IMPLEMENTATION OF REGENERATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AS A NEW PARADIGM OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of environmental management paradigms in the context of escalating ecological, economic, and social imbalances accompanied by the depletion of natural capital and declining resilience of socio-ecological systems. It is shown that traditional and sustainability-oriented management models, primarily focused on minimizing negative environmental impacts, are increasingly unable to ensure long-term regenerative processes. In this context, the concept of sustainable development is progressively functioning as a «zero-impact point», concentrating on limiting degradation rather than enabling the active restoration of natural and social systems.

The study proposes a conceptual model of regenerative environmental management that reflects a  transition from compensatory and sustainability-based approaches toward a regenerative management logic grounded in principles of systems thinking, non-linearity, and adaptability. Regenerative management is interpreted as a mechanism for creating a net positive ecological and social effect, in which the restoration and enhancement of natural capital become an internal condition for economic efficiency and long-term competitiveness. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of the firm’s role from a user of natural resources into an active investor in the regeneration of ecosystems, social capital, and human potential. Special emphasis is placed on rethinking performance evaluation criteria in environmental management, which within the regenerative approach shift from measuring resource consumption to assessing indicators of ecosystem recovery dynamics, including biodiversity gain, soil organic matter growth, and the restoration of ecosystem functions. The proposed systematization of regenerative metrics provides a methodological foundation for integrating regenerative principles into managerial practices and for creating conditions for the structural transformation of resource-intensive sectors of the economy, particularly in the context of post-crisis economic recovery in Ukraine.