Managing with a planetary health lens: how business can create co-benefits for ecological sustainability and human well-being

Purpose In this conceptual paper, the authors explore how business organizations can help drive positive human health and ecological sustainability outcomes by managing with a planetary health lens. This paper aims to conceptualize new managerial approaches that integrate humanity’s and thus companies’ embeddedness within wider socio-ecological systems. Design/methodology/approach The authors review interdisciplinary literatures on the health interconnections across individual, organizational, societal and planetary levels of analysis, before presenting a framework to outline how an integrated conceptualization of managing with a planetary health lens serves as a foundation for novel research and impactful management practices. Findings The proposed framework provides researchers and practitioners with a novel conceptualization and research agenda to help advance our understanding of the factors affecting human health and ecological sustainability outcomes simultaneously. Research limitations/implications This is a normative conceptual paper supported by a review of interdisciplinary literatures and examples taken from business. The authors outline a research agenda designed to address the inherent limitations of their approach. Practical implications The authors provide practitioners with opportunities to reflect on the factors shaping a planetary health lens in business. The aim is to help advance managerial practices, organizational decisions and business models that address the systemic interconnections between health and sustainability. Originality/value There is limited research on the interconnections between different types of health and especially the role of business organizations in affecting these coherently. This paper seeks to advance academic research and managerial practice by conceptualizing a planetary health lens for business as critical for progress in this area.