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Liedtke, Christa et al.

Research Report Wuppertal Institute Designguide: Background information & tools

Wuppertal Spezial, No. 46

Provided in Cooperation with: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

Suggested Citation: Liedtke, Christa et al. (2013) : Wuppertal Institute Designguide: Background information & tools, Wuppertal Spezial, No. 46, ISBN 978-392-9944-90-7, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, Wuppertal, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:wup4-opus-48931

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46 Wuppertal Institute

Authors Christa Liedtke Designguide Najine Ameli Johannes Buhl BACKGROUND Philip Oettershagen Tristam Pears

WUPPERTAL SPEZIAL WUPPERTAL INFORMATION &TOOLS Pablo Abbis

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Publisher: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy Doeppersberg 19 42103 Wuppertal Germany

Wuppertal Institute Designguide Wuppertal Spezial 46

Authors: Christa Liedtke Najine Ameli Johannes Buhl Philip Oettershagen Tristam Pears Pablo Abbis

© Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy Wuppertal 2013

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ISBN: 978-3-929944-90-7 Wuppertal Institute Designguide Foreword “Typically they are rather part of the prob- if it is possible to launch ecologically-smart lem.” But why? Then as well as now, design- product-service systems, and this is where In a century marked by a growing world ers are asked by their clients to develop the designer can make a crucial contribu- population, increasing purchasing power, products that are either meant to be sold tion. Designers are thus a fundamental part and rising material needs, our use of en- as mass-produced articles or intended to of transition research aimed at sustainabil- ergy, land, and natural resources neces- ultimately generate economic welfare. By ity, which includes the realisation of soci- sary to meet those needs will continue looking at the task of the designer from an ety’s inter- and transdisciplinary potentials to grow. By 2030 it will be double that of eco- and resource-friendly perspective, one in order to elaborate and practice new ap- today’s status quo (Bringezu/Bleischwitz can explore new ways and possibilities for proaches. In this spirit, the Wuppertal In- 2009). In order to sufficiently meet human the designer can become part of the solu- stitute has advanced its research program needs without irreversibly overburdening tion (Ibid. p. 5.). by integrating so called LivingLabs. These global ecosystems, we require a producer The designers focusing on related behav- events are the equivalent of think tanks – and consumer culture that has learned to ioural issues of products and services will laboratories in which innovative approach- differentiate between the essential and the thus play a new and crucial role as change es for sustainability are being devised and expendable combined with an economy agents for sustainable development in the tested in experiments. Also of great impor- that is under much less pressure to grow as 21st century. Since the decisions made dur- tance is the integration of outcomes of sus- well as new products and services. Taking a ing the product planning stage define 80% tainability research into design theory and holistic approach to products, we are made of the production costs as well as 80% of teachings. aware that the engineer alone is incapable the environmental impacts (Tischner et al., This edition of Wuppertal Spezial de- of developing products with a perspective 2000), designers no longer will focus solely scribes a new approach to sustainability. for transitioning toward sustainability. In on aesthetic, functional, and promotional Its concept is based on the idea that de- the preface of the first book to deal with considerations, but also on aspects facili- sign development and human behaviour the topic of sustainable product develop- tating sustainable development. patterns (in production and consumption) ment (Schmidt-Bleek, F. and Tischner, U. For more than twenty years, the Wupper- are closely interlinked and that designers (1995): Produktentwicklung – Nutzen ge- tal Institute has been engaged in designing can translate the different needs of all the stalten – Natur schonen, p. 5.), published sustainable product-service systems. Today related actors into concepts, products, or by the Wuppertal Institute, Ernst Ulrich the development of affordable products services that support a sustainable future. von Weizsäcker posed the following ques- and services which improve quality of life Only cooperation will allow us to complete tion: “Are designers part of the ecological and protect the environment is more rele- this tremendous task. And it is only when solution or part of the ecological problem?” vant than ever. Society’s transformation to- designers are supported by specialists in He answered his own question as follows: wards sustainability will only be successful the field of sustainable development with their competencies and tools – and it is and the Wuppertal Institute. Its scientific certainly a two-way street, for these spe- analysis and methodological development cialists will also learn from designers on was carried out at the Wuppertal Institute. how to best apply their methods – that this Since it was first created in 2008, the guide ambitious aim can be achieved. has been applied, evaluated, and revised in Over the course of the 20th century, many classes and at the international Sus- hardly any products were designed with re- tainable Summer Schools. It was created use or recycling in mind, and marketing and with the aim of fostering the education of a the underlying economic system were de- new generation of designers which realises veloped in order to enhance the sustainable that the 21st century may never be allowed consumption of products and/or services. to become just a sequel to the 20th. The consequence of this was a throwaway society with products with short life spans. Thus we now require transformed collec- tive behaviour patterns to emerge from a new concept of design. For this reason, and because design in- cludes companies’ crucial decision-making activities, a set of rules derived from the three major strategies for a sustainable de- velopment – efficiency, consistency, and sufficiency – will have to be considered by designers in the coming decades. These will include the preferred use of environ- mentally friendly and easily recyclable materials, modular construction methods, Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind longevity, collective forms of utilization, President and Chief Research Executive and innovative services supporting the use of goods instead of mere ownership. This DesignGuide is an example of co- operation with universities, design schools, I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Foreword...... 04

