Regenerative product development
Regenerative product development starts from value creation rather than harm reduction. The central question is how a product, concept, area or programme can contribute to restoration and positive development for people, ecosystems and the economy.
From less harm to more value
Sustainable design limits negative impact. Circular design focuses on retaining material value. Regenerative design goes further by asking which social, ecological and economic value can be actively strengthened.
Sustainable
Limits negative impact.
Circular
Retains the value of materials.
Regenerative
Actively strengthens social, ecological and economic value.
When is this approach relevant?
- a new product or concept needs to be developed
- an existing proposition needs to become future-proof
- a municipality or organisation is looking for a more positive action perspective
- a programme needs to create measurable social value
- a product footprint or life-cycle assessment (LCA) needs to be translated into design choices
Regenerative design questions
Extracted value
Which value is currently being extracted from people, ecosystems, materials or local economies?
Retained value
Which material, social or economic value can be preserved for longer?
Restored value
Which ecological or social value can be repaired through design and collaboration?
Added value
Which additional value can become part of the product, concept or programme?
Role of New Economy
New Economy guides organisations in the development of regenerative concepts, products and programmes. The approach combines strategy, data, material thinking, business case development, stakeholder process and prototyping. For impact substantiation, see Product Footprint and life-cycle assessment (LCA). For regenerative material concepts, see Biobased Design — Regenerate.
Applications
Approach
In practice
Regenerative design is about creating rather than compensating: solutions that actively add value and sequester carbon.
Carbon sequestration
Market exploration of carbon sequestration as a systemic opportunity, with ~€31bn per year in social value for the Netherlands.
View the market explorationBiobased Design — Regenerate
Open-source, modular products made from healthy materials that restore ecosystems. An initiative by New Economy and studio briankersbergen.
View the conceptRelated services
Frequently asked questions
Regenerative product development creates products, concepts and programmes that actively contribute to restoration and value creation, rather than only reducing harm.
Circular design focuses on retaining material value. Regenerative design goes further by actively strengthening social, ecological and economic value.
A product footprint or life-cycle assessment (LCA) translates impact data into design choices on materials, lifetime, reuse and supply-chain collaboration.
A regenerative product actively adds value to people and ecosystems through design, for example through healthy biobased materials and restorative supply chains. Regenerative product development translates that ambition into design choices and a feasible business case.
Start with regenerative product development
Impact data, material choices and design principles can be translated into a prototype, pilot route or product proposition.
Plan a discovery call