Insights on the ground: meet companies driving the sustainability transition

At LOIM’s annual Transition Investment Summit (TIS) in London, investors and industry leaders explored how deep structural changes in the global economy will drive the next wave of returns across markets.

Our first insight from the event unpacked the macroeconomic case for sustainability. We now turn to the realities on the ground, as companies at the heart of the transition confront the challenges stemming from scaling technologies and evolving business models, as well as how best to capture the upside.

Building a smarter, cleaner energy system

A panel discussion entitled ‘From Paris to the UK’ underscored the forces reshaping the energy transition. Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO of Octopus Energy¹, framed the company’s growth around a conscious decision to avoid activities harmful to the planet.

“Fossil fuels power the world we're in today, but I want to be building the world that follows it,”  Jackson said. “It forces us to think creatively about how do you use the technology, the clean energy, to create better opportunities than you would in the old world”.

Read also: From Paris to profit: sustainability evolves into an economic strategy

The transition is not just about adding capacity, but about rethinking how power is consumed and managed, he said. Greater access to real-time data and the expansion of dynamic pricing models could allow demand to shift more flexibly, reducing strain on power grids and lowering costs.

“We dramatically need more price signals and more transparency on the electricity system,” Jackson said. “Unless we allow the innovators, the entrepreneurs, those who represent consumption – unless we can see how the system is being used, how can we grab value for consumers and bring it to them?”

Focusing on returns while supporting the transition

On the same panel, Jennifer Devine, Head of the Wiltshire Pension Fund, offered an asset owner’s view on how long-term capital is being deployed in support of the transition. Wiltshire’s Climate Opportunities Portfolio builds diversified exposure across asset classes while maintaining a clear focus on financial returns.

One of the challenges is the growing complexity of data, Devine said. While improved data availability strengthens analysis, it can also complicate decision-making and communication. Translating technical insights for pension members is becoming increasingly important.

“It is really challenging to learn how to navigate through that and make sure that we're being authentic, holding ourselves accountable, but also providing meaningful stories to the members that they really can understand”, she said.

Green chemistry as industrial evolution

Mathieu Flamini, Co-founder and CEO of GFBiochemicals¹, explored the future of green chemistry in a discussion with Marc Palahi, LOIM’s Chief Nature Officer. GFBiochemicals has developed patented bio-based solutions to help accelerate the defossilisation of the chemical industry.

Like the shift to solar power or electric vehicles, green chemistry represents the “industry of the future”, according to Flamini, who is also a former Premiere League football player. Success depends on competitive pricing, creative deal structures and strong industry relationships, which help reduce risk and enable more sustainable scaling.

The conversation also explored how geopolitical tensions and global competition are shaping Europe’s future in the chemical industry. Without faster, coordinated action between policymakers and industry, Europe risks falling behind in this area – just as it has in solar panels, batteries and EVs, Flamini said.

Read also: Power plays – geopolitics, energy security and infrastructure opportunity

Nature as economic infrastructure

In a later discussion, Palahi focused on how nature underpins the economy, particularly food systems, and how pressure on natural systems is building.  He sat down with Jose María Ortiz, Managing Partner at Nature Co, who talked about the need for scalable regenerative approaches.

'Marc Palahi, Chief Nature Officer at LOIM

Over the past 50 years, industrial agriculture simplified farming landscapes into monocultures while making supply chains increasingly complex. We now need to reverse that – simplifying value chains to improve transparency, increase efficiency, and ensure sustainable products remain affordable without relying on ‘green premiums’, Ortiz said.

Read also: Why the sustainable economy keeps advancing: our 2026 outlook

Scaling the materials transition

TIS 2026 wrapped up with a focus on plastic circularity, exploring the challenges of transforming materials systems that are deeply embedded in the real economy. Unlike digital transitions, progress here involves physical processes, infrastructure and supply chains.

“Intellectual property is key. The advantage of being in the physical world is it's much harder for someone to get in once you have momentum.”

Remy Buser
CEO and Co-Founder of Bloom Biorenewables
 

Alexandre Ouimet-Storrs, Portfolio Manager at LOIM, discussed our Plastic Circularity strategy and some of the challenges involved in bringing solutions to scale.

He was joined by Remy Buser, CEO and Co-Founder of Bloom Biorenewables¹, to discuss how companies are navigating this landscape. Bloom has successfully moved from laboratory research to industrial production, converting biomass waste into new materials.

A key strategy is to start with small-scale, high-value applications – demonstrating performance and generating revenue – before expanding into larger, more commoditised markets. Buser emphasised that much of the company’s competitive advantage lies in its accumulated expertise.

“Intellectual property is key,” he said. “The advantage of being in the physical world is it's much harder for someone to get in once you have momentum”.

He likened the process to cooking: even with the same recipe, outcomes depend on tacit knowledge developed over time. This “know-how” creates barriers to entry and supports long-term innovation.

For investors, this highlights the importance of patience and deep understanding. Scaling physical solutions takes time, but it also creates durable competitive advantages that are difficult to replicate.

A transition defined by execution

LOIM’s summit underscored how the sustainability transition is accelerating across energy, materials, nature and industrial processes. However, it is proving more complex than many anticipated. Businesses that can navigate those hurdles and scale effectively are emerging as leaders.

For investors, the opportunity lies in identifying those companies where sustainability is central to value creation. They are helping to shape the transition and build the foundations of an evolving global economy.