Criteria Regenerative economy - Stichting DOEN

DOEN will support pioneers who are working towards a sustainable and inclusive society in the Netherlands and abroad. The focus is “doing good” rather than “doing less bad”. DOEN is committed to restoring the soil, air and water, and the (re)use of raw materials. The aim is to create a balanced ecological living space.

DOEN is looking for pioneers that contribute to a regenerative economy:

1. DOEN supports entrepreneurs working with new business models on landscape restoration or regenerative agriculture.
2. DOEN supports entrepreneurs who are committed to reducing the use of raw materials or replacing raw materials with natural materials.

Substanstive criteria

1. The initiative strengthens communities disproportionately affected by climate change (climate adaptation, system recovery and inclusiveness).
2. This concerns an innovative solution for the new ecological balance (for example, on the design side/earlier in the chain).
3. A new trend/development is being initiated in an entrepreneurial way.
4. The initiative establishes a positive connection between active human intervention and ecology (improvement is achieved by doing).
5. The initiative works on regenerating local ecosystems through an approach in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

General criteria

1. The initiative contributes to the transitions that DOEN wants to accelerate.
2. DOEN funding is catalytic for the initiative and impact, after this the initiative can continue without the support of DOEN.
3. It is a social and/or sustainable enterprise, citizen collective or sector-strengthening initiative which uses an unconventional, surprising and creative approach and is aimed at financial independence.
4. The (local) initiator is able to set an example for the sector with the initiative.
5. It is a demand-driven approach, set up with all relevant stakeholders and embedded in the local context.
6. The initiative is innovative and its social and ecological impact is structural.
7. The initiative has moved beyond the research phase and is in a pilot or early market introduction phase.
8. The initiative will be carried out in the Netherlands (including Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the BES islands) or East Africa.

Exclusions

1. Development of technology (R&D phase).
2. Energy saving or generation by means of waste streams and/or recycling.
3. Setting up or implementing certification processes.
4. Initiatives focused only on product level.
5. Initiatives mainly focused on animal welfare.
6. Political or awareness campaigns.
7. Initiatives that are purely aimed at improving living conditions – so-called “Livelihood projects”.
8. Purely technologically driven solutions, such as cultured meat.