- Sustainability
Building the bridge: How we’re actively closing the regeneration gap.
You’ll have heard a lot from us recently about regeneration – and how brands need to close the gap between words and action. The irony isn’t lost on us that what you’ve been hearing are, in fact, words. So, it’s time for action – and we’ve also been busy here, as part of our mission of creating a world of good.
There’s nothing like putting plans into action to realise the scale of the challenge facing us – and, looking at things realistically, no one brand can claim to be leading the charge into a regenerative future. Instead, it’s all about little acts; it’s about small changes that combine to add up to a larger difference. That’s how bridges are built: modularly, piece by piece. And it’s how we’ll bridge this particular gap.
In our new guide, we’ve been careful to put proof behind our principles, revealing how each of the six degrees of regeneration is more than a theory: it’s something we’re already doing for our own clients. So, today, let’s take a little whistle-stop tour of some of these proof points, showcasing how we’ve been driving actionable change for brands moving to a regenerative mindset.
Better for planet.
As net-zero targets shift and geopolitical priorities change, brands need to become beacons of responsibility and drivers for change. That’s something Grayson Thermal Systems is taking to heart: pivoting from its origins as a radiator repair shop for diesel buses and coaches, and towards being a technology partner for the automotive sector and beyond, advancing possibilities for zero-emissions vehicles through thermal management systems that reduce weight and size, while increasing efficiency and performance. This is active, affirmative change; a fundamental repurposing of its business that tracks from mission statement to everyday practice.
Along the same lines, but shifting the focus to the construction, we’re also on similar journeys with brands like Cemex – which is applying innovation to aggregates, launching its lower-carbon concrete – and then using this Vertua range to redefine its longer-term offer and portfolio, to go beyond reducing operational and embedded carbon, and instead create a built environment that replenishes our natural one.
Both of these clients – amongst others we work with – demonstrate the importance of closing the regeneration gap precisely by going beyond minimisation of impact; forever finding ways to be an active force in ecological recovery. But, of course, regeneration is not solely about the planet…
Better for people.
It’s also about social regeneration. Making life better for people – which is undoubtedly linked to people’s environment, but it’s also about communities, careers, knowledge and skills, opportunities and everyday improvements.
Sticking with the built environment for a second, this is the line of thinking we’re exploring with Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, with its ambition to make the world a better home. In terms of what this means in reality for people, our Building Better series demonstrated it in practice: upskilling the industry, sharing knowledge, insight and inspiration, and shining the spotlight on the work of academics and practitioners in bringing this ambition into reality – all the while reaffirming its leadership in driving and activating change.
Even in terms of organisational culture, regeneration is about creating positive change for people in small ways that snowball into bigger ones. We’ve talked recently about our work with Sika, reshaping its approach to health and safety by focusing on inspiration, rather than solely education. And here, regenerative principles are at work: we recognise the interconnectedness of the brand’s people – that life is about more than work, it’s about getting home safely – and we inspire everyone to take that to heart. It’s a very small part of the bigger picture – but all the pieces matter.
So, how about taking your own first step?
Get started by downloading your copy of our guide to closing the regeneration gap