permaculture principles

The 12 permaculture principles are practical thinking tools that can help you make more ethical business and marketing decisions. This 13-part series explores them all in depth.

The first permaculture principle asks us to pause and listen carefully to ourselves and our marketing system, so we understand real needs and challenges before jumping into action.

The second permaculture principle encourages us to save some of today’s abundance for future needs by building financial buffers and repeatable marketing structures that continue to work over time.

The third permaculture principle reminds us that marketing must produce profits and other forms of tangible capital today, in the here-and-now, to ensure sustainability longer-term.

The fourth permaculture principles reminds us to be open to the feedback of others and ourselves, and regularly make considered changes to ensure our marketing remains kind and ethical.

The fifth permaculture principle asks us to choose marketing tools that run on renewable resources, and ways of working that replenish rather than deplete people, nature and your own capacity.

The sixth permaculture principle reminds us that "waste" is just an underutilised resource. It asks us to prioritise marketing systems that minimise wasted resources, time and energy by reducing, reusing and repairing.

The seventh permaculture principle asks us to zoom out and consider the bigger picture before making any decisions on detailed actions, helping prevent costly mistakes.

The eighth permaculture principle encourages us to get different marketing activities, platforms and even people working together in beneficial relationships, rather than in isolation or competition.

The ninth permaculture principle encourages us to implement marketing strategies slowly, step by step, at a ‘human scale’ that’s doable, effective and respects the limits of people and planet.

The tenth permaculture principles helps us build resilience by spreading marketing efforts across an interconnected mix of income streams, offers and tools, reducing risk and offering stability even if one element fails.

The eleventh permaculture principles reminds us to pay attention to fringes and in-between places where ideas, people and systems overlap, where the most meaningful exchange and marketing innovation often occur.

The twelfth permaculture principle asks us to work deliberately and imaginatively with change wer can influence in our business and marketing, while cultivating flexibility and emotional resilience for what lies beyond our control.

The three permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share are a universally applicable moral code helping you live and work more sustainably — so they're a brilliant philosophical framework for ethical business and marketing. Here's how to apply them.