According to the Real Academia Española, regeneration “is the act of giving a new being to something that has degenerated, re-establishing it or improving it”. Therefore, regenerative sustainability goes beyond the conventional sustainability that is known to everyone.
It aims not only to preserve existing resources, but also to regenerate and enhance ecosystems and communities that have been affected by human actions. This approach is based on ecological and holistic principles, integrating practices that restore and strengthen natural and social systems.
Core principles
Ecosystem Restoration: regenerative sustainability focuses on restoring damaged ecosystems rather than reducing environmental impact. Reforestation, rehabilitation of degraded soils and restoration of natural habitats are examples of this.
Resilience: the aim is to create systems that are resilient and able to adapt and recover from disturbances. Biological and cultural diversity, functional redundancy and adaptive capacity are examples of this.
Closed resource cycles: this principle encourages the circular use of resources, where waste from one process becomes input for another. This reduces dependence on natural resources and reduces the amount of waste produced.
Community Empowerment recognises that local communities are essential to manage and preserve resources. Encourages local leadership and active participation in regeneration efforts.
Holistic Design: it incorporates planning and system design that takes into account the interactions between social, economic and ecological aspects. Practices using this approach include permaculture and regenerative design..
In which industries is it applied?
Regenerative agriculture improves soil health, biodiversity and water retention capacity. In this approach, techniques such as agroforestry, rotational grazing and composting are key. These techniques not only increase long-term agricultural productivity, but also sequester carbon, which helps reduce the impact of climate change.
Regenerative architecture is not just about constructing sustainable buildings, but creating buildings that interact positively with their surroundings. It seeks to enhance urban biodiversity, uses local and recycled materials and integrates renewable energy systems. The Living Building Challenge and the Bullitt Center in Seattle are examples of this way of thinking.
The economic objective is to generate long-term value and to revitalise natural and social capital. It encourages investment in projects that help local communities, restore ecosystems and promote social equity. Examples of this transition include companies that embrace conscious capitalism and the principles of the circular economy.
Most well-known examples
In Virginia, USA, Polyface Farm, run by Joel Salatin, is a remarkable example of regenerative agriculture. To improve soil health, increase biodiversity and produce high quality food without synthetic chemicals, they use techniques such as rotational grazing, animal-crop integration and composting.
In Seattle, USA, is The Bullitt Center known as the “world’s greenest commercial building”, which uses local and sustainable materials, solar energy, rainwater harvesting systems and on-site wastewater treatment. Its design seeks not only to minimise environmental impact, but also to improve the surrounding urban environment.
Interface, a carpet factory, has implemented an environmentally friendly business model. Their Mission Zero programme aims to eliminate any negative environmental impact by 2020, and they have made significant progress in using recycled materials and reducing carbon emissions.
Thinking about the future, today
Regenerative sustainability represents a paradigm shift in the relationship with the environment, from a perspective of exploitation and conservation to one of regeneration and revitalisation. By implementing regenerative values, more resilient and just systems can be created that not only sustain life, but also enhance it. This approach offers an optimistic direction towards a future in which nature and humans coexist and thrive.