1. Abstract ...... 09

2. Design as a Key Management Factor for Sustainability ...... 11

3. Environmental Space – Challenging Transitions ...... 12

4. Sustainability – Challenges, Politics, Indicators ...... 16

5. Managing Sustainable Development ...... 18

6. Transition Requires Change Agents for Sustainability ...... 20

7. Needs & Services – an Approach ...... 24

8. Design Process ...... 28

9. Sustainability Assessment in Design – Overview and Integration of Methods ...... 30 II. TOOLS

10. General Information ...... 37

11. Tools – a Short Description and a Classification...... 38

12. Jobs – Possibilities of Application ...... 39

13. Detailed Description of the Tools

13.1 Taking Stock ...... 40

13.2 National Sustainability Indicators ...... 42

13.3 Strategy Wheel / Strategy Bar ...... 46

13.4 Hot Spot Analysis ...... 48

13.5 Finding Solutions ...... 55

13.6 Evaluation Sheets ...... 56

14. Glossary ...... 59

15. Master Copies ...... 63 8

Sustainable Products and Services: BACKGROUND Your Designguide INFORMATION 1. Abstract other factors. The indicators for these strat- society as a whole. Designers can act as egies vary greatly from country to country agents of change by providing the needed (see Chap. 4: Sustainability – Challenges, innovations (see Chap. 6: Transition Re- Our perception of design is changing, for Politics, Indicators). quires Change Agents for Sustainability). design today is no longer concerned only These indicators need to be taken into If we are to develop suitable solutions with aesthetics. Now the key factors are in- account if we are to successfully imple- and new approaches, the real needs have terdisciplinary competence and approaches ment a product or service within a specific to be analysed at the beginning of the to problem solving. Both politicians as well context. A concept can only be successful de­velopment process. New physical pro­ as businesses recognise design’s hybridity when country-specific indicators are taken ducts, which frequently result in auxiliary and increasingly implement it as a driver of into account and the societal context is products, are often developed without tak- sustainable development (see Chap. 2: De- incorporated into the plan right from the ing into account the overall context, where- sign as a Key Management Factor for Sus- start. The goal is to develop services that as the development of service-orientated tainability). support national sustainability targets in solutions is ignored. A physical pro­duct is But what exactly does “sustainability” production and consumption systems (see not absolutely necessary. A service (which mean? What does it mean in this specific Chap. 5: Managing Sustainable Develop- is naturally dependent on physical prod- context? People must make use of natural ment). ucts) can usually fulfil the need just as well resources to meet their basic needs. In this When it comes to companies, these – or perhaps even better and at a lower cost process, resources are transferred into com- changes can simply be introduced in the – while using fewer or no resources (see mercial circulation and usually transformed form of services or products. In the end, it is Chap. 7: Needs & Services – An Approach). into products with a particular function. the users who decide on the success or fail- There are a variety of possible approach- Yet the environment is limited and human- ure of innovative solutions by either inte- es to integrating sustainability into the de- ity uses more resources than the Earth can grating them into their daily lives or ignor- sign process (see Chap. 8: Design Process). sustainably provide. It is time to rethink and ing them. Solutions will only be integrated Precisely which solution is “most or generate the same usage while consuming into users’ lives when their role within the more sustainable” (this is dependent on the fewer resources (see Chap. 3: Environmen- social framework remains unchallenged by defined targets and the indicators used) tal Space – Challenging Transitions). behavioural transformations caused by use is often not immediately obvious, and we Most countries have incorporated sus- of the solution. In order for users to be able must turn to a set of methods for a trans- tainability strategies into their political to adopt innovations, sustainable develop- parent and tangible assessment (see Chap. agendas in order to counteract the threats ment must take place simultaneously on 9: Sustainability Assessment in Design – of climate change caused by the overuse of many different levels. These multi-levelled Overview and Integration of Methods). natural resources, high CO2 emissions, and transitions allow for the transformation of

