The Natural Step Framework

Overview of The Natural Step Framework

The Natural Step Framework relies on the concept of backcasting from basic principles for socio-ecological sustainability, which includes 4 'system conditions' for socio-ecological sustainability that define ‘success’ in the system (individuals, organisations and society within the biosphere). The system conditions can be operationalised into sustainability principles to assist create an organisational vision .

The Four System Conditions:

In the sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing …
I. … concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust
II. … concentrations of substances produced by society
III. degradation by physical means

and, in that society...
IV.… people are not subject to conditions that systematicallyundermine their capacity to
meet their needs.

An Organisation’s Sustainability Principles:

Our ultimate objectives are to eliminate our contribution to…

I. systematic increases in concentrations of substances from the Earth's crust.

II. systematic increases in concentrations of substances produced by society.

III. systematic physical degradation of nature.

IV. conditions that systematically undermine people’s capacity to meet their needs.

Guidance on how an organisation can put the principles into practice:

I. This means substituting certain minerals that are scarce in nature with others that are more abundant, using all mined materials efficiently, and systematically reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

II. This means systematically substituting certain persistent and unnatural compounds with ones that are normally abundant or break down more easily in nature, and using all substances produced by society efficiently.

III. This means drawing resources only from well-managed eco-systems, systematically pursuing the most productive and efficient use both of those resources and land, and exercising caution in all kinds of modification of nature e.g. over-harvesting and introductions.

IV. This means checking whether our behaviour has consequences for people, now or in the future, which restrict their opportunities to lead a fulfilling life, by asking whether we would like to be subjected to the conditions we create.

(the above based on discussions and documents provided by Karl Henrik Robert, also published in various peer-reviewed journals).