Eight ways to enhance action on regenerative design

Momentum is building for how to implement ‘regenerative design’ across the built environment. But it is early days, and a lack of clarity over the concept and how it turns into practice are stalling deeper action.

Jointly with the Institution of Structural Engineers, we brought together key representatives from businesses across the built environment to explore the opportunities, challenges and pathways for embedding regenerative design within mainstream construction practice.

During the session it became clear that there is an emerging consensus on key aspects of regenerative design across the built environment, such as placing nature and people at the heart of construction, designing at a system level, and shifting towards long-term value creation. Delve deeper here.

However, the steps to translate these principles of regenerative design into practice were unclear – and key actors often don’t have the impetus to change.

Driving systemic change is often a major challenge for the climate transition – and regenerative design is no exception. But here are eight ideas identified during our event that could help embed regenerative design. These ideas range from a fundamental shift in the prevailing economic paradigm of continuous growth, to short-term, practical steps that could be more easily implemented.

1. Normalize nature as part of the conversation in early-stage planning

This approach is similar to how safety toolbox talks and conversations around equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) have prioritized these topics within the construction industry.

2. Prioritize place-led construction

Co-design with community from the very beginning to respond to place, nature, and society across the multiple layers of built environment. Understand the system surrounding the project, both at the project location, and in places affected by the sourcing and processing of materials.

3. Share and amplify cases where regenerative design is working

In the absence of current large regenerative projects, share examples of regenerative projects (or emerging aspects of projects that are consistent with regenerative design) with industry.

4. Re-educate the workforce

Companies can upskill and educate their workforces to gain a deep understanding of nature, complemented by systems thinking skills and behaviors, This can help raise awareness of regenerative principles and highlight the role regenerative design can play in creating a climate-positive world.

5. Focus project governance on regenerative outcomes

Example actions include making provisions in client contracts for regenerative design to be considered at an early stage, and by appointing a ‘regenerative director’ for the project.

6. Develop ways to capture whole-life system outcomes

First steps could focus on developing metrics that capture outcomes beyond the site boundary and that can be used to prioritize more regenerative projects.

7. Strengthen legal instruments for nature

Example actions could include introducing ecocide laws or giving nature legal status to give equal footing to non-human stakeholders currently excluded from key decision making.

In addition to these specific pathways, mainstreaming of regenerative design requires a broader exploration of paradigms that value nature equally with, or over, profit and growth. This would require a coherent set of national policies, taxation, legislation and incentives for industry to deliver positive, restorative outcomes.

At the Sustainability Accelerator, we have just launched a 9 month Regenerative Design Policy Lab in collaboration with Constructivist that will progress possible solutions to the policy gaps and barriers for regenerative design.

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