Edges of the Doughnut

Nature's Blueprint to Business Transformation. Just as wetlands create the richest ecosystems where water meets land

From Nature's Blueprint to Business Transformation
Just as wetlands create the richest ecosystems where water meets land, organisations thrive when they consciously cultivate the edges between different domains, perspectives, and scales of impact.
How will you harness the hidden power of edges in your organisation?

Overview

Exploring the Edges is a facilitated workshop tool designed to help communities, organisations, and cities discover transformative opportunities by examining the dynamic intersections within the Doughnut Economics framework. Building on the "Doughnut Unrolled" concept with its four lenses (local-social, local-ecological, global-social, global-ecological), this tool focuses on the often-overlooked spaces between these lenses—the edges where the most profound change potential exists.

In nature, edges are where abundance flourishes. The edge of a forest, where woodland meets meadow, supports the richest biodiversity. Similarly, in our human systems, the most innovative solutions and sustainable transformations emerge at the intersections between different domains of thinking and action.

digital snap of the sections tool

This tool guides participants through a structured exploration of four critical edges:

  • The Local Edge: Where community social needs meet ecological restoration
  • The Global Edge: Where planetary justice meets environmental boundaries
  • The Social Edge: Where local community needs connect to global solidarity
  • The Ecological Edge: Where local ecosystem health scales to planetary impact

Through guided reflection, mapping, and collaborative visioning, participants discover how their place can contribute to bringing humanity into the Doughnut by consciously working at these transformative edges.



Why use it?

Breaking Through Siloed Thinking
Many sustainability and social justice initiatives operate within single domains, limiting their potential impact. This tool helps participants see beyond traditional boundaries to identify interconnected solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously.

Discovering Hidden Opportunities
The edges between the four lenses often reveal possibilities that aren't visible when examining each lens in isolation. Participants frequently discover innovative projects, partnerships, and policies that they hadn't previously considered.

Building Systems Awareness
By mapping the relationships between local and global, social and ecological dimensions, participants develop a deeper understanding of how their actions ripple through interconnected systems.

Creating Actionable Pathways
Rather than ending with abstract insights, the tool guides participants toward concrete next steps by identifying existing initiatives, potential collaborators, and specific intervention points at each edge.

Fostering Collaborative Innovation
The tool naturally brings together diverse perspectives and expertise, creating conditions for cross-sector collaboration and innovative thinking.

Who is it for?

(Primary Audiences as follows)

  • Local government teams developing sustainability strategies and community resilience plans
  • Community organisations seeking to maximize their social and environmental impact
  • Business leaders wanting to align their operations with regenerative principles
  • Urban planners and architects designing for thriving communities within planetary boundaries
  • Educational institutions integrating systems thinking into their programs and operations
  • NGOs and social enterprises working at the intersection of social and environmental issues


Sample of specific Use Cases: City councils developing climate action plans that address social equity, Community groups designing neighbourhood resilience initiatives, Companies exploring circular economy opportunities with social benefits, Universities creating campus sustainability programs with global impact , Regional partnerships addressing watershed protection and economic development, Cultural organisations connecting local arts with global solidarity movements

How long does it take?

Standard Workshop Format: 3 hours
Check-in and Context Setting (20 minutes)
Introduction to Edges Concept (25 minutes)
Mapping Current State at the Edges (45 minutes)
Break (15 minutes)
Visioning Future Possibilities (60 minutes)
Action Planning and Next Steps (30 minutes)
Closing and Commitments (15 minutes)

Alternative Formats
Half-day intensive: 4-5 hours with deeper exploration and more detailed action planning
Series format: Three 90-minute sessions focusing on different edge combinations
Conference workshop: 90 minutes focusing on awareness-building and networking
Leadership retreat: Full day including strategic planning and organisational alignment

Follow-up Sessions
Many groups benefit from reconvening after 30-60 days to share progress, troubleshoot challenges, and deepen their edge-working practice.

Participants / How many people is it for?

Optimal Group Size: 12-18 participants
This size allows for diverse perspectives while maintaining intimate dialogue and ensuring everyone's voice is heard.

