Pioneering Regenerative Business
Rethinking Prosperity, Business and Impact
Across the world, a new vision for progress is emerging. People are questioning old assumptions about growth, success, and value. At the same time, businesses are adopting models and principles that support wellbeing, healthy environments and shared prosperity. When these ideas come together, they create a powerful roadmap for organisations that want to build a future where both people and the planet can thrive.
Core Elements of Regenerative Business
Discover how regenerative business models are reshaping our approach to sustainability, focusing on renewal and positive impact.
The Principles of Good Business
These principles offer a foundation for responsible and resilient organisations. Purpose, fairness, environmental care, strong governance, long term thinking, mission alignment and community connection help companies stay accountable to their stakeholders. These principles shape cultures where people feel respected, ecosystems are protected and decisions are made with clarity and integrity. They also prepare organisations to create value that lasts, not value that fades once short term gains are gone. The new B Lab standards provide an excellent blueprint of how to do business that is both good for people and planet.
Regenerative Business Models for better outcomes
Alongside these principles, new business models are redefining what companies can be. Purpose Driven organisations show how mission can sit at the heart of strategy. Nature Forward companies demonstrate that operations can restore, regenerate and design without waste. Shared Prosperity structures reveal how value can be distributed fairly so communities, employees, and members benefit together. These models are not abstract ideas. They are practical approaches that help businesses align strategy with the needs of people and the planet.
A Wider Shift in How We Measure Progress
These business shifts echo a broader movement in the world of economics. Concepts like Doughnut Economics, Steady State & Sufficiency and the Post Growth movement challenge the belief that success must depend on endless expansion. Beyond GDP frameworks and national efforts like the Swiss Impact and Prosperity Initiative invite society to measure what truly matters. Wellbeing, environmental stability, education and community strength offer a fuller view of progress and create space for more thoughtful decisions.
Let’s look at the good business principles, business models and the different ways of measuring prosperity in more detail:
The Principles of Good Business
These seven principles help organisations stay grounded while creating meaningful change. They help organisations act with integrity, create lasting value and stay accountable to all stakeholders.
1. PURPOSE BEYOND PROFIT
A meaningful business commits to creating a positive impact for people and the planet. Purpose guides decisions, shapes culture and supports long term value rather than focusing only on financial outcomes.
2. RESPECT AND FAIRNESS FOR PEOPLE
Strong companies protect the dignity, safety and well being of everyone connected to their work. Fair pay, inclusive practices and employee voice are essential. When people feel respected, trust and engagement increase.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Responsible organisations reduce harm and contribute to a healthier planet. This includes lowering emissions, managing resources carefully and designing products or services that support ecological balance. Protecting future generations is a central priority.
4. ETHICAL GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY
Good governance supports accountability. Clear reporting, open communication and strong oversight help stakeholders understand how decisions are made. Transparency promotes confidence and reinforces ethical behaviour across the organisation.
5. LONG TERM THINKING
Short term financial wins can shift attention away from lasting positive impact and may even push long term commitments aside. Long term thinking supports resilience, steady growth and meaningful benefit for all stakeholders.
6. MISSION FIRST, MARKET SECOND
A mission provides direction during change and uncertainty. When strategy stays aligned with the mission, the organisation remains focused on creating impact even in volatile environments.
7. COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION
Healthy businesses strengthen the communities they are part of. Partnering with local groups, peers and customers builds shared knowledge and shared value. Collaboration expands what is possible and supports collective progress.
Regenerative Business Models That Give Back
Businesses are evolving in ways that support people, communities and the planet. Three major directions are shaping this shift: Purpose Driven, Nature Forward, and Shared Prosperity models. Each one offers a different path, yet all point toward stronger and more responsible organisations:
PURPOSE DRIVEN
Purpose Driven businesses put mission at the center of what they do. The most common business structures in this category are:
- B Corps that meet high standards for social and environmental performance.
- Benefit Corporations that commit to legal responsibilities that include both profit and public benefit.
- Social Enterprises that design their core products or services to solve social challenges.
These models show that purpose can guide strategy and advance the wellbeing of all while still supporting the bottom line.
Nature Forward businesses focus on healing ecological systems and using resources wisely. The most widely recognised forms are:
- Regenerative companies that work to restore ecosystems, soil health and biodiversity through their operations.
- Circular businesses that keep materials in use for as long as possible by reducing waste, reusing components, and designing products that last.
Both approaches help organisations support long term environmental health and reduce pressures on natural resources.
NATURE FORWARD
SHARED PROSPERITY
Shared Prosperity models distribute value more fairly across the people who help create it. Some common examples include:
- Cooperatives are owned and governed by members who use or contribute to the business.
- Employee owned corporations give workers a meaningful stake in the company’s success.
- Community interest and wealth building companies direct profits toward local benefit instead of extracting value.
These structures elevate stakeholders instead of centering only shareholders, which leads to stronger relationships and more resilient communities.
Building Thriving Societies and
Measuring Prosperity Differently
A growing number of economic ideas are reshaping how we think about prosperity. Instead of centering growth at any cost, these approaches focus on wellbeing, ecological balance, and long term resilience. Each concept offers a different lens, yet together they point toward healthier societies and more sustainable economies.
Doughnut Economics
Doughnut Economics imagines a safe space for humanity. The inner circle represents basic human needs like food, health and housing. The outer circle represents ecological limits such as climate stability and biodiversity. A thriving society meets everyone’s needs while staying within the planet’s boundaries.
Steady State and Sufficiency Economics
Steady state thinking focuses on maintaining a stable level of resource use instead of constant expansion. Sufficiency complements this by encouraging the idea of enough instead of more. These approaches promote balance, protect natural systems and support long term wellbeing.
Post Growth Movement
The post growth movement explores how societies can flourish without relying on endless economic growth. It centers care, community, fairness and ecological recovery. Progress is measured through quality of life and healthy environments rather than output alone. Key thinkers in the post-growth movement are Tim Jackson and Giorgos Kallis.. Here they explore the vision.
Beyond GDP
GDP captures production, not wellbeing. Beyond GDP approaches advocate for indicators that track what truly matters. Examples include health, equality, ecological health, education, and community strength. These measures create a fuller picture of how people and places are actually doing. Key figures like Joseph Stiglitz, Christine Lagarde and Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee support this shift, promoting alternatives like the Human Development Index.
Bringing These Ideas Into Your Own Work
Businesses do not need to adopt every model or framework at once. Small steps can spark meaningful change. Leaders can explore their purpose, strengthen governance, improve worker voice, reduce waste, or build new partnerships with communities. Each action helps create an organisation that contributes to a thriving society.
The path forward is not a single blueprint. It is a shared invitation to rethink what prosperity means, how business can shape it and how every organisation can play a role in building a more resilient and equitable future.