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Conclusion decisions made during the process have for The aim of this design guide is to provide sustainability strategies, aspects, and ­topics. background information, an assessment The modular construction of the tools catalogue, and a toolset for the integration allows them to be used individually or in a of aspects of sustainability into the design step-by-step process. This ensures that the process. design guide remains a universal catalogue It enables designers to integrate these of methods for designers. factors into their workflow through meth- ods which support and accompany the design process without restricting creativ- ity. This background information enables a broader look at relevant topics. The tools can easily be implemented in the design process through combinations (MODULE) of tasks (JOB). The toolset is composed of different steps (TASK) that change depend- ing on whether a concrete product, concept, or a sustainability vision is to be developed. The different tools are based on a common, modular system made up of the following elements: background information (with references to background papers), the aims of the tools (the expected result), the pur- pose (start situation and use), and proposals for work steps which could be strategically effective both before and after the use of the tool. In order to successfully change the normal design process into one oriented towards ­aspects of sustainability, it is im- portant to understand the relevance of the 2. Design as a Key Management Commission, 2009). It allows for a wide range Reference Factor for Sustainability of considerations to be taken into account EU Commission (2009): Design as a driver of user- and is a holistic approach to problem solving centred innovation. Available at: http://ec.europa. allowing for factors extending well beyond eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/design-­ “Design is a process, an activity, and not only aesthetics. These include functionality, creativity/index_en.htm only the results of that activity.” (EU Com- ergonomics, usability, accessibility, safety, mission, 2009) sustainability, cost, and intangibles such as brand and culture (EU Commission, 2009). “This statement does not exactly make it These features illustrate how design is a key easy to clearly differentiate the discipline management factor for sustainability. of design from a company’s other activi- ties – but this is design’s strength! Design is extremely diverse, which allows it to be a driving force and play a key role in the an- choring of sustainable thinking and actions in corporate culture. It is a broad field with Design has no commonly agreed defi- docking points in various other disciplines. nition and the word is given differ- Design “is considered as the bridge be- ent meanings in different contexts. tween for example creativity and innova- Very often, design is associated with tion, technology and the user, scientific and the aesthetic aspect of objects only, commercial disciplines.” (EU Commission, whereas in reality its application is 2009) This gives companies the possibility much broader. A review of definitions of interdisciplinary work, as “Design allows by design professionals and policy a broad range of considerations to be taken makers highlights the broad nature of into account.” (EU Commission, 2009) design and its potential to integrate Design is about products, services, sys- aesthetic and functional as well as, tems, environments, and communication. for example, environmental, safety, Beyond the traditional approach to indus- cost and intangible considerations trial design, it can also be applied to services into products, services, and systems – private and public – as well as systems such (EU Commission, 2009). as urban planning and even experiences (EU

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3. Environmental Space – claim their fair share of resources (Schmidt- vironmental space, saturated and affluent Challenging transitions Bleek, 2000). This is why the concept of societies need to use much less in order to “environmental space” promotes reduced benefit countries that use much less envi- resource consumption in high-intensity ar- ronmental space. The need for dematerialisation stems from eas. Such a reduction is indeed possible, as For example, modern Western life- the limited amount of “environmental a comparison between households in Fin- styles in Germany or the United States all space” (Opschoor/Costanza, 1995) avail- land has shown. carry an ecological backpack in the range able on our “Spaceship Earth” (Boulding, Here the difference between the highest of seventy–ninety tonnes per capita per 1966). In general, environmental space and lowest backpacks was shown to differ year (Schmidt-Bleek, 2007: 44, Bringezu/ refers to the amount of resources we can by more than a factor of ten (Lähteenoja et Bleischwitz, 2009: 61). According to the use without comprising future generations’ al., 2008:9). Factor 10 concept, there is a need to create access. These resources provide fundamen- Countries with diverse consumption a sustainable ways of living, sustainable tal life services such as energy and raw ma- patterns (from highest to lowest levels of consumption of household goods, food terials, the absorption of wastes, climatic resource consumption such as India, China, and beverages, transportation and tourism, regulation, and biological diversity. Ser- Brazil, etc.) and “poorer” countries with electricity, heating, and housing that does vices provide utility for us directly in the high regional poverty rates may still grow not exceed eight tonnes per capita by 2050. form of fresh air and water or recreational materially. Resource extraction thus needs However, the composition of this footprint values, such as hiking in the mountains, to be reduced globally by a factor of two is not the same for everyone. The share or indirectly when transformed through (i.e. reduced by half) (Schmidt-Bleek, 2009). of consumption represented by a material technology into products. The notion of But how can countries with proportion- footprint of eight tonnes can differ accord- sustainability stipulates that environmen- ally lower levels of environmental space ing to the values, needs, and aspirations of tal services (and the corresponding related usage still grow when there is no space each individual’s unique lifestyle (Letten- spaces) must be equitably distributed per left? According to the notion of a sustain- meier et al., 2012:8). It is true that we need capita (over generations). Western life- able ­development, this is not only a matter to reduce our consumption patterns dra- styles generate wealth for less than 20% of environmental reconciliation but also matically, but there is still space to main- of the world population, but they consume entails a path by which these countries can tain individual welfare by designing this 80% of all resources globally. We therefore escape poverty and hunger while fostering pattern according to individual needs that must find ways to generate wealth using health and social equality (see Millennium relate to quality of life. In this respect, de- around 10% of resources we currently con- Development Goals at www.un.org/mil- signers are able to both support and design sume (or ten times less – the “Factor 10”) lenniumgoals). In order to guarantee these the search and the individual transition in order to let the people who now use less basic needs within the constraints of en- of the society or peer group. For example, some people may accumulate more of their footprint through mobility, whereas oth- ers require less transportation but instead live in a larger apartment. Not everyone needs to live the same way, but – at least on average – everyone must live within the boundaries of our planetary system in or- der to realise our sustainable future.

