From waste to wealth: unleashing the power of the blue economy

06 September 2024

Gunter Pauli, a pioneering entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, captivated the audience as the keynote speaker at the Vlerick Sustainability Centre launch event in Brussels. Pauli’s talk focused on the urgent need for new business models that combine profitability with caring for the environment.

web-insights-gunter-pauli-blue-economy

Challenging the status quo

Pauli began by highlighting the worsening situation for gorillas as a symbol of our broader environmental problems. He emphasised that doing the same ineffective things over and over while expecting different results is pointless. Real change, he argued, requires a new way of thinking about business and sustainability.

web-insights-gunter-pauli-video1

Polluting less is still polluting

Gunter Pauli explains how companies are stuck in a linear line where we keep on polluting and don't know what to do with it.

Pauli stressed that real innovation isn't just about new technology but also about rethinking how businesses operate. He criticised the common approach of simply reducing harm, comparing it to a thief promising to steal less – a strategy that still doesn’t make things right. Instead, Pauli called for business models that actively solve environmental problems and create value. For Pauli, zero emissions means turning all waste into useful resources.

The blue economy: a blueprint for sustainable business

Pauli introduced the "Blue Economy", a framework designed to transcend the limitations of the green economy. The blue economy promotes sustainable and inclusive business models, making innovative solutions affordable and accessible to all. This approach is based on using local resources and generating multiple revenue streams from a single process.

web-insights-gunter-pauli-video2

Blue economy as alternative for green economy

Pauli's book 'The Blue Economy' was a response to his frustration in fighting for the green economy. In the green economy, whatever is good for you and good for the environment is too expensive for many people.

Blue economy in action: real-world examples

  1. Biodegradable Plastics: Pauli's venture into bioplastics avoids using food crops like corn. Instead, his company uses thistles, a resilient and abundant plant, to produce biodegradable plastics that degrade in soil, sun, and sea.
  2. Seaweed Curtains: Pauli's innovative project involves seaweed curtains that absorb microplastics from the ocean. These seaweeds are harvested and fermented into biogas, offering a cheaper and cleaner alternative to shale gas while producing a high-quality fertiliser as a by-product.
  3. Coffee Waste to Mushrooms: By using coffee waste as soil to grow mushrooms, Pauli addresses the massive waste generated by coffee production. This initiative not only provides a new revenue stream for coffee farmers but also enhances food security and sustainability.
  4. Solar and Hydrogen-Powered Ships: Pauli invested in a ship powered entirely by solar and hydrogen energy, showcasing the potential for sustainable maritime transport. This project aims to revolutionise the traditionally polluting shipping industry.
  5. Stone Paper: To reduce the environmental impact of traditional paper production, Pauli's stone paper venture uses rock dust, significantly cutting water usage and energy consumption. This sustainable alternative to conventional paper has wide-ranging applications.
web-insights-gunter-pauli-video3

The most sustainable building ever built

Gunter gives an example of what we can learn from termites and how to apply this in construction. 

Conclusion

The keynote served as a compelling manifesto for the blue economy, urging a shift from harmful traditional practices to innovative, sustainable business models. The examples provided demonstrate that profitability and environmental responsibility can coexist. By rethinking resource use and value generation, a future is envisioned where businesses thrive and contribute to planetary well-being. The call to action is clear: embrace innovation, prioritise sustainability, and inspire the next generation to continue the journey towards a truly sustainable economy.

Vlerick Research Day 20220401 114 hero desktop

Join us to accelerate your sustainability transformation

The Vlerick Sustainability Centre is a community of companies embracing sustainability, with the ambition to be part of the leading coalition in realising positive change. These companies will drive our sustainability research agenda, and we’ll bring them together regularly to provide them with inspiration, moments of connection, impactful insights, and new tools and concepts.

Get in touch!

Jonathan De Grande

Jonathan De Grande

Sustainability Connector