# Regenerate - How does it work?
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![Regenerate](../../files/mod_page/content/0/Regenerate-2.jpg)

The ‘Regenerate’ approach takes a slightly different angle, focusing on the use of renewable resources rather than non-renewable ones. Renewable materials are named as such because they are biological materials that can be grown through natural means in the environment. Because they are biological in nature, these materials can be broken down, composted, and turned back into nutrients that allow the next batch of renewable materials to grow. By using the natural growth cycle of the biosphere, the use of these materials cannot only reduce our environmental impact, but even regenerate the environment, becoming nature positive.  

A core principle of the Regenerate approach is that it only works when all materials involved are biological. Closing the loop with renewable materials uses a different cycle than technical, or finite, materials. This is explained in detail by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, showing how finite materials such as metals and plastic can be reuse or recycled, whereas renewable materials can be composted or otherwise turned into biochemical feedstock. This is why it is essential in a circular economy to keep renewable and technical materials separate, and why the Regenerate approach can also be referred to as making materials ‘clean’ by filtering out technical contaminants.

Using the Regenerate approach tends to make sense when your products or services revolve around the use of biological and organic materials. Green waste, food organics, and most agricultural projects are well-suited to this approach, as long as the extraction rate is equal to or lower than the recovery rate. Renewable materials need time to grow, after all!  

The Regenerate approach can be implemented on the **product-level** when your business or organisation has control over the design or production process of a product.

If you do, consider these strategies: 

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Design with renewable materials: Design products with low-carbon, renewable materials to reduce their impact on the environment. Take the expected end-of-life treatment (e.g. composting or anaerobic digestion) into consideration to avoid unintended consequences. 

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Design with non-toxic materials: Growing new renewable materials is only possible if the conditions for growing are right. This requires the elimination of toxic materials that could negatively impact soil health, nutrient availability, or water quality, for example. 

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Design self-charging products: The use of renewable resources does not only apply to materials, but energy and water as well. Design electronically powered products to be self-charging through the sun or kinetic energy, to reduce their dependence on centralised sources of energy. Especially for mobility assets, this can create interesting opportunities. 

**On a business model-level**, you can use the Regenerate approach when your business or organisation plays a service-focused role or procures products from other businesses in your value chain. Consider strategies like: 

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Provide services that close the renewable loop: Just because organic products can be circulated back into the biosphere doesn’t mean that this actually happens. Consider enabling that pathway by offering composting services, or other ways to close the loop on renewable materials. 

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Find alternative uses for organic waste: In particular for food production, organic waste is common even before the point of sale. Consider how organic waste like this can be used to produce alternative products or services. 

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Produce, process and transport with renewable energy: Powering your business with renewable energy will reduce not only the operational footprint of your activities, but also the embodied energy embedded in any products you might manufacture. Consider how this applies to transport logistics as well. 

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Power the use of the product/service with renewable energy: Once you have solutions on the market, consider how you can use creative partnerships or service-based models to ensure your solutions are powered with renewable energy. For example, could customers be offered a discount if they commit to using renewable energy to power your products? 

The Regenerate approach can also be used on an **ecosystem-level**, which might be relevant when your organisation plays a coordinating or influencing role in your value chain. This usually includes government or not-for-profit organisations, who could consider these strategies: 

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Embed renewable energy production into existing infrastructure: Finding ways of making renewable energy production part of any existing infrastructure will benefit the whole value chain by reducing the footprint of production and services. 

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Recover nutrients from urban areas: Urban areas are responsible for the majority of consumption and waste generation, which includes organic waste. At the same time, the nutrients and renewable materials in that organic waste are often lost. Finding ways to recover those nutrients can help create new opportunities for businesses focused on renewable materials. 

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Regenerate polluted ecosystems: Polluted ecosystems affect most, if not all, businesses and organisations. Contributing to their regeneration and clean-up will reduce the footprint of all value chains and systems. 

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Manage and sustain critical ecosystem services: Similarly, managing and sustaining ecosystems after their regeneration goes a step further in regenerating the natural systems we all rely upon.
