Let’s get back to basics

Hi everyone,

If you ask anyone nowadays, in 2032, what lies at the foundation of our economy, they would not hesitate to answer with certainty “why, the principles of regeneration, of course!”. The idea of basing our daily and professional lives on those principles has been integrated and normalized since a few years.

Yet I’m well aware that things are a little different in your time. You still throw around “circular economy” as the latest buzzword, without a clear definition coming to mind when different people use it. Of course, it must have been challenging to find the right resources to learn and get inspired from, when there was so much senseless, greenwashed noise around the topic.

Nevertheless, already in 2022 you have quite a few solid, reliable resources like the ones developed by the Biomimicry Institute , ARTE’s documentary featuring some of the most impactful visionaries of this new economic paradigm, or Nicolas Buttin and Brieuc Saffré’s comprehensive yet digestible book, Activate the Circular Economy, Reconciling Economy and Nature.

Critically evaluating your sources allows you to break through the noise of both skeptics and hypers and lay the foundations for a more regenerative future.

Enjoy your reading,
Joséphine from 2032

Why Circular Economy must be regenerative

The latest IPCC report is clear: only a profound transformation of our societies can avert the climate change catastrophe. But how can businesses effectively contribute to this urgent change?

Circular Economy principles might be a big part of the answer. However, in order to drive a real systemic change, this Circular Economy must be implemented in the right way.

Scientists have shown that regenerating ecosystems represents our best chance of saving ourselves in the face of climate change. To try to get humanity out of the infinite growth and self-destruction slump, drawing inspiration from living ecosystems is by far the best solution.

In a context where the circular economy is on everyone’s lips, it is important to go back to the fundamentals.

Let’s review together the 5 key operating principles that can help the evolution of the mindsets and preserve life on this planet.

What are the community members up to?

👍 New experts in France and Canada
Circulab community has just gotten stronger with four new members operating in France and in Canada. With Mylène Bonnet, Anne-Laure Bulliffon, Eric Perrot and Johanna Gomel coming on board, the community now covers new territories (such as Auvergne in France and Québec in Canada) and strengthens its expertise in agrofood, packaging and product design.

🍶 Product eco-designed by Anne Klepper
Anne co-designed a device to collect and sort out bottles, cans and cups. The Zeta machine was designed for Lemon Tri and manufactured in France from decommissioned wood and recycled plastic coming from the bottle caps collected by the same machine ➜ Discover the design here .

🍲 New circular food offer by Anne Brisacier and Justine Laurent
Circulab experts support innovation in the agrofood sector. Anne & Justine have been accompanying teams from Labeyrie Fine Foods to design a new food offer based on circular economy principles ➜ Find out more here (in French).

🙏 A new third place in Toulouse
Chloé Cohen and les Halles de la Transition have been supporting the transition towards the circular economy and a sober lifestyle. To achieve this objective, the association is planning to open several third places dedicated to ecology, intergenerational links and solidarity across France with the first one opening its doors in Toulouse ➜ Learn more and contribute to the project.

💼 Environmental forum in Annecy attended by Philippe Garcin, Claudine Pagon and Anne-Laure Bulliffon
The community introduced Circulab’s methodology and tools at Solucir, a major forum on environmental transition that took place in Annecy, France on May 17th and 18th. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is one of the fastest growing regions in Circulab community’s network with several new members on board since this year ➜ Discover the Circulab community and reach out to experts based in your region.

🎤 Circular Economy explained in German by Phoebe Blackburn
Phoebe was interviewed on the German public radio station WDR 5 ➜ Listen to the broadcast (in German) to hear more on circular economy from Phoebe and circular experts at Impact Hub Berlin, NochMall and FixFirst.