Figure 1: Factor 10 – Wuppertal Institute

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APPROACHING A SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVE Individual: Individuals are embedded in social groups with their norms and values. The oup individual's choice on what to consume depends to a varying extent on the peer group's norms. ocial G r S Social groups: Individuals and social groups want to maintain or increase their social status, well-being and welfare, reflecting the norms and values of their peer group.

Economy: The economic construct is the means Social Gr societies use the environment to meet their oup needs and desires. oup Social Gr Environment: Provides resources and nature services to all other layers. This not only includes economic use but for example also contributions to human well being through recreation, for example taking a walk in the forest.

Figure 2: Approaching a Sustainability Perspective – Wuppertal Institute How can we approach sustainability in a References and Literature Sustainability Debate”. In: Sustainability, 4(7), pp. 1426– consistent and comprehensive fashion? Boulding, K. (1966): “The Economics of the Coming Space- 1447. First, it is important to remember the ship Earth”. In: Jarret, H. (ed.): Environmental Quality in Lettenmeier, M. et al. (2012): Scenarios for Sustainable Life- principle of environmental space. We are a Growing Economy. Baltimore: John Hopkins University styles. 2050: From Global Champions to Local Loops. individuals who are organised into social Press, pp. 3–14. Wuppertal: UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating groups and work in companies that follow Bringezu, S. and Bleischwitz, R. (2009): Sustainable Resource Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production. certain economic rationales. These ration- Management: Global Trends, Visions and Policies. Shef- Liedtke, C. et al. (2012): “Living Lab: User-Driven Innovation ales have to be revised according to the field, UK: Greenleaf. for Sustainability”. In: International Journal of Sustain- principle of environmental space (see Fig. EEA 2012 (unpublished): Environmental Pressures from Euro- ability in Higher Education, 13(2), pp. 106–118. 2). Needs and desires are satisfied by mate- pean Consumption and Production: A study in integrat- Opschoor, J. B. and Costanza, R. (1995): “Environmental Per- rialised products and are incorporated into ed environmental and economic analysis. EEA Technical formance Indicators, Environmental Space and the preferences for social justice or meaningful Report. Preservation of Ecosystem Health”. In: Jaeger, J., Libera- work which are themselves the results of Eurostat (2011): Sustainable development in the European tore, A., and Grundlachk, K. (eds.). Global Environmental social norms and values. We also have to Union. 2011 monitoring report of the EU sustainable de- Change and Sustainable Development. Luxemburg: EC consider this when we talk about sustain- velopment strategy. Luxembourg: Publications Office of DGXII/ Office for Publication of European Community. able design. Sustainability is not just about the European Union. Ritthoff, M., Rohn, H. and Liedtke, C. (2002): Calculating MIPS : materials alone, for it also has to take so- Lähteenoja, S., Lettenmeier, M. and Kotakorpi, E. (2008): “The Resource productivity of products and services. Wup- cial needs into account in order to support ecological rucksack of households : huge differences, pertal: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and individual quality of life. huge potential for reduction?” In: Sustainable Con- Energy, Wuppertal Spezial (27e). sumption and Production: Framework for Action. 2nd Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2009): The Earth : natural resources and Conclusion Conference of the Sustainable Consumption Research human intervention. London: Haus Pub. Based on: In summary, sustainable design it is all Exchange (SCORE!) Network. Mol: Flemish Institute for Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2000). Das MIPS-Konzept : weniger about establishing or maintaining the in- Technological Research, pp. 319–337. Naturverbrauch – mehr Lebensqualität durch Faktor 10. dividual’s quality of life without limiting Lettenmeier, M. and Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Envi- Munich: Droemer Knaur. the potential well-being of other people or ronment and Energy (2009): Resource productivity in Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2000): The Factor 10/MIPS-Concept. future generations, and this includes the 7 steps: How to develop eco-innovative products and Bridging Ecological, Economic, and Social Dimensions promotion of a sustainable use of environ- services and improve their material footprint. Wupper- with Sustainability Indicators. Available at ­­http://www. mental space. Sustainable design therefore tal: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and factor10-institute.org/files/MIPS.pdf needs to provide socio-technical solutions Energy, Wuppertal Spezial (41). World Wide Fund for Nature (2012): Living planet report 2012 that didactically foster appropriate transi- Lettenmeier, M. et al. (2012): “Material Footprint of Low- biodiversity, biocapacity and better choices. Gland, tion processes (Liedtke et al., 2012). Income Households in Finland – Consequences for the Switzerland: World Wide Fund for Nature.

