In these articles, we explore the concept of organizational regeneration thanks to the significant contribution of Niels de Fraguier, author of the book “The Regenerative Enterprise“.
In 2018, after years of work on sustainability, I came to a clear realization: the business approaches then considered sustainable were merely maintaining the status quo and not focusing on true organizational regeneration. In reality, the focus was on the wrong goal—minimizing harm—while operating within a planet and a society already in distress. It was evident that, after decades of extractive business practices, the time had come for a radical reinvention of the corporate world.
At the time, forward-thinking thought leaders and scientists were beginning to shift the debate from “harm minimization” to “regeneration“. However, entrepreneurs still lacked guidelines and frameworks to translate theory into practice.
The birth of Positive and the first tool for business regeneration
It was precisely in this context that this gap led me to co-found Positive, bringing together over 200 changemaker entrepreneurs from around the world, fully committed to the shift from sustainability to the adoption of regenerative and equitable practices. Together with scholars and experts, we came together to create The Compass for Regenerative Business. This became the first assessment tool for regenerative business, designed to guide corporate transformation.
A few years later, some companies are transforming by using methodologies such as The Compass. However, the opportunity to reshape the entire business world is rapidly running out. Therefore, this is our last chance to win the race against climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequalities. We must act before we end up in an uncontrollable fate.
We, as business leaders, are called to co-create and embrace a completely new paradigm, one in which life is at the center. In other words, a paradigm that gives individuals the space to place their creativity, curiosity, and authenticity at the service of thriving ecosystems that recover from depletion and regenerate. This is our generation’s opportunity to accept the role of responsible leaders.
We must reinvent ourselves to create the future we desire. One might ask: what if regenerative entrepreneurship could finally become the positive force it has promised to be?
The world has been waiting for it for decades.
In this post, inspired by our book The Regenerative Enterprise, I will examine the differences between sustainable and regenerative impacts, outline the guiding principles of regenerative companies, and showcase some pioneering businesses, inviting you to join this growing wave of regenerative entrepreneurs.
Moving from mere sustainability to regeneration
Scientists estimate that humanity is using nature at a rate 1.75 times faster than the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate. At the same time, six of the nine planetary boundaries have already been crossed, putting the resilience and stability of our planet under severe strain. Science has precisely documented the combination of these phenomena, revealing the devastating effects that business as usual has on life on Earth. On one hand, an increasing number of people are struggling due to an extractive economy. On the other, natural ecosystems are approaching a point of no return. It is clear that we are heading toward disaster if nothing changes.
The three phases of developing business practices toward positive impact
To better understand how to steer your company in the right direction, let’s explore the three main stages of developing business practices: “doing less harm”, “doing no harm”, and “doing more good”.
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DOING LESS HARM (CSR): mitigating risks
Companies add social and environmental initiatives but do not address overall impact. They use CSR for communication and isolate actions in silos.
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DOING NO HARM (Sustainability): incremental changes
Companies reduce negative impacts such as emissions and waste, balancing the economy within ecological limits. However, they often fail to achieve their set goals.
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DOING MORE GOOD (Restoration): net positive.
Companies aim to restore and repair systems, but they do not address the root causes, such as the excessive consumption driven by shareholder models that perpetuate inequalities. Also known as “advanced sustainability”.
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REGENERATIVE AND FAIR (Transformation): companies that affirm life
They work with a living-systems mindset and a climate justice perspective. In doing so, they restore ecosystems, create shared value, and address systemic inequalities by redistributing power.
“Regenerative and fair” companies adopt practices that affirm life, positioning themselves at the forefront of innovation. They also integrate a climate justice perspective to address the root causes of our crises. For this reason, their resilience enables them to adapt quickly to evolving crises, transforming them into opportunities to create solutions that benefit ecosystems holistically. These companies are proactively engaged in regenerating and rejuvenating ecosystems, while also generating shared value with their collaborators. This approach supports the well-being of the entire system and, fundamentally, represents a redistribution of power to address deeply rooted inequalities.
Bill Reed — Rigenesi
In the next article, we will explore the shift from a business model that minimizes harm to a regenerative one, grounded in the values of life, climate justice, and systems thinking. It highlights the need to move beyond the old profit-centered paradigm. There is a pressing need to promote enterprises that place the well-being of people, the planet, and communities at the center. You will discover the five essential guiding principles—purpose, planet, people, partners, and places—accompanied by examples of companies that put them into practice.
Explore the principles of regenerative enterprises in my book “The Regenerative Enterprise” and follow me on LinkedIn to stay updated on the topic.
