Think Act Regenerate

Leigh Baker

THINK ACT REGENERATE is a podcast by Leigh Baker of ThinkActRegenerate which explores the wealth of regenerative design solutions happening on the ground in Australia and New Zealand, as well as around the world.

  1. 28 July

    INSIGHT | 3D Safety as Opportunity in Regenerative Business Innovation

    When the industrial revolution began, humans still thought of nature as "boundless" AND with infinite capacity to absorb and neutralise toxins and waste. Today we're increasingly aware that "there is no away" - for wastes ranging from microplastics to PFAS to hormones. Since the 1990s, innovators and entrepreneurs have been developing materials and products and processes and design principles that are regenerative and beneficial (not just less bad). Today, there are growing opportunities to apply 21st century 3D safety developments to innovate and grow businesses - once you learn to see beyond compliance and "less harm". In this episode, host Leigh Baker of Think Act Regenerate discusses how 3D safety principles and commercial resources can be combined to uncover smart regenerative business opportunities. CREDITS Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of ⁠HopkinsonCreative.com⁠ – used with permission.LINKS Stories Interface Flooring - 1) Captured landfill gas to power their manufacturing plant, removing toxic emissions from the air of their local community. 2) Developed glueless fastening system for carpet tiles. (Book: BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST) Zeoform - replacing extractive building products with materials made from plant fibre and water. zeoform.com H2o vortex - water purification without chemicals. h2ovortex.com PlntMatter - plant cellulose transformation: ⁠www.plntmatter.com⁠ Sparxell ⁠⁠ - colorants made from cellulose instead of mica, titanium and chemicals. ⁠⁠https://sparxell.com/ Bobcat T7X  -the world’s first all-electric compact track loader - electrified hydraulics to remove toxic fluids ⁠https://www.fastcompany.com/90878768/bobcat-t7x-all-electric-compact-track-loader⁠ Certifications and catalogues Green Seal: greenseal.org Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute: c2ccertified.org/certified-products and c2ccertified.org/resources Good Environmental Choices Australia: www.geca.eco Global GreenTag: globalgreentag.com SpotMaterial: spotmaterial.com Approaches Biomimicry 3.8: biomimicry.net Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Institute Resources:  c2ccertified.org/resources     The Doughnut Design for Business: ⁠https://doughnuteconomics.org/tools/doughnut-design-for-business-core-tool⁠  Green Chemistry Introduction: https://www.beyondbenign.org/about-green-chemistry/

    INSIGHT | 3D Safety as Opportunity in Regenerative Business Innovation
  2. 27/11/2024

    INSIGHT | Using BIOMIMICRY to find regenerative business opportunities

    Humans have been copying nature for millenia - but we gave it a back seat at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Now it's back - and offering a wealth of regenerative innovation opportunities for products, processes and systems design. Nature's "superpower" is to create solutions at room temperature, using renewable resources and renewable energy. In this episode, host Leigh Baker of Think Act Regenerate discusses how Biomimicry-based design can be used to uncover smart regenerative business opportunities. FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-using-biomimicry-to-find-regenerative-business-opportunities/#text CREDITS Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com – used with permission. LINKS Resources AskNature solutions library: asknature.org Bioneers Action Hub: bioneers.org Biomimicry Toolbox:  https://toolbox.biomimicry.org/methods/define/ Economics of Biomimicry: https://infomineo.com/sustainable-development/bioinspired-innovation-harnessing-natures-wisdom/ ThinkActRegenerate INSIGHTS: https://thinkactregenerate.com/INSIGHTS/ Regenerative Thinking in Action: https://thinkactregenerate.com/program/ Examples Bardee (black soldier fly): https://www.bardee.com/collections/all Fungi Solutions: https://www.fungisolutions.com.au/ Interface Factory as Forest: https://trellis.net/article/inside-interfaces-bold-new-mission-achieve-climate-take-back/ Kalundborg Symbiosis Industrial Estate: https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/ Mycellium (mushroom) products: https://myceliuminspired.com/products Samsara (enzymatic plastic recycling): https://www.samsaraeco.com/ SugarCrete: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/innovative-thinking/researchers-transform-sugarcane-by-product-into-slabs-and-bricks-22-03-2024/ Zeoform: https://zeoform.com/zeoboard

