The Regenerative Playbook
... imagine the alternative to business as usual
Welcome to Regen/ Notes Thirty Two
All of us in the built environment are dealing with the effects of climate and ecological change. Many just don’t know it yet.1
Regen/ Playbook
We are thrilled to have launched The Regenerative Playbook2 on the 1st of March.
You can access the Playbook from here.
The Playbook is aimed at those not yet initiated into the ways of regenerative thinking. It is designed as a first step in introducing regenerative thinking, bringing sustainability and environmental approaches alive with questions and challenges to shift thinking. In a good way.
With all its tactile richness across 28 pages, The Regenerative Playbook will be a mighty regenerative conversation starter in any organisation looking to do sustainability differently.
Further, we are honoured and delighted that the playbook includes a foreword from Josie Warden Head of Regenerative Design at the RSA which is doing so much good (and positive) work in this space.
(Regenerative) means going on a journey, being humble, respecting one another and being ready to learn, especially from those communities who have stewarded traditional knowledge about how to live in good relationship with our world, and whose voices have often been marginalised. It means being ready to collaborate and share, because the future doesn’t just happen, it’s up to us all to create it.
The activities and questions in this playbook are a great place to start.
Why not buy two copies and give one away as an act of reciprocity.
If you have seen the beautiful Anti-Greenwash Playbook that Content Coms launched at COP26 then you will be aware of the ability that these small books have to open conversations.
As our launch coincides with World Book Day - so please do check out the fantastic live reading events being held to encourage young readers
Regen/ is a collaborative founded by Martin Brown and Anna Williamson that grew from the highly successful Zoom Regenerative initiative. Through Regen/ we can work with you in a whole host of ways to develop your understanding and application of regenerative principles.
We are delighted that both Martin and Anna are now Fellows of the RSA. Martin was invited and accepted as an RSA Fellow in recognition as a pioneer in the regenerative movement through pervasive advocacy and along with Anna's studies in Conscious Leadership and group dynamics align with the regenerative work being done at the RSA, there is an obvious increase in the need for a cross-sector hub of regenerative thinking in the UK, activities that will only ground and support our Regen/ activities.
On which, we are in discussion with and developing regenerative support programmes for a wide range of sectors, from architecture practices, construction companies, energy organisations, housing associations, to your project and your organisation, as Anna expands on below.
Zoom Regen Forty-Two
“regenerative is where sustainability, community, ecology and wellness meet … creating conditions for life to continually renew itself and transend into new forms and flourish admits changing conditions””
What a truly inspiring and passionate presentation from Frances Pimentel Nevares, sharing her journey and experience in regenerative thinking and Regen Real Estate across Central America.
The vibrant ZR conversation explored the world of digital crypto and bitcoin approaches in supporting regenerative land issues and projects. A huge topic necessitating much more exploration and understanding.
Well Worth Reading
Regenerative Leadership - how we can hold in our minds, both today’s business reality and the bigger worldview of a regenerative future, and how we move from business as usual leadership towards the level of leadership necessary.
Humanity has reached a junction with two paths ahead, one degenerative, the other regenerative, but which will we take? Leadership psychologist Terence Sexton FRSA, says we urgently need a shift to ‘consciousness leadership’
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As a fan and customer of the UK outdoor clothing, biking and equipment company Alpkit, it was good to read their recently published Sustainability Report People and Planet Before Profit. And it is a very worthy read illustrating how reports can be done. As Charles Ross pointed out in a LinkedIn conversation, it “sparks jealousy in other brands”. Alongside the report Alpkit also published a good read post Carbon Neutral With Science-Based Targets
In particular Alpkit focus on the concept of emotional durability as a driver for addressing carbon and climate impact. The longer we keep, love, look after, repair and then gift stuff before being tempted to buy new significantly lowers impact. Emotional durability and its relevance in the built environment must be a topic for an upcoming Zoom Regenerative.
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The world is spending at least $1.8tn (£1.3tn) every year on subsidies driving the annihilation of wildlife and a rise in global heating, according to a new study. How much do we spend on regenerative approaches that enable life to thrive?
Is regenerative becoming the new “sustainable”, or the latest ubiquitous catchword in climate speak? As with green-wash, we need to guard against and call out regen-wash where we see it. But as Paul Hawken has commented “the global economy, not only can but must become regenerative. He’s calling for a wholesale rebranding of the climate movement: The climate-slash-regenerative movement will be the largest movement ... that we've ever seen on Earth,"
A Part Of
This beautiful and mesmerising mindful video and music featured on the Feasts and Fables Field Notes for Curious Minds newsletter at the weekend. (Another newsletter more than worthy of subscription).