Scalable Formats
Small groups (6-8 people): Ideal for leadership teams or core project groups
Medium groups (12-18 people): Standard workshop format with small group breakouts
Large groups (20-40 people): Multiple facilitators with parallel sessions and cross-pollination
Very large events (40+ people): World Café or Open Space formats with edge exploration stations

Diversity Considerations
The tool works best with participants representing different sectors, perspectives, and scales of operation. Ideal groups might include:
- Community members and local government representatives
- Business leaders and environmental advocates
- Artists and engineers
- Young people and elders
- People with different cultural backgrounds and lived experiences

What materials do you need?

Visual Aids
Doughnut diagram poster - Large version for reference
Four lenses overview - Printed handout or slide
Edge mapping template - Prepared visual per team/group
Local context materials - Maps, photos, or data about your place

Take-Away Materials
Action planning template - Individual commitment sheets
Resource list - Relevant tools, reports, and organisations
Contact sheet - For ongoing collaboration among participants

The Doughnut Edge 4 lenses sections (opportunities / challenges)


What does the facilitator need to know or be able to do?

Essential Knowledge
Deep familiarity with Doughnut Economics framework and Kate Raworth's core concepts
Understanding of the four lenses from "Doughnut Unrolled" and their interconnections
Local context awareness - key challenges, assets, and initiatives in the place being explored
Systems thinking principles - ability to help participants see relationships and patterns
Basic understanding of sustainability and social justice interconnections

Facilitation Skills
Group dialogue facilitation - managing diverse voices and perspectives respectfully
Visual facilitation basics - helping groups map their thinking on paper
Time management - keeping activities on track while allowing for organic insights
Conflict navigation - handling disagreements about priorities or approaches constructively
Synthesis abilities - helping groups identify common themes and actionable insights

Preparation Requirements
Pre-workshop research - gathering relevant local data, maps, and context
Stakeholder mapping - understanding who should be in the room and why
Material preparation - creating location-specific examples and templates
Follow-up planning - designing ways to maintain momentum beyond the workshop

Helpful Additional Qualifications
Experience with participatory planning or community engagement
Background in sustainability, community development, or organisational change
Familiarity with other complementary frameworks (Theory U, Appreciative Inquiry, etc.)
Network of local contacts in relevant sectors

Acknowledgements

- This tool builds upon the foundational work of Kate Raworth and the DEAL team, as well to the "Doughnut Unrolled" concept and the four lenses framework.
- This tool draws inspiration from biomimicry principles and the understanding that nature's most abundant ecosystems emerge at edges and boundaries. I acknowledge the indigenous knowledge keepers who have long understood these interconnections and worked at the edges of different worlds.
- The methodology has been informed by testing and feedback from last 3 years of work and research of edges building on the upcoming publication "Nature's Blueprint for Business - Harnessing the Hidden Power of Edges"
- I recognise that this work stands on the shoulders of many systems thinkers, community organisers, and sustainability practitioners who have dedicated their lives to creating more just and regenerative systems.

Links

Doughnut Economics Action Lab and Doughnut Unrolled: https://doughnuteconomics.org/tools/30
Biomimicry Institute: https://biomimicry.org/
Translating Biomimicry Daily 4 Dimensions (4Cs): https://doughnuteconomics.org/tools/translating-biomimicry-daily-4-dimensions-4cs
Unrolling the Doughnut Professionals Community: https://doughnuteconomics.org/stories/unrolling-the-doughnut-professionals-community

Feedback

As an organisational coach I believe in continuous learning and improvement, including of this tool through real-world application and feedback. YOUR experience using "Exploring the Edges" helps make it more effective for future users.

Specifically what I'd love to know
- Which edges proved most generative for your group's context and goals?
- What unexpected insights or opportunities emerged during the exploration?
- How did the tool work with your specific group size and composition?
- What modifications or adaptations did you make to fit your context?
- What follow-up actions have emerged from your edge exploration?
- How has your understanding of the Doughnut framework evolved through this work?

Share Your Experience
- 'post a comment' in the section below, sharing your story and insights with the broader network
- Social Media in Linkedin Tag @DEAL @inesgarciaagile and #Edges when sharing insights
- direct head over: www.tiny.cc/edges
- Case Study Contributions: I welcome detailed case studies here for the DEAL tools library

Your feedback directly contributes to the evolution of this tool and helps build the global movement toward thriving communities within planetary boundaries. Every workshop creates ripples of learning that extend far beyond the initial participants.

"In nature's wisdom, the most abundant life flourishes at the edges where different worlds meet. May this tool help your community discover and cultivate the transformative power that emerges where local aspirations meet global responsibilities."


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