Episodes

  • INSIGHT | Using BIOMIMICRY to find regenerative business opportunities

    INSIGHT | Using BIOMIMICRY to find regenerative business opportunities
    Nov 27 2024

    Humans have been copying nature for millenia - but we gave it a back seat at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Now it's back - and offering a wealth of regenerative innovation opportunities for products, processes and systems design.


    Nature's "superpower" is to create solutions at room temperature, using renewable resources and renewable energy.


    In this episode, host Leigh Baker of Think Act Regenerate discusses how Biomimicry-based design can be used to uncover smart regenerative business opportunities.


    FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-using-biomimicry-to-find-regenerative-business-opportunities/#text


    CREDITS

    Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com – used with permission.


    LINKS

    Resources

    AskNature solutions library: asknature.org


    Bioneers Action Hub: bioneers.org Biomimicry Toolbox: https://toolbox.biomimicry.org/methods/define/

    Economics of Biomimicry: https://infomineo.com/sustainable-development/bioinspired-innovation-harnessing-natures-wisdom/


    ThinkActRegenerate INSIGHTS: https://thinkactregenerate.com/INSIGHTS/


    Regenerative Thinking in Action: https://thinkactregenerate.com/program/


    Examples

    Bardee (black soldier fly): https://www.bardee.com/collections/all


    Fungi Solutions: https://www.fungisolutions.com.au/


    Interface Factory as Forest: https://trellis.net/article/inside-interfaces-bold-new-mission-achieve-climate-take-back/

    Kalundborg Symbiosis Industrial Estate: https://www.symbiosis.dk/en/ Mycellium (mushroom) products: https://myceliuminspired.com/products


    Samsara (enzymatic plastic recycling): https://www.samsaraeco.com/


    SugarCrete: https://www.newcivilengineer.com/innovative-thinking/researchers-transform-sugarcane-by-product-into-slabs-and-bricks-22-03-2024/


    Zeoform: https://zeoform.com/zeoboard

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    30 mins
  • INTERVIEW | Solar entrepreneur Andy McCarthy discussing the next BIG renewable energy opportunity

    INTERVIEW | Solar entrepreneur Andy McCarthy discussing the next BIG renewable energy opportunity
    Oct 9 2024

    Andy McCarthy - founder of Gippsland Solar in 2010 - has told his renewable energy business story (so far) in his recent autobiography HERE COMES THE SUN.

    I caught up with Andy at the start of October to discuss what he’s learned and where he sees the next big openings in renewable energy opportunity.


    FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/interview-solar-entrepreneur-andy-mccarthy-on-the-next-big-renewable-energy-opportunity/#text


    LINKS:

    Books

    HERE COMES THE SUN: https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Andy-McCarthy-Here-Comes-the-Sun-9781923046337

    CROSSING THE CHASM: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers https://www.harpercollins.com/products/crossing-the-chasm-3rd-edition-geoffrey-a-moore?variant=32130444066850


    Other links

    Recent Think Act Regenerate PODCAST interview on battery as a service: https://thinkactregenerate.com/interview-exploring-battery-as-a-service-opportunities-with-eliot-energy/

    FREE Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights


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    39 mins
  • INSIGHT | How to uncover regenerative Service Flip opportunities

    INSIGHT | How to uncover regenerative Service Flip opportunities
    Aug 30 2024

    Service and value tools for finding business opportunity have been developing for decades - both in mainstream business and sustainability circles.

    In Circular Economy circles, they talk about The Service Flip - but there's a much wider toolkit on offer.

    "Regenerative business service and value design is not about finding a better or lower cost solution to the existing problem of an industry. It's about redefining the problem itself." Adapted from Blue Ocean Strategy


    FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-how-to-uncover-regenerative-service-flip-opportunities/#text

    RESOURCE LINKS

    FREE Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS - introductory email series: ⁠https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights/⁠

    Think Act Regenerate Service Thinking Resources: https://thinkactregenerate.com/product-as-a-service-paas-stories-sources-and-resources/

    Circular Design Guide: https://www.circulardesignguide.com/post/service-flip

    The Service Economy by Walter Stahel: https://www.globe-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/THE_PERFORMANCE_ECONOMY1.pdf


    EXAMPLES

    Aspect Legal SME advisory: https://www.aspectlegal.com.au/lawyerline-sme/

    Bristol Siddeley "Power by the Hour": https://www.nexsys.co.uk/knowledge-hub/servitization-jargon-buster/

    Lighting services by Signify: https://trellis.net/article/how-philips-became-pioneer-circularity-service/ and https://www.circularx.eu/en/cases/40/signify-light-as-a-service

