As sustainability evolves, so too must the thinking, the technologies and the tools we use. The latest thought leadership around the world in terms of sustainable livelihoods and job creation is that of The Blue Economy. The Blue Economy is a Report to the Club of Rome and was realized in cooperation with UNEP.

The Blue Economy ENABLES IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH for virtually every part of the Economy. It is also shaping a new way to do business with zero waste, and represents a sustainable and competitive business framework - based on innovations that offer investors and society economic, social and environmental benefits. Such opportunities to achieve sustainability, parity and profitability are not only inviting, but tremendously compelling.

Through a systemic approach, the Blue Economy provides the methodologies, the business models and technologies to deliver win:win solutions to a changing economic landscape in which resource depletion and social costs are untenable and unsustainable. It illuminates the way unleashing creativity and entrepreneurship. It stands on the shoulders of the green economy and incorporates the circular economy, sustainability, radical resource productivity, whole systems design, bio-mimicry, industrial ecology, renewable energy, green chemistry and nanotechnology and is set to generate 100 million new jobs in 10 years, based on 100+ game changing innovation.

The time has come to shift towards a competitive business model that allows producers to offer the best at the lowest prices by introducing innovations that generate multiple benefits, not just increased profits.    The original 100 innovations (and a few extras) as outlined in "The Blue Economy - Report to the Club of Rome" - 10 years, 100 Innovations, 100 Million Jobs" can be found here. 

There's also a plethora of blue and circular economy inspired innovations and case studies (from our members only Resource Centre) to bring to life the Blue and Circular Economy. 

The Circular Economy Awards: 2015 Finalists The Circulars, Market: Global, Year: 2016 The circular economy is a resource efficient alternative to the traditional wasteful linear economy. It decouples growth from scarce resource use allowing economic development within natural resource limits and allowing companies to innovate to enable customers and users to do 'more with less'. The Circulars is an award program offering recognition to all individuals and organisations from commerce and civil society across the globe that have made a notable contribution to driving circular economy principles. Discover the fantastic array of Winners, Runners Up and Finalists that were selected across the seven categories

1996 - 2015 US EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Winners US EPA, Market US, Years 1996 - 2015 Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances and aims to significant environmental benefits, innovation and a strengthened economy. Be inspired by past winners!

 

Regenerative Capitalism: How Universal Principles and Patterns Will Shape Our New Economy John Fullerton, Capital Institute: The Future of Finance Global threats - from climate change and accelerating inequality, to the financial crisis of 2008 - have led an increasing number of thought leaders and policymakers to question the long-term viability of today's dominant form of capitalism. At the same time, a multitude of innovators and entrepreneurs around the world are experimenting with practical ways to reimagine capitalism so that it works for all levels of society, as well as for the planet. Download Here

 

How cities are innovating towards a circular economy The Guardian, Market: Global, Year: 2015 Cities are increasingly embracing circular economy principles; updating and adapting policies, sharing knowledge, and encouraging innovation for less wasteful systems. As chief executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Andrew Morlet has noted that built-up urban areas lend themselves particularly well to circular business models. This is due to the close proximity of citizens, retailers and service providers; the highly-skilled workforce and technology savvy markets; and high concentrations of biological and technical nutrients... Read More

 

The Rise of the Circular Economy in Asia EcoBusiness, Market: Asia Pacific, Year: 2015 It seems criminal, when you think about it, that across the world tonnes of waste are generated and sent to landfill daily even as we face mounting challenges of resource scarcity, rising commodity prices, and environmental degradation. This is why the circular economy is such an exciting proposition... Read more

Prawns found to be key in stopping the spread of deadly parasite in West Africa Sustainable Brands, Market: Global, Year:2015 Stanford researchers in Senegal, West Africa, has found that freshwater prawns can serve as an effective natural solution in the battle against schistosomiasis, a potentially deadly parasitic disease that infects roughly 230 million people. The prawns prey on parasite-infected snails, while providing a marketable, protein-rich food source. Because prawns cannot support schistosomiasis' complex life cycle, they do not transmit the disease themselves... Read more

 

Advancing Sustainable Packaging Technologies Brynn W.Mcnally, Sustainable Brands, Market: US, Year: 2015 The Coca-Cola Company and Liquid Light, a technology company focused on converting carbon dioxide into major industrial chemicals, have come together to accelerate production of mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) - a component used to make Coca-Cola's plant-based PET PlantBottleTM. The core technology is its low-energy catalytic electrochemistry, which converts CO2 to multi-carbon chemicals. This technology has the potential to reduce both the environmental footprint and the cost of producing MEG... Read more

 

The Circular Economy Awards: 2015 Finalists The Circulars, Davos World Economic Forum. Market: Global, Year: 2015 The circular economy is a resource efficient alternative to the traditional wasteful linear economy. It decouples growth from scarce resource use allowing economic development within natural resource limits and allowing companies to innovate to enable customers and users to do ?more with less'. The Circulars is an award program offering recognition to all individuals and organisations from commerce and civil society across the globe that have made a notable contribution to driving circular economy principles.  Discover whos innovating...

