Beyond Sustainability: Ken Alston’s Vision for Real Circularity

Join Ken Alston on the Circularity Catalyst podcast as he explores the innovative world of sustainable cocoa production with Joseph Bandanaa and Joël Frei. Discover how the Swiss platform for sustainable cocoa is turning waste into value, promoting circular business models, and enhancing livelihoods in Ghana. Discover groundbreaking initiatives such as cocoa pulp juice and biochar, and learn how these efforts contribute to a more sustainable future. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the power of circularity in the cocoa industry!

Join Ken Alston as he sits down with Jason Elate from the new startup Insect Flux to explore the groundbreaking potential of the insect industry in addressing global food waste.Discover how this innovative marketplace is connecting insect farming with the agri-food industry, creating a sustainable solution to a $1.1 trillion problem. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a new market, and how you can be part of this transformative journey towards a more sustainable future.

In this powerful episode of The Circularity Catalyst, Ken Alston revisits the roots of corporate sustainability and reveals a critical flaw he calls the “original sin” — a decades-old misquote that set business sustainability on the wrong path. Drawing from his firsthand experience at the 1992 Earth Summit, Ken explains how sustainability lost its true meaning, how AI is now amplifying those mistakes, and why understanding Vitacide Risk™ is essential for the future of life and business.

In this episode of The Circularity Catalyst, Ken Alston introduces the concept of Vitacide Risk™ — the hidden business threat that comes from damaging the very systems your company depends on. Drawing from decades of experience in corporate sustainability and circular design, Ken explains how traditional business models are unsustainable and shares two proven frameworks — the Tactical Tetrahedron and Design-Like-Nature — that help companies shift from harmful practices to regenerative growth.

In this reboot episode of The Circularity Catalyst, Ken Alston redefines what real circularity means and why “circularity alone isn’t enough.” He explains how sustainability has been diluted and introduces key ideas like Vitacide Risk™—the danger businesses face when they unknowingly harm the very systems that sustain life. Ken shares how real circularity, inspired by nature’s living cycles, can help companies move beyond loops and into true regeneration.

In this episode of The Circularity Catalyst, Ken Alston delivers a powerful message on the urgent need for real leadership in business and sustainability. He challenges executives to move beyond managing profits and start taking responsibility for life on Earth. Drawing from history and his own corporate experience, Ken calls for a new generation of leaders—those willing to rethink the system, embrace stewardship, and build a truly regenerative future.

In this episode of the Circularity Catalyst Podcast, Ken Alston explores what business leaders can learn from astronauts and the “overview effect” — the life-changing perspective gained from seeing Earth from space. He explains how this shift in viewpoint can inspire companies to move from linear, extractive thinking to regenerative, life-supporting design. Drawing insights from NASA missions and systems thinking, Ken shows how leaders can redesign their businesses to operate like living systems — sustainable, circular, and deeply connected to the planet.

In this episode of The Circularity Catalyst, Ken Alston introduces his seven-step Design Like Nature process — a framework for breaking free from stale thinking and creating regenerative, life-centered innovations. Discover how to move from compliance to creativity, align your business with nature’s logic, and lead the future of sustainable design.

In this episode of the Circularity Catalyst podcast, Ken Alston discusses the urgent need for a new approach to sustainability, introducing the concept of Real Circularity. He critiques the failures of current systems and frameworks, emphasizing the importance of a regenerative future that goes beyond traditional sustainability models. Alston presents the Tactical Tetrahedron and the Design Like Nature system as foundational frameworks for achieving real circularity, inviting listeners to engage with the movement through courses and collaborative efforts.

In this episode of the Circularity Catalyst podcast, host Ken Alston discusses the growing debate around the term 'sustainability' and whether it should be replaced with alternatives like 'regenerative' or 'circular.' He argues that simply changing the terminology does not address the underlying issues of environmental responsibility and the confusion between sustainability and sustainable development. Alston emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of these concepts and highlights the role of AI in perpetuating misinformation. He advocates for a return to the original principles of sustainability and introduces the Circularity Network as a community for professionals committed to genuine environmental stewardship.