How do the concepts of regeneration, circularity and sustainability intertwine?

There is considerable debate about the distinctions and overlaps among the concepts of sustainability, circularity, and regeneration, and the crucial role they play in fostering a thriving future. While it may seem like a matter of terminology, words hold significant weight. It would be a great loss if individuals driven by impact and the pursuit of a thriving future for all beings were unable to connect or collaborate due to misalignment in their use of terminology.

One of my primary goals is to make the transition to a flourishing future more accessible, understandable, and actionable. In the weeks following the publication of the new study on regenerative business models (Towards regenerative business models: A necessary shift?) I closely followed the discussions on LinkedIn around the usefulness, accuracy and potential of the proposed frameworks & definitions. As expected, confusion, discord, heated debates, discouragement, and the exclusion of individuals lacking specific expertise emerged. If professionals identifying themselves as sustainability, circularity, or regeneration proffesionals struggle to find common ground, how can we expect the rest of the world to join the movement?

Sustainability is predominantly discussed in line with the definition put forth by the Brundtland Commission in 1987: "Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Achieving a sustainable state, where both present and future generations can thrive, requires achieving a life-sustaining balance. This entails avoiding any external interventions or actions that disrupt the ecosystem, as each instance of such interference leads to degeneration. A degenerating system experiences a loss of vitality and deteriorates further. When an ecosystem or social system becomes degenerated, regeneration becomes necessary to restore it to a sustainable state. Regeneration, simply put, involves healing and revitalizing a system or being and enhancing their vitality.

In essence, sustainability is a state of equilibrium—a state of balance. Degeneration signifies the process of moving away from sustainability, while regeneration refers to the process of moving towards a sustainable state. Circularity is a vital dynamic in both sustainability and regeneration. As any non-circular system is degenerative.

Over the past centuries, humanity has significantly degraded ecosystems to a point where it will likely take generations to enable and allow their restoration to a sustainable state. True sustainable, regenerative, and circular organizations serve as enablers in the process of regeneration towards sustainability. Here, I specifically refer to genuine sustainability, not the co-opted version employed by corporate entities engaging in greenwashing, where their sole aim is to sustain their ability to continue business as usual.

Now we got this terminology jumble out of the way we can dive into the differences and overlaps between regenerative, sustainable and circular business models. More on that in the next Shifting Horizons newsletter.