    MUD Jeans as a service: https://mudjeans.com/pages/sustainability-mud-jeans

    Rare bird as a service: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/farmers-protect-rare-red-fronted-macaws-bolivia/

    Supermarket solar as a service: https://www.smartease.com.au/solar-panels-supermarket-iga/https://www.smartease.com.au/solar-panels-supermarket-iga/

    Vogue review of clothing services: https://www.vogue.com/article/clothing-rental-subscription
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    47 mins
  • INTERVIEW | Exploring "battery as a service" opportunities with ELIoT Energy

    INTERVIEW | Exploring "battery as a service" opportunities with ELIoT Energy
    Aug 7 2024

    In this episode, host Leigh Baker of Think Act Regenerate talks with David Hauser about innovative Melbourne battery-as-a-service startup ELIoT Energy - and the multiple benefits their business model offers customers, the hospitality industry, environment and community.


    FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/interview-exploring-battery-as-a-service-opportunities-with-eliot-energy/#text


    LINKS

    ELIoT Energy website: https://eliot-energy.com/


    10 key regenerative perspectives on regenerative business opportunity: https://thinkactregenerate.com/regenerative-design-insights/


    FREE Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights/


    CREDITS

    Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com – used with permission.
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    34 mins
  • INSIGHT | The radical efficiency opportunities of CIRCULAR systems

    INSIGHT | The radical efficiency opportunities of CIRCULAR systems
    May 22 2024
    This podcast episode summarises the third of the Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series on regenerative innovation -and the rich smorgasbord of business and career opportunities it offers. Circular Economy principles have been a driver of regenerative business growth over the last 1-2 decades - and proving increasingly profitable. A lot of people have heard the term - but think of it as "something about better recycling". However, assuming that the circular economy is just about better recycling is like assuming that all you can do with a smartphone is make voice calls - because it's called a phone. This podcast episode explores the full scope of Circular Economy design, with examples from over two decades of real world business innovation. FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-the-radical-efficiency-opportunities-of-circular-systems/#text CREDITS Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com – used with permission. LINKS General resources The Australian Circular Economy Hub: https://acehub.org.au/ The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Case Studies and Examples: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/examples The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s CIRCULAR DESIGN GUIDE: ⁠https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-design-guide/overview⁠ The full Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: ⁠https://thinkactregenerate.com/insights/ Examples Bananas – from food waste to food in Australia: https://thinkactregenerate.com/dried-bananas-food-vodka/ Banoffee Leather: https://banofileather.com/ Bateup Green Chair: https://www.bateupconsulting.com.au/greenchair Canyon Solar in supermarket carparks: https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/solar-carparks-offer-renewable-solution-for-supermarkets-and-cheap-ev-charging/ Caterpillar remanufacturing: https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/sustainability/remanufacturing.html Close the Loop (R) Australia: https://www.closetheloop.com.au/about-us/ Close the Loop® road surfacing:https://www.closetheloop.com.au/tonerplas-in-the-award-winning-m80-ring-road-upgrade/https://roadsonline.com.au/from-plastic-to-pavement-with-close-the-loop/ EU Unsold Clothing Destruction Ban: https://english.aawsat.com/fashion/4711286-eu-approves-ban-destruction-unsold-clothing Framework Computers: https://frame.work/au/en Interface early years BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429997164/businesslessonsfromaradicalindustrialist Interface reuse and upcycling: https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/sustainability/remanufacturing.html Kua Coffee: https://kuacoffee.co/about Rohner upholstery textiles: https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2007/02/article_0002.html
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    35 mins
  • INSIGHT | Levelling up to design for REGENERATION

