1. The document discusses sustainability and systems thinking, noting that everything is interconnected and nothing disappears, as there is no "away" to throw things. 2. It outlines four basic disruptions to natural cycles: accumulating concentrations of substances from the Earth's crust; accumulating synthetic substances; destruction of natural systems; and barriers to meeting basic human needs. 3. The key principles of sustainability are outlined as taking only what nature replaces, making only what nature can process, avoiding breaking nature, and ensuring people can meet their basic needs.

1. Sustainability : systems thinking Anna Hughes, Otago Polytechnic 2009

2. “ Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge” Thomas Edison

4. Accumulating concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust Accumulating concentrations of synthetic substances that do not easily break down in nature Destruction of natural systems Barriers to people meeting their basic needs 4 basic disruptions to natural cycles Copyright © The Natural Step

6. The system conditions In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing … 1. concentrations of substances from the Earth’s crust 2. concentrations of substances produced by society 3. degradation by physical means and in that society, people are not subject to conditions that systematically … 4. undermine their capacity to meet their needs. Copyright © The Natural Step

7. WHAT WE TAKE Continually reduce and eliminate our dependence on mined metals, minerals and fossil fuels - extract less, reuse, recycle, use renewable resources WHAT WE MAKE Continually reduce and eliminate our use of manufactured non-degradable chemicals and substances - use natural alternatives and recyclable materials WHAT WE BREAK Continually reduce and eliminate our dependence on activities that cause physical encroachment upon the natural environment - draw resources from sustainably managed eco-systems, restore nature, protect biodiversity HOW WE SHARE THE CAKE Ensure that people are treated fairly and with respect to enable them to meet their needs efficiently – look after people, share resources fairly Sustainability objectives Adapted from The Natural Step Framework 4 System Conditions 1 3 2 4

9. Copyright © The Natural Step Supply chain systems Seeing the whole picture

11. Manufacturing Process Raw Materials 6% Product 94% Waste 0% Waste US$33 trillion p.a. Natural systems

13. Lost in the details

14. Piecemeal approach Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step

15. A systems approach

16. A systems approach Copyright © 2004 The Natural Step Structured overview

17. Know the rules, then set strategy Copyright © BusinessLAB Ltd 2008