  3. 30/08/2024

    INSIGHT | How to uncover regenerative Service Flip opportunities

    Service and value tools for finding business opportunity have been developing for decades - both in mainstream business and sustainability circles. In Circular Economy circles, they talk about The Service Flip - but there's a much wider toolkit on offer. "Regenerative business service and value design is not about finding a better or lower cost solution to the existing problem of an industry. It's about redefining the problem itself." Adapted from Blue Ocean Strategy FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-how-to-uncover-regenerative-service-flip-opportunities/#text RESOURCE LINKS FREE Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS - introductory email series: ⁠https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights/⁠ Think Act Regenerate Service Thinking Resources: https://thinkactregenerate.com/product-as-a-service-paas-stories-sources-and-resources/ Circular Design Guide: https://www.circulardesignguide.com/post/service-flip The Service Economy by Walter Stahel: https://www.globe-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/THE_PERFORMANCE_ECONOMY1.pdf EXAMPLES Aspect Legal SME advisory: https://www.aspectlegal.com.au/lawyerline-sme/ Bristol Siddeley "Power by the Hour": https://www.nexsys.co.uk/knowledge-hub/servitization-jargon-buster/ Lighting services by Signify: https://trellis.net/article/how-philips-became-pioneer-circularity-service/ and https://www.circularx.eu/en/cases/40/signify-light-as-a-service MUD Jeans as a service: https://mudjeans.com/pages/sustainability-mud-jeans Rare bird as a service: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/farmers-protect-rare-red-fronted-macaws-bolivia/ Supermarket solar as a service: https://www.smartease.com.au/solar-panels-supermarket-iga/https://www.smartease.com.au/solar-panels-supermarket-iga/ Vogue review of clothing services: https://www.vogue.com/article/clothing-rental-subscription

  4. 22/05/2024

    INSIGHT | The radical efficiency opportunities of CIRCULAR systems

    This podcast episode summarises the third of the Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series on regenerative innovation -and the rich smorgasbord of business and career opportunities it offers. Circular Economy principles have been a driver of regenerative business growth over the last 1-2 decades - and proving increasingly profitable. A lot of people have heard the term - but think of it as "something about better recycling". However, assuming that the circular economy is just about better recycling is like assuming that all you can do with a smartphone is make voice calls - because it's called a phone. This podcast episode explores the full scope of Circular Economy design, with examples from over two decades of real world business innovation. FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-the-radical-efficiency-opportunities-of-circular-systems/#text CREDITS Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com – used with permission. LINKS General resources The Australian Circular Economy Hub: https://acehub.org.au/ The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Case Studies and Examples: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/examples The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s CIRCULAR DESIGN GUIDE: ⁠https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-design-guide/overview⁠ The full Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: ⁠https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights/ Examples Bananas – from food waste to food in Australia: https://thinkactregenerate.com/dried-bananas-food-vodka/ Banoffee Leather: https://banofileather.com/ Bateup Green Chair: https://www.bateupconsulting.com.au/greenchair Canyon Solar in supermarket carparks: https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/solar-carparks-offer-renewable-solution-for-supermarkets-and-cheap-ev-charging/ Caterpillar remanufacturing: https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/sustainability/remanufacturing.html Close the Loop (R) Australia: https://www.closetheloop.com.au/about-us/ Close the Loop® road surfacing: https://www.closetheloop.com.au/tonerplas-in-the-award-winning-m80-ring-road-upgrade/ https://roadsonline.com.au/from-plastic-to-pavement-with-close-the-loop/ EU Unsold Clothing Destruction Ban: https://english.aawsat.com/fashion/4711286-eu-approves-ban-destruction-unsold-clothing Framework Computers: https://frame.work/au/en Interface early years BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429997164/businesslessonsfromaradicalindustrialist Interface reuse and upcycling: https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/sustainability/remanufacturing.html Kua Coffee: https://kuacoffee.co/about Rohner upholstery textiles: https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2007/02/article_0002.html