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4. Sustainability – Challenges, fied analytically into the commonly known opments intended to grow physically can Politics, Indicators ­arrays of economic, ecological, and social hardly reduce their material requirements sustainability. in absolute terms. Sets of indicators are al- In this respect the question arises as to ways selective, and in some cases they are Managing Sustainability and Environmen- how we can measure and make sustainabil- even misguiding, as only that which can be tal Space Challenges ity visible. How can we measure sustaina- measured quantitatively is featured in an When it comes to politics and policies ble development? Do we do so in economic indicator set. In this respect, we must re- enacted within national or institutional or in social terms? In ecological terms? Is it main cautious and carefully select our set boundaries such as within the European even possible to combine them into socio- of indicators. Union or the Organisation for Economic economic or socio-ecological factors? Sus- That means indicators are always works Cooperation and Development (OECD), tainable development in economic terms is in progress – they require dynamic adjust- for example, the specific strategies differ. often reported in terms of GDP per capita, ment and sometimes must be reformulated. Eventually we have to deal with a diverse i.e. the growth of a national economy in Nevertheless, indicators are essential tools range of strategies and apply at the core material terms. By comparison, sustain- for monitoring progress. They help us to the common and vast idea of sustainability able development in ecological terms choose appropriate strategies, remedies, proposed by Brundtland (1987): “Develop- may be monitored by emissions (output and designs. Setting goals does not make ment that meets the needs of the present oriented) or material requirements (input any sense if we cannot see where we are without compromising the ability of future oriented), while social sustainability may going. Yet without goals we are blind, so generations to meet their own needs.” This be reported by the distributional equality to speak. In general, sets of indicators are definition is quite vague, however, and of national income (see Chaps. 14 and 15: sophisticated tools for social learning. leads to ambiguous and diverse policy rec- National Sustainability Indicators/Strat- ommendations. egy Wheel). When dividing sustainabil- Conclusion Similarly, a patchwork of indicators un- ity into formulated categories, one sector A set of indicators should monitor progress derlies the specific pattern of these strat- may dominate (economic aspects may take in terms of individual well-being within egies. Industrialised societies may focus precedence over ecological or social fac- environmental space. Which indicators more on ecological and economic aspects tors, for example). Furthermore, indicators appear inadequate for this task, and what of sustainability, whereas developing may report contradictory and ambivalent indicators must then be established? What countries tend to favour economic or social developments. An economic development are the corresponding sustainability goals? progress. The mainstream concept reports that is measured by growth in material How much environmental space may be social, economic and ecological aspects terms (such as per-capita GDP) will never ­assigned to my country or society (and separately. Therefore, strategies are classi- lead to a dematerialised economy. Devel- ­people)? Should socio-economic progress be favoured? Should reduced environ- mental destruction be a goal? Eventually, sustainable design has to consider these questions in order to select the indicators relevant to the focused design concept (see Chap. 5: Managing Sustainable Develop- ment). In this respect, sustainability strate- gies are tools for reflection, a tool around which change agents such as designers can orientate themselves.

References and Literature Eurostat (2011): Sustainable development in the Euro- pean Union. 2011 monitoring report of the EU sus- tainable development strategy. Luxembourg: Publi- cations Office of the European Union. Jensen, L., United Nations and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2011): Millennium De- velopment Goals Report. 2010. New York: United Na- tions. (for additional reports see http://www.un.org/ millenniumgoals/) OECD (2011): How’s Life?: Measuring well-being. Paris: OECD Publishing. (for additional reports, including country reports, see oecdbetterlifeindex.org). World Commission on Environment and Development (1987): Our Common Future. (Brundtland-Report). New York.

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5. Managing Sustainable Development

Chapter 4 introduced the complexity as German National Strategy for Sustainable well as the problems that arise when meas- Development uring sustainability. In a nutshell, it is all SOCIAL ECOLOGICALECONOMICAL concerned with the dilemma posed by so- Resource- and energy productivity cioeconomic progress within ecological Greenhouse gas emissions Criteria for sustainable design boundaries. One way to solve the problem Share of renewable energy sources in total – possible contribution to a energy consumption is to focus on one specific area in sustain- sustainability strategy Land use able development. For example, the set Species diversity and landscape quality Resources/ Energy consumption of indicators in Canada focuses on envi- National deficit Land use ronmental issues, whereas the Indian and Gross fixed capital formation in relation to GDP Cost-efficiency

Tanzanian indicators focus in particular on equity Intergenerational Private and public spending on R&D Expenses for R&D attaining minimum living standard for the Level of education majority of these countries’ citizens. This is all well and good, for the global “environ- Gross domestic product per capita mental space” must be distributed equita- Mobility (Intensity of goods transports et al.) Satisfaction bly, meaning that according to Factor 10, Agricultural management (Organic farming et al.) Costs in consumption Air pollution developing countries may continue to grow (social dependencies, €) Health and nutrition (Morbidity, Risk behavior.)

economically while industrialised coun- life of Quality tries need to dematerialise their economies Crime rate by a factor of ten. On the other hand, there are efforts to Employment rate Participation in development overcome or replace some antiquated meas- All-day care provision for children and usage Equality (Wage difference between urements such as GDP for measuring eco- Social contacts women and men) nomic (a synonym for societal) progress with Accessibility Integration (Foreign school leavers with new indicators measuring happiness (Bhu-

