Four Principles of Natural Capitalism

Four principles construct a planning and design framework in an effort to value natural capital and consider true environmental impact.1 Each of these four principles is powerful enough alone to impact an organization s progression toward sustainability, but the greatest impact is when these principles are adopted as a complete framework. Additionally, the principles will be presented linearly, but are best used as a circuitous framework, similar to the quality improvement framework of the Deming Cycle Plan, Do, Check, Act.2 

Principle 1 (PI) Radically Increase the Productivity of Resource Use - creating a lot more with far fewer resources. 

Principle 2 (P2) Biomimicry - what would Nature do here  

Principle 3 (P3) Migrating Business Models from Products to Services - give the customer what they want, when they want it, not the product. 

Principle 4 (P4) Re-invest in Natural and Human Capital - good capitalists always invest in what will provide the best return over the long run. 

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Edgar Woolard, former Chair of DuPont 4.5.2 Four Principles of Natural Capitalism... 

The four principles, taken together as a framework, support the implementation of a sustainability post-industrial age. Chemical engineering, as a profession, is a product of the industrial age, but has the discipline and the skill sets to lead the sustainable post-industrial age. The four principles of Natural Capitalism, along with the other tools available, can, over time, continue to support the increase in the standard of living that the chemical industry has provided without the strain on air and watersheds and the impact to human health resulting from accidental exposure. 

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