Wind turbine

Aiming for a sustainable future

Using the Natural Step Framework, processes can be assessed to see how they can be made sustainable. This allows changes to be made to move towards a sustainable future.

The Natural Step Framework looks at four systems:

mineral resources
people's needs
biological productivity
build-up of synthetic materials.

For a particular process, measuring each system can see if it is sustainable or not.

For a sustainable process, each system must move towards a set of sustainable conditions.

Play the animation to see how the Natural Step Framework helps to move processes towards sustainability.

Glass bottles and the Natural Step Framework

Look at how a glass bottle is produced, used and then thrown away. Think about the four Natural Step systems.

Processing and production uses energy that is probably obtained from the burning of fossil fuels.

Not sustainable.

Mineral extraction takes resources from the earth and accumulates them in nature.

Not sustainable.

Is the bottle sustainable?

Disposal by landfill increases the presence of a synthetic substance in the environment.

Not sustainable.

Use of the bottle helps to meet a need.

Sustainable, especially if there is no alternative.

How could the processes be changed to move towards sustainability?

Think about reducing the extraction of mineral resources and also the use of sustainable energies. Look back to the loop of bottle production.

Life of a glass bottle

Roll over the pictures to see comments on each of the stages.