Social Cohesion a school leaving certificate) tan) or quality of life. For example, the Ger- man sustainable strategy points out that the Figure 3: Strategies for Sustainability - Wuppertal Institute most important factor is not only economic 2012) is currently revising the Total Materi- mirror this complex and long-term process. progress, but also quality of life. At the same al Requirement as a sufficient indicator for Never­theless, strategies are only effective time, however, Germany includes per-capita resource use in production and consump- when they become relevant and tangible GDP as a means of measuring quality of life. tion systems. If it is not, data has to be for people. Strategies remain mere paper- In other words, it employs GDP as a proxy generated and new indicators crea­ted (see work unless the ideas are implemented in for well-being, which is still insufficient. The current efforts to revise economic growth everyday life. This is why it is important for concept behind the national strategy in Ger- as a proxy for social well-being). Only when designers to incorporate strategies as well many is thus quite forward-thinking, but the appropriate assessment tools are used can as their indicators and ideas into their work indicators are still lacking, for only factors national strategies manage sustainability and make them visible and integrable into which can be measured (and compared!) issues in favour of their trans­ition process- individuals’ lifestyles. are featured in this set of indicators. Fig. 3 es. Therefore, the assessment tools them- introduces the German strategy in order to selves have to be developed and adjusted References and Literature provide us with an idea of how sustainability to present this knowledge. They need to European Topic Centre on Sustainable Consumption and can be managed nationally on the basis of relate to future scenarios and appropriately Production (2011): Progress in Sustainable Consump- certain indicators according to constructed describe them. tion and Production in Europe: An Indicator-based categories. However, the realisation of sus- Report. ETC/SCP working paper 1/2011. Copenhagen. tainability strategies relies on their actors Conclusion EEA 2012 (unpublished): Environmental Pressures from – designers, in particular – implementing (Inter)national strategies must be capable European Consumption and Production; A study in them into the production and consumption of reflecting and creating individual wel- integrated environmental and economic analysis. system. fare in a sustainable manner. Sustainability EEA Technical Report. For this reason, the European Topic is not a matter of economic, ecological, and Environmental Energy Agency (EEA) (2008): Catalogue of Centre (2011), on behalf of European En- social abstracts but about striving for indi- forward-looking indicators from selected sources: A vironmental Agency (EEA), calls for a reas- vidual well-being at a social and eco­logical contribution to the forward-looking component of sessment of the notion that goals follow level. The management of a sustainable a shared environmental information system (SEIS/ indicators. Goals need to be defined first development is without doubt a complex Forward), EEA Technical report 8/2008. Copenhagen. and only then can we conduct an analysis and contested process by actors from the to determine whether­ the indicators exist areas of politics, economy, and other so- that can adequately measure and report on cial spheres that all articulate their own the fulfilment of set goals. Resource con- interests. ­Taking this into consideration, sumption should not neglect hidden mate- (inter)national sustainability strategies to- rial flows, and that is why the EEA (2008, gether with their indicators and policies

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6. Transition Requires Change Agents for Sustainability

“If design is to contribute to human cul- ture in a more meaningful way then it has “Transitions are defined in the mainly Dutch transition research as the radical structur- to move beyond the often shallow, style- al change of a societal system as a result of co-evolution of economic, cultural, tech- based notions of product design that have nological, ecological and institutional develepments on different levels. (Rotmans become so prevalent over the last fifty et al. 2000)” In contrast to transformation, a sustainable transition refers to deep years” (Walker, 2008). The question then changes at the regime level of societal sub-systems (see below) such as the energy arises as to how design can contribute to sector, for example. Such transitions can thus represent individual steps towards the sustainable transition processes as well as transformation of society. societal transformation that can promote sustainable development. The task of design and the societal researchers and politicians who seek solu- In order to understand the connections concepts of how design is defined or un- tions for the transformation of societal pat- between societal processes and prod- derstood are deeply connected with soci- terns of behaviour in production and con- ucts and/or services, it helps to approach etal development. Design is an extremely sumption consider design to be a mediator socio-technical system innovations using a complex and diverse discipline which has a and formative element in these necessary “Multi-Level Perspective”. The Multi-Level direct effect on societal development and transition processes. Transition processes Perspective consists of three different lev- is in turn influenced and characterised by can be promoted or even triggered by what els. The level “socio-technical regime” cor- society’s actions and decisions. The areas are known as change agents (Kristof, 2010; responds to the core of a socio-technical of focus for design can vary greatly. Some- see glossary). Such competent actors are a system. Essential elements include mar- times the focus is on form and aesthetics key aspect of facilitating change processes. kets, user-preferences, industry/business, – the artistic aspects of design – whereas By integrating sustainability aspects into science, technology, as well as fundamen- at other times it deals with the pragmatic the design process, designers can act as tal cultural elements such as values and and the functional. Design and the related a kind of change agent – something that norms, which find expression in the re- societal interpretation regarding its role in only accommodates the activity of design, spective market, technology, or industrial society are a reflection of societal develop- since it avoids acting arbitrarily with the structure. The level of the “socio-technical ment and innovation processes. It is there- possible consequence of negative rebound landscape” considers general global trends fore hardly surprising that sustainability effects (see Chap.16: Hot Spot Analysis). that impact regimes and niches (war and Increasing structuration of activities in local practices

Socio-technical landscape Landscape developments put pressure on existing regime, which opens up, creating windows of opportunity for novelties.

