Extractive to Regenerative
Most of today’s economy is built on extraction: take → make → waste. We extract resources from the Earth (trees, oil, water). We extract labor from people (time, energy, creativity). When we’re done, we discard them.
The caterpillar economy of degenerative industrial design (Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics, 2017).
This approach prioritizes immediate gain over long-term well-being. It acts as if what’s here now is all that matters—pulling as much as possible in the present, with little regard for regeneration or the needs of future generations.
Extractive systems don’t cultivate abundance; they burn through resources, leaving behind scarcity, waste, and instability. Extractive logic isn’t just about mining or deforestation—it’s a mindset. It shows up in burnout, fast fashion, hustle culture, and in how we use up our time, relationships, and selves.
Regenerative logic flips this script. It asks: How do we give back more than we take?
Instead of depleting resources, regenerative systems restore, renew, and support the health of people and planet. The goal is for every action or process to make the system stronger, more resilient, and more abundant over time. It focuses on healing, renewing, and strengthening systems—making each action resilient, generous, and restorative for both the present and the future.
The butterfly economy of regenerative design (Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics, 2017).
In a regenerative economy, materials cycle back through reuse, repair, and recycling. Living systems replenish themselves when cared for. People’s labor is valued not just as input but as creative, meaningful contribution.
Extractive logic creates scarcity. Regenerative logic creates possibility.
| Extractive | Regenerative Alternative | Regenerative Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fast fashion mass-produces cheap clothing, exploiting labor and generating textile waste. | Slow fashion emphasizes durability, fair labor, and circular production. | Patagonia, Fashion Revolution movement |
| Industrial agriculture depletes soil and pollutes ecosystems. | Agroecology and regenerative farming restore fertility and biodiversity. | Rodale Institute, La Vía Campesina |
| Fossil fuels burn finite carbon reserves, destabilizing climate. | Renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal) taps ongoing planetary cycles. | Denmark wind cooperatives, Solar Sister |
| E-waste discards electronics with toxic components and wasted minerals. | Circular electronics design for repair, reuse, and recycling. | Fairphone, Right to Repair movement |
| Palm oil plantations clear biodiverse forests, destroying habitats. | Agroforestry and sustainable palm oil alternatives integrate trees and crops. | Rainforest Alliance, Forest Stewardship models |
| Gig economy exploitation treats workers as disposable. | Worker cooperatives give ownership and voice to workers. | Mondragon, Cooperative Home Care Associates |
| Unpaid care labor (mostly women’s work) is invisibilized. | Care economies compensate or redistribute this labor. | Quebec childcare program, community care co-ops |
| Overwork and burnout culture drains health and creativity. | Shorter work weeks focus on balance and well-being. | Iceland workweek trials, Microsoft Japan pilot |
Moving from extraction to regeneration means tending what we have and ensuring every action makes our systems healthier, more abundant, and more just.
📝 Today’s Game: Spot the Shift from Extractive to Regenerative
Step 1: Reflect
Ask yourself - What do I use without even noticing? What do I consume that doesn’t feel like consumption? Where could I choose regeneration over extraction in my daily life?
Step 2: Trace
Trace the lifecycle of one object you use regularly—from extraction to disposal.
Where did it come from? Who made it? What hidden costs did it carry?
Step 3: Imagine
Could you imagine a regenerative alternative for this object or its system? Sketch, write, or brainstorm a regenerative alternative. How could this same need be met in a way that restores, renews, or sustains instead of depleting?
Step 4: Connect
Find a real-world regenerative example (from your community, the case studies, or beyond) that inspires you. Compare your reimagining with what already exists.
Step 5: Share
Post your reflection, sketch, or idea on social media, or share it with a friend or community group. Tag it as part of The New Game so others can see, play, and build on your ideas.