Webinar: „Regenerative management for the circular economy. New perspectives for real transformation.“

How can we not only do less damage, but also actively do good for our environment and society? Our webinar dealt with this key question „Regenerative management for the circular economy. New perspectives for real transformation.“

In the face of global crises and tangible planetary boundaries, it is clear that simply reducing negative impacts is no longer enough. We must take the step from a linear economy via the classic circular economy to a circular economy. regenerative economic system go. This means: independence through local value creation, maintaining our quality of life and creating systems that heal instead of exploit.

The most important insights and impulses from our speakers are summarised here.

1. regenerative leadership starts with ourselves

Andreas Ellenberger (Advisor on Project Management, Circular Economy Forum Austria) and Andreas Melzer (member, Circular Economy Forum Austria) opened the event with a powerful image: it's about shaping a future that we want to live in. Livability is at the centre of this.

In order to drive this change in companies, a new understanding of leadership is needed - the Regenerative Leadership. This works on three levels:

• Self: A regenerative culture starts with your own mental and physical health.
• Product: Products must be designed in such a way (Design for Circularity) that they are durable and serve living systems.
• Culture: Building a nurturing working environment. The circular economy is a team sport and only works through genuine cooperation at eye level.

2. overcoming the separation of man and nature

Melanie Kraschitzer (Fellow at the Institute for Regenerative Economy) took us on a historical journey. She outlined the „Story of Separation“ - the story of how humans have become increasingly alienated from nature over the last few centuries.

This mechanistic and reductionist logic still characterises our economy today, often visible in the classic „silo thinking“ of many companies. The necessary paradigm shift requires us to see organisations and the economy as a whole again. living systems to realise this. This means opening up space for health, creativity, purpose and compassion in addition to finance and technology.

3. radically rethinking the principles of the circular economy

The classic circular economy (avoiding waste, increasing efficiency) was a milestone that was essential for survival, explained Mathias Behrens (Board of Directors fiveP / re:connect incubator for regenerative economies). But to heal the planet, we need to raise our ambitions - from „less bad“ to „net positive“.

He proposes a radical rethink of the familiar R-Strategies before:

• Add (Regenerate)Actively strengthen ecosystems. Materials are used in such a way that they return to nature as healthy nutrients (not as waste) (biomimicry).
• Redefine (Recycle): Avoid downcycling - use materials in closed loops and maintain their quality.
• Delete (Recover): Energy recovery (waste incineration) is not a real cycle. The aim is complete, toxic-free recycling without residual waste.

Pioneering companies show that this is not a distant utopia: From Proservation (compostable packaging made from grain husks) via Biome (CO2-binding fungal insulation materials) through to the Industrial symbiosis Kalundborg, where the waste of one company is the raw material of the next.

4 Implementation requires social innovation

In conclusion Moritz Meidert (Kommune Zukunft / Vierte Ort) gave a practical outlook. His central point: technical innovations in materials and processes are one thing - but without social innovations and in-depth cooperation along the entire value chain, we will not be able to close the loops.

5. outlook

The next step is to invite the Circular Economy Forum Austria on 27 May for the Reconnect Roundtable in: The focus is on the In-depth discussion of regenerative business models and the Exchange on proven good practicesand concrete Implementation steps.

Conclusion: An economy that promotes life is possible. The webinar showed that strengthening ecological and social cycles go hand in hand. Innovation, cooperation and a strong practical focus are the decisive levers for a resilient future.