The music from Mt. Wolf is perfectly matched with atmospheric filmmaking by Sim Warren, with words by Burgs, author of The Art of Meditation
Upcoming Events for your diary …
Zoom Regenerative Playbook Launch event 1st of March, 8 pm UK
Zoom Regenerative Forty-Three - on 15 of March where Tracy Fielding will be our guest sharing insights and exploring the rapidly emerging world of hemp.
Zoom Regenerative Forty-Four we look forward to welcoming Christiane Lellig as guest on the 15th of April.
Get in touch to register your interest for our short April Regen/ Refresh, a retreat in Lancashire UK, to refresh, rethink and regenerate as we move from spring into summer, from growth to flourish.
The Living Future Europe (LFE) Masterclass 2022.
Many who attended our LFE 2021 masterclass or our session at COP26 have reported how their thinking has shifted, and in turn how they have shifted their business or individual roles.
Much kudos to Ann Vanner for achieving Living Future Accreditation alongside the 2021 Masterclass. Read more from our recent interview in LFE / ILFI blogs soon ... And a nod to those in the ’21 cohort who are “almost there” with this essential qualification.
And register here to be notified of exciting plans for the LFE 2022 Masterclass starting in the autumn that will again include activities leading up to and at COP, this year at COP27 in Sharm, Egypt.
Anna Williamson FRSA, (Regenerative Sustainability Consultant at Limewood Group) shares thoughts around the Regenerative Playbook and actions from our latest ideas meeting:
Leading with Consciousness
The most important element in everyone’s life is one’s consciousness. In its pure state, Consciousness is an infinite reservoir of creativity and intelligence.
It has been an exciting time working with Martin on the forthcoming Regen Playbook, and our meetings with ContentComms have been rewarding and challenging in equal measure.
Martin and I intuitively know what regenerative practice looks like and are excited to be in a space that’s at the cutting edge of practice and implementation, but what we were compelled to do by Joanna Watchman was articulate what ‘regenerative’ is to someone who doesn't know they need it - yet.
The deeper contemplation required to articulate and translate often esoteric concepts into plain English was ultimately rewarding and we’re very pleased with the conversation starter that is the Playbook, but along our journey we were forced to acknowledge that to be a Regenerative Change Agent, we must view business as usual as that pervasive force that is beneath the surface, where custom and practice remain unchallenged - in no small part because to envisage the alternative is almost as challenging as the implementation of that alternative.
And this is what the Regen Playbook is challenging the reader to do: imagine the alternative to business as usual.
Understanding how group dynamics and culture shape organisations is key to facilitating a move from sustainability to regenerative, and Martin and I anticipate our programme will stimulate and deepen the working practice of the participants as we work through live issues and dilemmas brought from the workplace or personal lives.
Living Building Challenge
From a personal perspective, I am now on that cusp of something wonderfully regenerative as I near the end of my learning journey with ILFI to become an accredited Living Building Challenge practitioner, and it’s an exciting place to be. My colleague and LFE Masterclass peer Ann Vanner has recently become accredited herself and with her support and the support of the Zoom Regen colleagues and Martin, I look forward to the wonderful opportunities that will come out of the North West of England.
Regenerative Supply Chain
Regular Zoom Regen friend, interior designer Rachel Fowler has recently arrived at a milestone in her own journey. Having come to understand the danger of plastics in everyday items such as paints and wallpapers (yes! wallpapers!), she has designed her own. And it is beautiful.
Sustainable paper stock and inks have been brought together at a manufacturing facility in Lancashire, UK to deliver a luxury brand to a market that needs it and if my LBC understanding of the Declare label is correct - the market will demand it. Core to regenerative practice versus de-generative practice is love. Love and consciousness. And as humanitys’ values move towards love - love for mother earth, love for our children and love for ourselves - the specification and purchase of thoughtful, zero harm, mindful materials will become the norm.
The launch of Rachel’s wallpaper is early April - watch this space! And if you’re a manufacturer wanting to do great things like Rachel is doing, get in touch to discuss Declare labelling.
Regen/ Notes
Regen/ Notes is a newsletter of regenerative news, stories and more, with a sideways focus on the built environment, curated by Martin Brown. It is a companion to our Regen/ Zoom activities where we connect the spaces between regenerative dots, sharing ideas themes and work that invigorates and inspires.
And we love this from Emergence Magazine that sums up our zoom regenerative passion so well … "It has always been a radical act to tell stories during dark times. They are the regenerative spaces of creation and renewal. As we experience a loss of connection to the Earth we share stories that explore the timeless connections between ecology, culture and spirituality."
Martin Brown, inspired from a comment in the Philip Ball review of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid. by Thor Hanson in the Guardian.
The Regenerative Playbook is brought to you by Martin Brown FRSA Fairsnape, Anna Williamson FRSA, Limewood Group and Joanna Watchman FRSA, Content Comms.