  5. 25/04/2024

    INSIGHT | Levelling up to design for REGENERATION

    One of the core propositions of Think Act Regenerate is that today’s regenerative design thinking enables a rich smorgasbord of smarter, faster, funner win/win/win solutions that go WAY beyond 20th century “sustainability” and “efficiency”. What IS regenerative thinking? To me, it’s a new place to stand – because we can’t solve 20th century problems with 20th century thinking. Here’s my take on what regeneration is about and why it has a strong business focus, illustrated with a heap of examples. FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-levelling-up-to-design-for-regeneration/#text LINKS Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: http://thinkactregenerate.com/insights Think Act Regenerate INSIGHT on OPPORTUNITY https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-a-world-of-business-and-career-opportunity/ Books and general links BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429997164/businesslessonsfromaradicalindustrialist REGENERATION: https://regeneration.org/the-book THE DEEP GREEN PROFIT HANDBOOK https://thinkactregenerate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DeepGreenProfit.pdf Michael Porter: “Why business can be good at solving social problems” https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_porter_why_business_can_be_good_at_solving_social_problems.html Project Drawdown: https://drawdown.org/solutions Examples: Precious metals being recovered from ewaste using the whey https://rpra.ca/the-hub/researchers-extract-gold-from-e-waste-using-a-cheese-byproduct/ Farmer upcycling excess produce https://thinkactregenerate.com/dried-bananas-food-vodka/ AMP upcycling skyscraper https://thinkactregenerate.com/upcycling-commercial-buildings-circular-economy-at-a-whole-new-scale/ Sundrop farms, using solar energy and seawater to grow tomatoes in the desert: https://www.sundropfarms.com/ Interface flooring, utilising land-fill methane to power a factory https://www.greenbiz.com/article/interface-flooring-powers-plant-using-landfill-emissions Farmers installing solar panels to protect their crops and power their on-farm equipment https://ceat.org.au/the-benefits-of-agrivoltaics-in-agriculture/ A Riverina renewable energy coop building a community solar garden https://switchedon.reneweconomy.com.au/content/australias-first-community-solar-garden-becomes-a-reality Kua Coffee, utilising a social enterprise structure to serve its growers in Kenya https://kuacoffee.co/learn/why-does-kua-have-a-foundation-and-a-company An Indian company making a vegetable-based “Leather” from banana waste: https://banofileather.com/ Plastic-free coffee pods utilising algae-based material to protect the coffee https://www.fastcompany.com/91056402/how-keurig-finally-made-a-coffee-pod-with-no-plastic Waste processing powered by Black Soldier Fly for food waste: https://goterra.au/food-waste-management/ HarperCollins use design to reduce paper cost and save trees https://www.fastcompany.com/91071102/harper-collins-made-a-tiny-tweak-to-its-book-design-and-has-saved-thousands-of-trees-as-a-result Totally Renewable Yackandandah – from solar panels to energy retailer https://totallyrenewableyack.org.au/ Melbourne business turns toner cartridge waste into road surfacing material and vegetable garden modules: https://roadsonline.com.au/the-proof-is-in-the-pavement-with-close-the-loop/ WA farmer is using biochar and dung beetles to reduce operating costs, increase production : https://www.wantfa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WANTFA_NF_Summer2015_Biochar-002.pdf A family-run building company in NSW building super-efficient housing that sells itself https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/news-from-the-front-desk/news-from-the-front-desk-issue-no-231/

About

THINK ACT REGENERATE is a podcast by Leigh Baker of ThinkActRegenerate which explores the wealth of regenerative design solutions happening on the ground in Australia and New Zealand, as well as around the world.