The Rise of the Circular Economy in Asia EcoBusiness, Market: Asia Pacific, Year: 2015 It seems criminal, when you think about it, that across the world tonnes of waste are generated and sent to landfill daily even as we face mounting challenges of resource scarcity, rising commodity prices, and environmental degradation. This is why the circular economy is such an exciting proposition... Read more

New business models and sustainable innovation Ethical Corporation, Market: UK, Year:2015 Alexandra Palt, CSO of L'Oréal and Nigel Stansfield, Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer of Interface Inc. talk about the winding road towards being able to create entirely sustainable products, and what they're doing to get there... Read more

 

Circular economy would increase European competitiveness and deliver better societal outcomes, new study reveals Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Market: Global, Year:2015 Growth Within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe reveals that by adopting circular economy principles, Europe can take advantage of the impending technology revolution to create a net benefit of ?1.8 trillion by 2030, or ?0.9 trillion more than in the current linear development path... Read more

 

Prawns found to be key in stopping the spread of deadly parasite in West Africa Sustainable Brands, Market: Australia, Year:2015 Stanford researchers in Senegal, West Africa, has found that freshwater prawns can serve as an effective natural solution in the battle against schistosomiasis, a potentially deadly parasitic disease that infects roughly 230 million people. The prawns prey on parasite-infected snails, while providing a marketable, protein-rich food source. Because prawns cannot support schistosomiasis' complex life cycle, they do not transmit the disease themselves... Read more

Expensive, toxic and carcinogenic cadmium used in solar can be replaced with milk / tofu ingredient! sourceable.net Market: Global, Year: 2014 Scientists from the University of Liverpool have discovered that toxic cadmium chloride can be replaced using an ingredient which is cheap and innocuous enough to be employed in the manufacture of food products such as soy milk and tofu. Magnesium chloride was an ideal fit for the production process. The chemical is extremely safe and a mere three-hundredth the cost of cadmium chloride, retailing for around US$1 per kilo. Read more...

 

From Parisian catwalks to your home, 3D printing is democratising fashion The guardian Market: Global, Year: 2014 While these industries have been radically transformed by the DIY ethos imbued in technology, the clothing retail model remains 'undisrupted'. However, some designers and developers working in 3D printing are envisioning the day when consumers will download their favourite designer's fall collection and print a tailored-fit piece in their home, rather than purchasing a standard size on the high street. Read more...

Defy the rules and change the world Thegreentimes.co.za Market: Global, Year: 2014 Imagine a business model in response to the principles of the Kyoto protocol? Discover the Blue Economy through the eyes of it's founder Gunter Pauli who's attitude has always been "defy the rules -it's the only way we're going to make the change." http://thegreentimes.co.za/defy-the-rules-and-change-the-world More...

 

Why American Eagle, H&M, Nike and Puma want your hand-me-downs Heather Clancy - GreenBiz Market: US, Year: 2014 There's only so far that community or family hand-me-downs can go to address the booming issue of textile waste, so I:Collect (aka I:CO) created a global collection network to keep discarded clothing and shoes out of landfills.Read more...

 

Company unlocks secret to making plastic out of air CBS News Market: USA, Year: 2014 The plastics industry creates 1.8 trillion pounds of carbon emissions every year, but now one company has figured out a way to take the pollution and turn it into plastic you can hold in your hand. This is a blue game changing innovation! More...

 

Southwest's innovative upcycling experiment Greenbiz.com Market: Global, Year: 2014 When southwest airlines started overhauling the interiors of its 737-700 aircraft fleet in 2012 with its lighter, more ecofriendly evolve design, one of the first things it began replacing were the heavy leather seats. Over time, it amassed 80,000 seats-worth of leather - enough to fill 14 shipping containers or cover 43 acres. Rather than relegating that material to landfills, the southwest sustainability team crafted a unique upcycling experiment , suggested by an internal team member and then approved by its green business council called the luv seat: repurpose with purpose, the program is using social media outreach to find non-profits and other organizations that can put the leather to use for a good cause.

Pee Power. How going to the loo can recharge a smartphone. The Economist Market: UK, Year: 2014 The BioEnergy Team of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) in Britain, are hoping to profit from working with urine and faeces. They have developed a new technique to turn urine into electrical power-or urine-tricity as they call it. Some may think this is very yellow - but it's actually is VERY blue!

 

Seven fabrics inspired by nature: from the lotus leaf to butterflies and sharks The guardian Market: Global, Year: 2014 With technology poised to change the way we dress in the future, here are seven examples of innovative fabrics that take their cue from the natural world.

 

Ahead of the Curve: How the Circular Economy can unlock Business Value  Corporate Citizenship, Market: Global, Year: 2014 As the circular economy continues to be the latest buzzword in sustainability, this paper unravels the complexities around the topic and presents it in a compelling, easy to read language - packed with best practice and advice that companies can relate to... Read more

 

Towards the Circular Economy Ellen Macarthur Foundation, Market: Global, Year: 2013 This ground breaking report invites readers to imagine an economy in which today's goods are tomorrow's resources, forming a virtuous cycle that fosters prosperity in a world of finite resources. This change in perspective is important to address many of today's fundamental challenges. Traditional linear consumption patterns ('take-make-dispose') are coming up against constraints on the availability of resources. The challenges on the resource side are compounded by rising demand from the world's growing and increasingly affluent population. As a result, we are observing unsustainable overuse of resources, higher price levels, and more volatility in many markets.