 92% overall and 91% specifically in environmental practices</li>
</ul>
The Assemblies&#8217; journey showcases how urban hospitality venues can lead in sustainability while building strong community connections. Since their inception in 2009, they&#8217;ve demonstrated that local sourcing and environmental responsibility can coexist with business success. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: analysing carbon ratings, implementing local sourcing policies, and creating innovative menu solutions. Their comprehensive strategy includes everything from sound system upgrades to waste reduction initiatives, making sustainability integral to their operation.
Anna Blightman, Brand Marketing Manager, said:
<blockquote>Something that our partnership has allowed us to do, is lay all the data out on the table so that we can actually look at it, and stand to analyse it and understand where we can make changes. If we don&#8217;t start now, when will we start?</blockquote>

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As these leading hospitality companies show, meaningful climate action can drive significant business benefits—from stronger customer and employee engagement to enhanced brand reputation and risk mitigation. By taking a thoughtful, transparent, and impactful approach, businesses can pave the way for a sustainable future.
Ready to take the lead in climate action? Book in a 30 minute discovery call with our Hospitality sector experts and find out more about partnering with Ecologi to measure your emissions, set reduction goals and fund high-quality climate action on the road to net-zero.

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