Mining the Mind

In our work, we constantly generate new knowledge and insights about sustainable development. Below, we share articles based on our work and research introducing new ways of thinking. We imagine what a sustainable society can look like, as well as publish tools and guides to help us get there.

All material is free to share and open source under Creative Commons (CC-BY-SA).

Highlights

ESG vs Sustainability

The Difference Between Thriving and Just Surviving

Jan 2025

Sustainability Strategy vs. ESG Strategy

Over the past decade, ESG has become a buzzword in the corporate world. Companies proudly release annual ESG reports, investors rely on ESG ratings, and regulatory bodies are tightening requiremen…

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Utopia splash

Failure and success in sustainable city design

Jan 2024

Learning from failed Utopia

Sustainable city design is gaining more attention as the world looks for answers to humanity's challenges on Earth. However, history shows that the pursuit of utopia often ends in failure.

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ESG

An overview of ESG's major landscape shifts

Dec 2023

The ongoing earthquakes in ESG-Land

In the corporate sphere, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards are undergoing transformative changes, reshaping how businesses operate and report globally. These shifts, long overd…

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Moving beyond impact investing toward a systemic approach

Mar 2022

The Rise of Systemic Investments

To realize a sustainable society, we need to address our bruised environmental and economic systems in their entirety. For that to happen, vast and profound systemic changes must take place. Impac…

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New insights into climate change

Unexpected predictions from the military and insurance industry on the effects of climate change

Jan 2022

New climate insight revealed

We continue to face unprecedented droughts, wildfires, and flooding. All the while, our leaders and media pundits continue to spout contradictions that reinforce confusion. It isn't easy to k…

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Tuning in to the construction sector’s “music of tomorrow”

Feb 2019

Catalytic Buildings White Paper

Catalytic Buildings are next-generation high-performance buildings that boost the economic, social, and physical sustainability of entire urban areas. Going beyond energy neutrality, a Catalytic B…

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How a systems approach catalyzes small interventions into global impact

Oct 2016

How the IKEA Catalogue Changed the World of Print

In 2017, the IKEA catalog produced over 200-million-copies each year. At the time, it was the world's most printed book. Recognizing this impact, IKEA worked to reduce the negative impact of …

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Sustainability innovation framework

May 2009

Symbiosis in Development (SiD)

Symbiosis in Development (SiD) is a systemic sustainability framework, developed by Except since 1999 with the help of dozens of experts in the field. It's a powerful, agile, and proven frame…

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How to accelerate natural value systems

Jan 2018

Natural Capital & new innovation strategies

The land where we grow our food on, the water that flows through it, and our vast oceans are the birthplace of all life on earth. These landscapes and all animal and plant life it encapsulates rep…

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Articles archive

Built & Natural Environment Organizations & Industry Training & Knowledge
Industrial material sorting conveyor belts

Material loops can't fix system failures.

May 2026

Why Circular Economy Fails Without Systems Thinking

According to the Circle Economy Foundation's 2024 Circularity Gap Report, the share of materials cycling back into the global economy has dropped from 9.1% in 2018 to 7.2% in…
Industrial material sorting conveyor belts

May 2026

Why Circular Economy Fails Without Systems Thinking

According to the Circle Economy Foundation's 2024 Circularity Gap Report, the share of…
Aerial view of Binh Duong industrial zone, Vietnam

Industrial zones are locking in the wrong future

May 2026

Vietnam Is Building the Last Industrial Revolution

Here is what progress looks like in Binh Duong, Vietnam, in 2025. A 44,000-square-meter factory under construction, designed to LEED Gold standards, with 50,000 solar panels …
Aerial view of Binh Duong industrial zone, Vietnam

May 2026

Vietnam Is Building the Last Industrial Revolution

Here is what progress looks like in Binh Duong, Vietnam, in 2025. A 44,000-square-mete…
Regenerative cities

In-depth talk about systems thinking and long term business strategy

Jun 2025

Podcast: Masters of Beautiful Achievement

In this podcast podcast maker Alexander Prinsen interviews Tom Bosschaert, founder of Except Integrated Sustainability, about how better designed urban systems provide more v…
Regenerative cities

Jun 2025

Podcast: Masters of Beautiful Achievement

In this podcast podcast maker Alexander Prinsen interviews Tom Bosschaert, founder of …
Regenerative cities

How to transform urban environments into Net‑Positive ecosystems

Apr 2025

Regenerative Cities: Building Cities That Flourish

Cities aren’t just where we live; they’re the engines of our future—and they need a radical reboot. Moving beyond the usual “less harm” approach, regenerative cities aim to r…
Regenerative cities

Apr 2025

Regenerative Cities: Building Cities That Flourish

Cities aren’t just where we live; they’re the engines of our future—and they need a ra…
ESG vs Sustainability

The Difference Between Thriving and Just Surviving

Jan 2025

Sustainability Strategy vs. ESG Strategy

Over the past decade, ESG has become a buzzword in the corporate world. Companies proudly release annual ESG reports, investors rely on ESG ratings, and regulatory bodies are…
ESG vs Sustainability

Jan 2025

Sustainability Strategy vs. ESG Strategy

Over the past decade, ESG has become a buzzword in the corporate world. Companies prou…
ondrej-neduchal-a2Q89CJio50-unsplash.jpg

Bolstering circularity and systemic sustainability in industry

Aug 2024

Eco-Industrial Parks and Industrial Symbiosis

The drive toward Eco-industrial parks and the support for a more sustainable future are gaining momentum with investors, businesses, and manufacturers alike. Processing and m…
ondrej-neduchal-a2Q89CJio50-unsplash.jpg

Aug 2024

Eco-Industrial Parks and Industrial Symbiosis

The drive toward Eco-industrial parks and the support for a more sustainable future ar…
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