“Rewilding” accounting mindsets for biodiversity protection

Purpose This study examines how arts-based research interventions can “rewild” accountants' mindsets, shifting them from anthropocentric to more ecologically conscious perspectives. Grounded in emancipatory accounting and rewilding literature, the research investigates whether and how creative performative interventions can embed post-anthropocentric values within professional accounting. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an interpretive qualitative approach, the article reports on a single case study, “Sent to Coventry!”, involving senior accountants from major UK professional bodies. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews (pre- and post-event, and two years on), audio and video documentation of the event, visual illustration and reflective notes. Thematic analysis identified emergent themes. Findings The findings reveal three key factors supporting a rewilding of accounting mindsets: (1) the power of metaphors to foster conceptual shifts, (2) the power of creative and multisensory methods in challenging conventional thinking and (3) the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for integrating sustainability and ecological considerations into accountants' professional practices. Research limitations/implications Limited by a single case study with a small, senior-level sample. Future longitudinal and multi-case research could better assess the sustained impact of arts-based interventions on accounting mindsets and practices. Originality/value This research extends rewilding concepts into the accounting domain and illustrates how the approach and creativity of arts-based interventions can stimulate changes in ecological awareness, disrupt anthropocentric assumptions and through its mindset impacts encourage innovative forms of accountability and integrative thinking.