ecoHQ

‘We are not separate from nature, but a part of it, and our success lies in nurturing and restoring the web of life that sustains us all’.

Paul Hawken

It is well known that nature is good at regenerating itself once humans have ended their exploitative activities. However, the extensive human impact on ecological systems has created a situation where nature struggles to regenerate itself without any human involvement. Thus, human practices need to regenerate the health of socio-ecological systems by actively repairing, restoring, and healing the damage they have caused. The need of the hour is to focus on regenerative development.

Rise of Regenerative Entrepreneurship

It has become imperative to prevent more harm by actively pursuing actions that promote the greater good; for instance, the aim should be to become carbon-positive instead of carbon-neutral. Realising the current scenario’s urgency, entrepreneurs aim to make a purpose-driven impact.

Mostly driven by emotions and values, regenerative entrepreneurs desire to break free and become independent from conventional structures of authority and income generation. They go further and beyond just focusing on sustainability.

For instance, New Zealand-based entrepreneur Brianne West runs a personal care company, Ethique, which eliminates unnecessary packaging, mainly plastic bits. Reportedly, Ethique makes all their products without any added water, which has allowed them to save 5+ million gallons of water. Their mission is to regenerate the planet.

While understanding true regeneration takes time and commitment, regenerative entrepreneurs respect their knowledge and empower local communities and indigenous people in regeneration efforts. They advocate for interconnected solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously. Most importantly, they view regeneration as an ongoing journey rather than a destination.

In India, Native Araku Coffee (NAC) promotes regenerative practices in coffee cultivation. Going the unconventional way, NAC even supports the coffee farmers in the Araku valley of Andhra Pradesh to sell their products directly to customers and benefit.

Today, the number of changemaker entrepreneurs has accelerated, including companies in the Fortune 500.

Strategies in action

• Previously, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) was considered by many to be a burden. Still, regenerative entrepreneurs realise that it is, in fact, one of the key drivers of long-term growth.
• Instead of following a linear take-make-dispose model, regenerative entrepreneurs design their businesses to operate in a closed-loop system where materials and resources are continuously reused, recycled, or regenerated. They prioritise long-term impact over short-term gains.
• They sensitise employees, suppliers, customers, and the community on the benefits and importance of regenerative practices while also collaborating with local communities, NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders to develop regenerative initiatives and projects, thereby fostering a culture of regeneration within organisations and communities.
• They adopt a 360-degree approach and have a social and environmental purpose at the core of their businesses. They prioritise people and the planet over anything else.

Credits

Smriti is a certified digital content writer. She has a master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism, loves the mountains and the beach, lives out of suitcases/trunks (Fauji life)! Cold coffee fuels her creativity and helping out an animal in need makes her heart full.

The article was strategised and co-written by Deepa Sai

References

• https://www.businesstoday.in/amp/latest/corporate/story/beyond-greenwashing-the-emergence-of-regenerative-business-practices-and-how-it-is-reshaping-the-way-we-look-at-profit-393911-2023-08-12
• https://www.makeapositiveimpact.co/regenerative-entrepreneurship
• https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1666301/FULLTEXT02
• https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/03/regenerative-business-sustainability
• https://fastercapital.com/content/Why-Regenerative-Entrepreneurship-is-the-Key-to-Long-term-Business-Sustainability.html