About
Nature’s Playbook is a research-based tool led by Dr Emma H. E. Fromberg and supported by the Centre for Sustainable Business at King’s College London.
Building on four years of doctoral research on ecological metaphors for circular economy innovation, the tool translates insights from nature into practical strategies for sustainability and circular economy professionals.
By working with ecological principles, users learn to strengthen their systems thinking, unlock new perspectives on circularity challenges, and turn lessons from the natural world into concrete actions they can apply in their own context.
The tool is designed for individuals and teams who seek to integrate more regenerative approaches into their business practice. Whether used in a facilitated workshop or as a reflective prompt for individual learning, Nature’s Playbook offers a structured and imaginative way for organisations to draw inspiration from living systems and rethink how they create value.
Select a Card
Reflect on an Ecological Phenomenon
Relate it to your Business Context
The Tool
Nature's Playbook (English edition) is sold internationally through the King's College London e-store.
Mandarin-edition
A Mandarin edition of Nature’s Playbook is launching in September 2026, bringing ecological design thinking to new audiences across China and beyond. Rather than offering a direct translation of the English edition, the Mandarin version has been carefully adapted to reflect local contexts, examples and ways of thinking. Each card pairs its ecological principle with a real-world case from China or Asia; from battery swapping and circular manufacturing to digital platforms, industrial clusters and community-based systems, helping participants connect the ideas to familiar business and societal challenges.
The new edition will be introduced through workshops and events in Hong Kong and Shanghai, creating opportunities to explore how ecological thinking can support circular economy innovation across different cultural and economic contexts.
Work with the Team
Events
Testimonials
"By using natural systems as prompts for new thinking, you're able to widen your perspective and generate the kind of novel solutions that lead to a new shared understanding or genuine breakthrough."
Cherie Nelson, Consultant at Materiality Studio
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"I would warmly recommend this tool to anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in their work and support the transition to more socially and environmentally sustainable practices."
Sini Rinne-Kerridge, Strategy and Impact Consultant
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"This is a truly valuable learning opportunity for anyone working in or wanting to learn more about sustainability, innovation, or systems change."
Ross Phillips, Sustainable Transport Manager at Cross River Partnership
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"It's a great opportunity to become comfortable with analysing issues and develop solutions through a circularity lens. Those interested in circular economy and unsure how to get started, will probably walk away with tools and methods making system change feel much more feasible"
Kristian Ott Milbo, Ideation & Solutions Specialist at DS Smith
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