    INSIGHT | Levelling up to design for REGENERATION
    Apr 25 2024
    One of the core propositions of Think Act Regenerate is that today’s regenerative design thinking enables a rich smorgasbord of smarter, faster, funner win/win/win solutions that go WAY beyond 20th century “sustainability” and “efficiency”. What IS regenerative thinking? To me, it’s a new place to stand – because we can’t solve 20th century problems with 20th century thinking. Here’s my take on what regeneration is about and why it has a strong business focus, illustrated with a heap of examples. FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-levelling-up-to-design-for-regeneration/#text LINKS Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: http://thinkactregenerate.com/insights Think Act Regenerate INSIGHT on OPPORTUNITY https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-a-world-of-business-and-career-opportunity/ Books and general links BUSINESS LESSONS FROM A RADICAL INDUSTRIALIST https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429997164/businesslessonsfromaradicalindustrialist REGENERATION: https://regeneration.org/the-book THE DEEP GREEN PROFIT HANDBOOK https://thinkactregenerate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DeepGreenProfit.pdf Michael Porter: “Why business can be good at solving social problems” https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_porter_why_business_can_be_good_at_solving_social_problems.html Project Drawdown: https://drawdown.org/solutions Examples: Precious metals being recovered from ewaste using the whey https://rpra.ca/the-hub/researchers-extract-gold-from-e-waste-using-a-cheese-byproduct/ Farmer upcycling excess produce https://thinkactregenerate.com/dried-bananas-food-vodka/ AMP upcycling skyscraper https://thinkactregenerate.com/upcycling-commercial-buildings-circular-economy-at-a-whole-new-scale/ Sundrop farms, using solar energy and seawater to grow tomatoes in the desert: https://www.sundropfarms.com/ Interface flooring, utilising land-fill methane to power a factory https://www.greenbiz.com/article/interface-flooring-powers-plant-using-landfill-emissions Farmers installing solar panels to protect their crops and power their on-farm equipment https://ceat.org.au/the-benefits-of-agrivoltaics-in-agriculture/ A Riverina renewable energy coop building a community solar garden https://switchedon.reneweconomy.com.au/content/australias-first-community-solar-garden-becomes-a-reality Kua Coffee, utilising a social enterprise structure to serve its growers in Kenya https://kuacoffee.co/learn/why-does-kua-have-a-foundation-and-a-company An Indian company making a vegetable-based “Leather” from banana waste: https://banofileather.com/ Plastic-free coffee pods utilising algae-based material to protect the coffee https://www.fastcompany.com/91056402/how-keurig-finally-made-a-coffee-pod-with-no-plastic Waste processing powered by Black Soldier Fly for food waste: https://goterra.au/food-waste-management/ HarperCollins use design to reduce paper cost and save trees https://www.fastcompany.com/91071102/harper-collins-made-a-tiny-tweak-to-its-book-design-and-has-saved-thousands-of-trees-as-a-result Totally Renewable Yackandandah – from solar panels to energy retailer https://totallyrenewableyack.org.au/ Melbourne business turns toner cartridge waste into road surfacing material and vegetable garden modules: https://roadsonline.com.au/the-proof-is-in-the-pavement-with-close-the-loop/ WA farmer is using biochar and dung beetles to reduce operating costs, increase production : https://www.wantfa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WANTFA_NF_Summer2015_Biochar-002.pdfA family-run building company in NSW building super-efficient housing that sells itself https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/news-from-the-front-desk/news-from-the-front-desk-issue-no-231/
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    38 mins
  • INSIGHT | A world of business and career OPPORTUNITY

    INSIGHT | A world of business and career OPPORTUNITY
    Mar 22 2024

    A surprising number of people look at “sustainability” and “the environment” as onerous obligations instead of seeing it as a rich smorgasbord of business and career opportunity.

    So they miss out on the wealth of commercial solutions coming to market – many of which are already scaling globally.

    In the first of 10 Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS, we explore the scope and scale of today’s opportunities and identify some starting resources.


    FULL TEXT: https://thinkactregenerate.com/insight-a-world-of-business-and-career-opportunity/#text

    LINKS

    The Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series: thinkactregenerate.com/insights

    Project Drawdown’s solutions catalogue: drawdown.org/solutions

    Ellen Macarthur Foundation for the Circular Economy: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

    Circular Design Guide: circulardesignguide.com

    Project Regeneration’s Action Nexus: regeneration.org/nexus

    Planning worksheet download of “An Ikigai for regenerative solutionists”: thinkactregenerate.com/an-ikigai-for-regenerative-solutionists


    CREDITS

    Original music composed for the show by Ian Hopkinson of HopkinsonCreative.com - used with permission.
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    18 mins
  • TRANSITION | From Regenomics to Think Act Regenerate

    TRANSITION | From Regenomics to Think Act Regenerate
    Feb 6 2024

    I began this podcast as an exploration of the wealth of regenerative solutions scaling globally today that just about anyone can be part of. It was initially part of the Climactic podcast family, so it had a focus on climate issues.

    However, my passion has always been design for regeneration and accelerating the spread of today's rich smorgasbord of commercial, actionable solutions.

    Going forward, Think Act Regenerate will explore the design principles as well as the individual solutions being actioned by entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs and innovators around the world.


    CREDITS: Original music by Ian Hopkinson of Hopkinson Creative


    LINKS:

    Think Act Regenerate INSIGHTS email series
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    12 mins