Socio-technical regime is ‘dynamically stable’. markets, user On different dimensions there preferences are ongoing processes. culture markets, user preferences culture

Socio-technical policy policy regime science science

industry industry technology technology

Elements become aligned and stabilise in a dominant design. Niche Internal momentum increases. innovations Small networks of actors support novelties on the basis of expectations and visions. Learning processes take place on multiple dimensions (co-construction). Efforts to link different elemtents in a seamless web..

Time Figure 4: Multi-level perspective on transitions - Interaction between landscape, regime and niches (source: Geels and Schot 2010: 25, based on Geels 2002) – Adopted by Wuppertal Institute

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peace, globalisation, urbanisation, climate is important to define both the possibilities why use-management thinking and ser- change). At the level of “niche innova- and limits of design. vice design need to be a part of the pro- tions” it is possible to develop something To date, the creation of new products cess (Schmidt-Bleek and Tischner, 1995; truly new. These innovations can only be actually continues to represent a part of Tischner, 2000). Design no longer merely adapted in the form of a transition process the problem rather than a part of the so- means creating new products, for we must when the pressure from either the “niche- lution. It would at first appear as if the also search for new (system-)solutions that innovation-levels” or the “socio-technical designer no longer has a contribution to provide sustainable product and service ar- landscape” is significant enough – or are make within the conventional parameters rangements. Sustainability research also exerted by the regime – due to learning of product design (Walker, 2008). Here it seeks to more clearly define this require- processes which enable the penetration is important to remember that the idea ment in the area of product and service de- of the innovation. Only then can the inno- of design is in a state which invites us to velopment (Liedtke et al., 2012; Green and vation cause fundamental changes in the proactively look for possibilities and limits Vergragt, 2002). regime configuration. Change agents can (Park, 2010). Once the designer has studied In his November 2011 speech “Design promote niche innovations and their diffu- the concept of “good form”, it is possible for a More Human Environment”, Dieter sion. to characterise design according to the Rams stated: “The demands on our sur- Nevertheless these factors make it diffi- following three characteristics: design as roundings are as fundamentally ‘human’ as cult to clearly define how broad the design- aesthetic design, design as rational plan- they always were. They are not changing er’s duties actually are. The design of so- ning, and design as idea creation (Park, at a faster and faster pace. On the contrary, cietal processes (products and services) is 2010). Above all, as object­ of the design these human demands on life are astound- already intrinsically diverse: socio-techno- process in the later characteristic, not only ingly constant: love, security, friendship, logical development processes take place products but also processes and systems self-fulfilment and success, as well as the permanently in all areas of society. Design should be considered. The future will show potential for adventure – and to fail. It is tasks can always be found wherever mate- whether the designer is able to deal with only the conditions that change constant- rial and immaterial changes are needed. this changing task. This requires a different ly – and that is where the designers come In their role in developing product-ser- or widened understanding of design and in” (Rams, 2011). The goal of the designer vice systems, designers can act as change as well as completely new approaches and must be to instruct the user with easily ac- agents and are themselves part of trans­ tools (Park, 2010). Instead of focusing on cessible products and services in order to ition processes, as they can actively influ- objects (the product), the subject (the in- prevent incorrect use and possible negative ence the drivers of sustainable develop- dividual) should be in the foreground. Not effects, but not to limit the user to such an ment. In order for designers to be able to only products, but entire lifestyles need extent that individual strategic actions be- orient themselves in their area of activity, it to be designed to be sustainable. This is come impossible. The user will only use the product or service over a longer period of or transdisciplinary work. It also seeks to term transformation change. New York: Routledge, time and in the intended fashion, but this focus on the problems in the system which pp. 105–220. does not rule out the possibility of a reus- need to be solved and determines whether Walker, S. (2008): “Extant objects: designing things as they ing products and services or using them the developed concepts can help solve are”. In: International Journal. of Sustainable Design, ­differently than intended – along the lines problems in socioeconomic and socio-­ vol. 1, no.1, pp. 4–12. of non-intentional design (Brandes, 2008) – ecological systems. Brandes, U. (2008): “Non Intentional Design”. In: Board of if he or she enjoys doing so. International Research in Design (2008): Wörterbuch Calls for designers to emancipate them- References and Literature Design. Begriffliche Perspektiven des Design. Berlin. selves from material dependency and be- EU Commission (2009): Design as a driver of user- Kristof, K. (2010): Models of Change. Einführung und Ver- come more than mere “stylists” are grow- centred innovation. Available at: http://ec.europa. breitung sozialer Innovationen und gesellschaftlicher ing louder. In order to meet these demands, eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/policy/design-­ Veränderungen in transdisziplinärer Perspektive. Zu- designers have to start thinking outside the creativity/index_en.htm rich: vdf Hochschulverlag. existing box and begin to look at design in German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) Park, J. (2010): “Theoretisches Design: Gestaltung jenseits terms of service units instead of material (2011): World in Transition. A Social Contract for Sus- der Objekte”. In: Romero-Tejedor, F. and Jonas W. products. When this is the case, not only is tainability. Flagship Report. Berlin. (eds.): Positionen zur Designwissenschaft. pp. 95–99. the user’s satisfaction ensured, but we can Green, K. and Vergragt, P. (2002): “Towards sustainable Schmidt-Bleek F. and Tischner, U. (1995): Produktent- also achieve “dematerialisation”. households: a methodology for developing sustain- wicklung: Nutzen gestalten – Natur schonen. Schrif- able technological and social innovations”. In: Futures tenreihe des Wirtschaftsförderinstituts Nr. 270, WIFI Conclusion 34(5), pp. 381–400. Österreich. Design can make an important contribution Liedtke, C. et al (2012): “Living Lab: User-Driven Innovation Schneidewind, U. and Scheck, H. (2011): “Zur Transforma- to transition processes on the path towards for Sustainability”. In: International Journal of Sustain- tion des Energiesektors: Ein Blick aus der Perspektive the sustainable transformation of society. ability in Higher Education, 13(2), pp. 106–118. der Transition-Forschung”. In: Servatius, H.G, Schnei- In order for this to occur, we need the ap- Rams, D. (2011): “Design for a More Human Environ- dewind, U. and Rohlfing, D. (eds.): Smart Energy. Hei- propriate instruments and ensure the inter- ment”. In: form 242. Verlag form. Available at: http:// delberg: Springer, pp. 45–61. disciplinary and transdisciplinary integra- www.form.de/w3.php?nodeId=6401&lang=1&pV Tischner, U. (2000): Was ist EcoDesign?: Ein Handbuch für tion of these processes. Id=954935540 ökologische und ökonomische Gestaltung. Frankfurt The DesignGuide is an instrument for Rotmans, J. and Loorbach, D. (2010): “Towards a better am Main: Verlag form praxis. this purpose. It shows designers where con- understanding of transitions and their governance. crete integration of sustainability ­aspects A systemic and reflexive approach”. In: Grin, J., Rot- into the design process is possible and mans, J. and Schot, J. (eds.) Transitions to sustainable which problems require interdisciplinary development – new directions in the study of long

