11th Permaculture-inspired tip to help you carry out your mission of transformation
“PRODUCE NO WASTE”
💡 EXPLAINING THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE
Nature teaches us that “everything one person throws away is food for another (...) the earthworm is a symbol of this principle, because it feeds on plant litter (i.e., waste) and converts it into humus. This humus improves the structure of the soil, and the worm, as well as the soil microorganisms and plants, benefit from this improvement.”
Marine Simon, *Everything Is Going Round and Round on This Earth, We Are the Only Ones Who Don't Know It*, page 182
Permaculture, an agricultural method that seeks to integrate human activity with the natural environment in order to create highly efficient, self-sustaining ecosystems, embraces the principle of zero waste. One example is the use of animal manure to fertilize the soil.
But it goes beyond permaculture. In our society, we have also established the 5 Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle) based on the goal of zero waste.
🔍 ILLUSTRATING THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE AS APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
This permaculture principle is also underscored by Antoine Lavoisier’s famous quote: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created; everything is transformed.” This mantra can be very beneficial for changemakers, helping them save time while maximizing their positive impact on nature and society.
Let me give you an example of how to apply Antoine Lavoisier’s wisdom.
When I took over the Asia Sustainability Department at Veolia, the leader in environmental services, in 2012, I discovered a unique manual developed by two remarkable women who had previously headed that department.
This manual, intended for operational staff in the field, demystified the concept of sustainability by proposing very concrete actions that could be implemented to move toward a multifaceted approach to organizational performance.
Among other topics, it explained how to calculate a carbon footprint, how to protect natural species, how to reuse wastewater, how to promote diversity, and how to build partnerships with schools. Essentially, it outlined key strategies for operators to make a positive impact on the company, its customers, and the local community.
Over time, some of the information and tools in the manual became outdated, while other content had already been widely adopted. New needs arose, and operators and managers began requesting new formats.
Our team wanted to honor the expertise shared by this valuable resource while adapting to new expectations.
Recognizing the need for new ways to strengthen our company’s positive impact on nature, society, and customers, we organized a collective intelligence workshop with representatives from operations, sales, marketing, human resources, purchasing, and health and safety. We also explored their constraints and expectations regarding support, tone, workload, and other factors.
Based on these discussions, we launched three tools for our employees in Asia:
A podcast that highlights the people behind their roles—their ambitions, struggles, successes, and real-life case studies—to inspire employees to become changemakers.
A fun online course consisting of very short, practical videos and quizzes designed to familiarize all players—especially those working in the field—with sustainability issues that may be perceived as too abstract.
A toolkit for understanding internal know-how and its benefits. The challenge was to provide salespeople with the language they needed, while also guiding employees in replicating and adapting these initiatives to their own context.
Here is how one tool gave rise to three tools, and how the relationship with the field was strengthened through working as co-creators.
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
Sustainability project leaders put a lot of effort and hard work into their work.
Sometimes the professionalism and quality of their work do not seem to generate the response they expect and deserve.
If this applies to you, here are a few ways to breathe new life into your work:
Review all the material created over the past 3–5 years: Are there any nuggets of wisdom to share? How can you quickly and easily breathe new life into these initiatives?
Identify successful and impactful partnerships from the past 3–5 years: How can you measure the positive impacts to develop case studies and business references? How can you identify simple methods to inspire others?
Listen to your ecosystem: What challenges are they facing in terms of sustainable development? What do they need? In what form? How can you repurpose and enhance existing materials to support them?
“Producingno waste invites us to become more aware of the responsibility for our actions and the traces (dirt?) they leavebehind”
IF YOU FOUND THIS POST INSIGHTFUL, PLEASE LIKE IT AND SHARE IT WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR NETWORK WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM IT.
IT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT ME.
As a reminder, I am writing a series on the parallels between the 12 operational principles of permaculture and the conditions for sustainable transformations of organizational systems. Here is the first post, the second one, the third one, the 4th one, the 5th one, the 6th one, 7th one, 8th one, 9th one, and 10th one.
If you are a professional changemaker committed to promoting a better society, these principles and insights should help you maximize your impact and inner serenity.
Hello, Changemakers!
I am Nina, an impact maker coach who specializes in leadership and sustainable transformation.
I have spent the past 10+ years leading sustainable change at a Fortune 500 company in a multicultural environment. Through my work, I aim to inspire professionals in organizations to rethink business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a more sustainable, humane, and nature-friendly world.
If you'd like support to move forward on your journey with greater impact and ease, contact me!
