PIK Sustainable's introduction to The Natural Step Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development

1. An Introduction to The
Framework for Strategic
Sustainable Development
Creating a Vision for Success and Building Capacity for
Sustainable Management

2. “The possibility that human
and other forms of life on earth
will flourish forever.”
What is Sustainability?
- Dr. John Ehrenfeld
“Reducing unsustainability, although
critical, will not create sustainability.”
Triple Bottom Line
Cradle to Cradle
Natural Capital
Zero
Waste
Ecological Footprint
Life Cycle
Assessment
Circular Economy
Net Zero Energy Planetary Boundaries
Eco-Efficiency
Biomimicry
Resilienc
e
Regenerative Economy
Steady
State
Limits to Growth
How would you define it?
▶ Triple Bottom Line?
▶ Living within ecological limits?
▶ What else?

3. What is Sustainable
Development?
Core concepts:
▶ Systems thinking
▶ Socio-economic justice
▶ Intergenerational responsibility
▶ Precautionary approach to uncertainty
“Meeting the needs of the present
generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.”
- Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland

4. 1.75 Earths and Counting….
Global Footprint Network: www.footprintnetwork.org

5. Global Footprint Network: www.footprintnetwork.org
Society is Operating at an
Ecological Deficit

6. Environment
Society
Business
Nested
Interdependencies

7. Sustainability Explained in 2 Minutes
Produced for The Natural Step, April 2010,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFCNCQleCuk

8. Ecological Assessment
Time
What is increasing, or
becoming more abundant?
What is decreasing, or
becoming more scarce?

9. The Funnel

10. Earth’s Ecological System

11. Human Activity & Natural Cycles

12. A buildup of substances extracted from the
earth
A buildup of substances produced by
society
Degradation by physical means
Nature is not subject to:
People are not subject to:
Conditions that systematically undermine
their capacity to meet their needs
Imagine a Sustainable Society…

13. The Five Dimensions of
Social Sustainability
• Health
• Influence
• Competence
• Impartiality
• Meaning-Making
Quality of Life
Well-being
Happiness

14. 1. Do not contribute to the systematic buildup in
nature of substances extracted from the
earth’s crust
2. Do not contribute to the systematic buildup in
nature of substances produced by society
3. Do not contribute to the physical
degradation and destruction of nature
and natural processes
4. Do not contribute to conditions that
undermine people’s capacity to meet their
basic human needs
The Four Sustainability Principles

15. Backcasting

16. A-B-C-D Process

17. Strategizing Sustainability with 3
Prioritizing Questions
• Is this action moving you toward or away from
sustainability vision?
• Is this action a flexible platform toward your
sustainability vision?
• Will this action offer an adequate return on
investment?*
* Note: Though ROI (return on investment) is traditionally seen as a return on financial investment, but it
can also mean a return on political, social or another type of investment.

18. Integrating the Natural Step
Framework into Sustainability
PlanningThe 5-Level Framework

19. TNS Case Study: Whistler 2020

20. A Related Guide for Sustainability
Planning
Darcy Hitchcock and Marsha Willard,
The Step-by-Step Guide to Sustainability Planning, Earthscan, 2008, p. xxii
8. Build supporting management systems
7. Build supporting organizational structures
6. Build supporting communications and training systems
5. Develop an implementation strategy and identify projects
4. Identify metrics to track your progress and do reports
3. Conduct an impacts assessment to identify priority areas
2. Choose the sustainability framework to develop a vision
1. Establish the business case for pursuing sustainability
0. Determine your current stage on the sustainability journey

21. The Age of Sustainable
Development
▶ The central concept of our age
▶ A method for solving global
problems
▶ A framework to understand the
world and
▶ Define objectives of a well-
functioning society
▶ A society that delivers
wellbeing for current and
future generations
▶ Drastic socio-economic changes
are needed
▶ Doughnut Economics integrates
socio-economic development
and planetary boundaries

22. Additional Resources & Contact
Information
TNS Canada Website
TNS Case Studies
Future-Fit Business Benchmark
Sustainability Illustrated Videos (TNS)
Circular Economy Leadership Coalition
For more information, please contact:
Bill Germain, Sustainable Business Strategist
MAS Environmental Policy & Management
wmgermain@piksustainable.com