The Blue Economy

About the Blue Economy

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 as ultimately we will only survive and prosper in a resource restrained world of 10 billion, if we are able to emulate nature.

Through a systemic approach, the Blue Economy provides us 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 sustainability, radical resource productivity, whole systems design, bio-mimicry, industrial ecology, renewable energy, green chemistry and nanotechnology.

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.

As Achim Steiner, Executive Director UN Environmental Programs (UNEP) suggests "The Blue Economy, able to deal systematically with the world's many challenges - is now essential. Our earth has always been our greatest resources and the Blue Economy cites 100 reasons why investing in both local and global ecosystem sustainability is even more valid and central today. If we follow the logic of nature, we can create a foundation for societal sea-change and economic transformation that manifests from the ground up."

As outlined by it's Founder Prof Gunter Pauli in his Report to the Club of Rome (now in 38 languages) The Blue Economy is set to generate 100 million new jobs in 10 years. This new highly innovative competitive business model supports a world guided by the Paris Agreement (formerly Kyoto Protocol), and heralds a paradigm shift in economics and sustainability. It showcases cascading business models that have multiple cash flows, examines new energy and building options, and explores 100 innovations that achieve zero pollution and build social capital.

To date the Blue Economy has seen over EUR4 billion in investment and the creation of an estimated 3 million jobs with innovation and technology that is as diverse as it is game changing from turning thistles - yes a waste that we spend millions trying to kill with expensive toxic chemicals - into valuable oils (the Sardinia Refinery has seen $600m in revenues in it's first year); coffee into a valuable substrate to grow mushrooms and prevent your shoes from becoming smelly...through to turning mining waste into stone paper - paper that needs no trees or water in its manufacturing process, that can be recycled forever!

There’s more than 100 case studies (you can read them here).

Some of the platform technologies are equally as compelling. By mimicking nature's Water Vortex for example, an Industrial Vortex Generator (IVG) can: 
√ Eliminate lime/calcium and air bubbles in the water giving us cleaner, healthier water
√ Increases agricultural yields by increasing the absorption of nutrients by plants = increased plant growth, plant viability, crop yield, weight and shelf life.
√ Increase the yield and profitability in aquaculture.
√ Remove algae in ponds and rivers.
√ Eliminate the need for chemicals in cooling towers

for large buildings, oil refineries, chemical plants, power stations, food processing and manufacturing plants etc - allowing water to be reused (saving thousands in water, energy and chemical costs each year - all with less than a 3 year payback period).
√ Eliminate the build-up of scale and lime in the home, restaurants and hotels giving longer life to pipes and equipment, saves time cleaning and eliminates the need for chemical cleaning products.
√ Degas liquids in the paint or coating industries or for oil production and recovery.
√ Be used to make ice stronger (ideal for ice making, skating rinks etc).
√ To aid mining processes - by separating metals from water and much much more...

MOSS Founder Anne-Maree McInerney believes the Blue Economy can help business, government and community organisations across the Asia Pacific Region, to achieve their economic, social and environmental sustainability goals. Anne-Maree and her team delivers training, develops workshops and provides consulting services to those who want to build resilience and future proof their business, industry and or community.

If you would like to learn how Anne-Maree, her team and the Blue Economy or Blue Economy Inspired innovation can support your business, community or region, call MOSS today on +61 3 987 99886 or email info@moss.org.au

Need more inspiration?

There's hundreds of blue and circular economy inspired innovations and case studies in our members only Resource Centre to bring to life the Blue and Circular Economy. We thought you’d appreciate a taste of what’s available.

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 the report here. http://capitalinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-Regenerative-Capitalism-4-20-15-final.pdf

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

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...

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

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.

BRING SUSTAINABILITY TO LIFE with new innovative business models and technologies set to generate 100m new jobs in 10 years.

Need more inspiration?