The Blue Economy: Design Theory

The Blue Economy is a design theory, co-initiated by Gunter Pauli which is intended to bring natural ecosystems and economy into harmony and create jobs.
Background

Blue Economy means a further development of the Green economy. Instead of calling it Green 2.0 the term refers to the color of sky, the ocean and the Gaia seen from the universe.
The book was written by Gunter Pauli after 16 years of experiences and more than 50 successful initiatives and projects all over the world as founder and director of Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives,introducing the mentality, philosophy and methodology behind the entire concept.
Based on the UNEP-funded research project Nature's 100 Best, executed by ZERI Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives
, and Gunter Pauli together with Janine Benyus and the Biomimicry Institute, a team of initiators developed the vision and trademark Blue Economy from 2009 in Berlin.

The book presents 100 innovations from areas such as water, energy, buildings and food supply. Between 2010 and 2012, overall more than 180 Blue Economy innovations were published. From there on the autonomous term and concept was continued in the books Neues Wachstum and Zen and the Art of Blue. Actually the concept is better understood either as an economic model or an innovative business model that are based on the concepts of the earlier book.
The Blue Economy principles permit to respond to the basic needs of all with what we have. It stands for a different way of designing business by using the resources available in cascading systems, where the waste of one product becomes the input to create a new cash flow. It aims at creating jobs, building up social capital and rising income while saving the environment.
An international community of companies, innovators and scientists support the concept, providing open source access to develop, implement and share prosperous business models which targets to improve natural ecosystems and quality of life.
Principles
1. Solutions are first and foremost based on physics. Deciding factors are Pressure and Temperature as found on site.
2. Substitute something with Nothing - question any resource regarding its necessity for production.
3. Natural systems cascade nutrients, matter and energy - waste does not exist. Any by-product is the source for a new product.
4. Nature evolved from few species to a rich biodiversity. Wealth means diversity. Industrial standardization is the contrary.
5. Nature provides room for entrepreneurs who do more with less. Nature is contrary to monopolization.
6. Gravity is main source of energy, solar energy is the second renewable fuel.
7. Water is the primary solvent (no complex, chemical, toxic catalysts).
8. In nature the constant is change. Innovations take place in every moment.
9. Nature only works with what is locally available. Sustainable business evolves with respect not only for local resources, but also for culture and tradition.
10. Nature responds to basic needs and then evolves from sufficiency to abundance. The present economic model relies on scarcity as a basis for production and consumption.
11. Natural systems are non-linear.
12. In Nature everything is biodegradable - it is just a matter of time.
13. In natural systems everything is connected and evolving towards symbiosis.
14. In Nature water, air, and soil are the commons, free and abundant.
15. In Nature one process generates multiple benefits.
16. Natural systems share risks. Any risk is a motivator for innovations.
17. Nature is efficient. So sustainable business maximizes use of available material and energy, which reduces the unit price for the consumer.
18. Nature searches for the optimum for all involucrated elements.
19. In Nature negatives are converted into positives. Problems are opportunities.
20. Nature searches for economies of scope. One natural innovation carries various benefits for all.
21. Respond to basic needs with what you have, introducing innovations inspired by nature, generating multiple benefits, including jobs and social capital, offering more with less.
Citations
"The world has been racked by food, fuel, environmental, financial, and economic crises. Ecosystem and biodiversity loss has led to an emerging climate crisis and a looming natural-resource calamity. A Blue Economy, able to deal systematically with these many challenges, and ready to seize the manifest multiple opportunities, is now essential."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/>Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Ashok Khosla, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
"The Blue Economy fosters our transition from a product-based economy to a system-based economy. Such a cultural leap requires all of us to see - and move beyond - the connections that have gone into an obvious core business strategy subject to market tyranny."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Dr. Catia Bastioli, Chief Executive Officer at Novamont S.p.a, European Inventor of the Year 2007
"Our current economic crisis is also a crisis of ethics and values which has led to the enrichment of a few and the disempowerment of many. The Blue Economy advocates for a new economy, one led by innovation and creativity to cultivate the next generation of social entrepreneurship. We are in need of such an economy and no one is better placed than Gunter Pauli to offer this to the world."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Wendy Luhabe, Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Chair of the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
"Nature holds all our solutions. Gunter Pauli is a visionary entrepreneur who is able to help us create a Blue Economy based on respecting the Earth's ecosystems and humankind."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Christian Courtin-Clarins, Chairman of Clarins
"The Blue Economy is exactly the kind of tool we need to help us repair our broken economy and create a more sustainable model. The new ideas and innovative thinking compiled here give us exciting new options about how to transform our economy so that it can generate new options about how to transform our economy so that it generate new jobs and sustain healthy, happy communities far into the future."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All
"The ideas he (Gunter Pauli) puts forth in The Blue Economy represent a sustainable and competitive business framework based on innovations that offer investors and society financial, social, and environmental benefits. Such opportunities to achieve sustainability, parity, and profitability are not only inviting but tremendously compelling."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Stan Shih, Founder of Acer Inc.
"The Blue Economy describes innovations that are certain to change our habits of production and consumption. It points us in a strategic direction for sustainable development. Dr. Pauli's new economic model gives aspiring entrepreneurs and political leaders the means to contemplate and achieve a sustainable future. They will be able to take advantage of manifold opportunities and make policy decisions that serve both economy and community."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Noemi Sanin Posada, Government of Colombia Peace Negotiator
"(...)The Blue Economy, presents excellent innovative ideas with practical applications that will help entrepreneurs and consumers to significantly impact the economies of the world, while earning money, generating jobs, and protecting the environment."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Professor Heitor Gurgulino de Souza, Rector UN University (1987-1997)
"Ultimately, our civilization will survive if we are able to emulate nature. The Blue Economy illuminates the way."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Lester E. Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute
"The Blue Economy shows us that by securing materials and aligning production schemes as nature does, many problems of environmental degradation and pollution would disappear."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Anders Wijkman, Member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences
"The Blue Economy is an exceptional vision of what is truly possible in the context of sustainable economy. Gunter Pauli has worked tirelessly for many years to put substance to the promise of a Blue Economy."<ref name="Paradigm Publications"/><ref name="The Blue Economy on Google Books"/> Colin M. Le Duc, Partner at Generation Investment Management LLP (London)

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