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7. Needs & Services al approaches and/or needs. In industrial- sitions) seriously, each person must plan ised nations, most people can easily satisfy their lives so that he or she only uses a set their basic needs. In most cases, purchases amount of water, raw materials, and land. Needs are shaped by the society you live in are not essential for survival but serve the This is what is known as the sufficiency By their very nature humans are essentially purpose of self-fulfilment or entertainment. aspect (see Chap. 9: Sustainability Assess- dependant on living together in groups People living below the respective poverty ment in Design – Overview and Integration and social communities. This is expressed, levels usually seek to satisfy basic needs of Methods) of this concept. Following the for example, in our efforts to act accord- such as food, clothing, housing, basic com- ideas put forth by Sachs (1993), lifestyles ing to rules, norms, and values or in ac- modities, and other requirements. and consumption patterns need to be cordance with our own peer group. Only by In this context, at issue is a decent slowed down, unbundled, cleaned up, and following certain types of behaviour and standard of living rather than the devel- de-commercialised. These four terms do social routines can the individual expect opment of a personality. A need to show not conflict with individual welfare. On the to be accepted within a social group. This social status using material goods can be contrary – they highlight the development means the individual is influenced in his or seen among the emerging educated mid- of sustainable lifestyles. her actions by the societal context. When dle classes in many developing nations. performing these actions and forming rou- This is also reflected in the fact that use Goods offer function, status, identification, tines, he or she forms the context – the of resources is expected to more than emotion, and much more … society. In the course of performing these quadruple by the year 2050 (Bringezu et At this point in the discussion, a short di- routines, the individual consumer seldom al., 2009:72), as the worldwide adoption of gression into the world of brands is nec- enters into a situation in which they must wealthier lifestyles by the educated middle essary. Products and goods always have reflect upon their (consumption) behaviour. class in developing nations leads to a rapid an immaterial added value in the form He or she tends to automatically reduce the rise in resource and space consumption. of a brand image. Since a minimum qual- psycho-social costs that are caused by act- Climate change and its effects can there- ity standard is guaranteed by law in many ing against norms and expectations within fore ­hardly be stopped. Eco-intelligent countries, the only way for companies to a peer group (Matthies, 2005). Engaging in solutions for service systems leading to a differentiate themselves from competitors social practises requires the appropriate lifestyle change are needed. These need to is in terms of brand image (Baltes, 2004). A consumption of goods and services (Warde, not only consider the fair distribution of re- product does not only fulfil a certain func- 2005). Depending on social status, cultural sources for worldwide prosperity, but also tion, it also identifies the user as a part of background, and the region at issue, such the need for social status. a particular social group and its associated expectations can vary substantially. There- If we are to take “Factor 10” (see Chap. 3: lifestyle. The brand tells much of who and fore design has to saturate different cultur- Environmental Space – Challenging Tran- what the user represents in a social con- text. There is a pattern through which the user tells a story. Appearance or reality is difficult for outsiders to identify, but it is possible to express that which the user Demand wants to communicate. At a minimum, consumer goods include Environment the added value of a brand that accompa- natural nies their function as a “service fulfilment - artificial machine” (Schmidt-Bleek, 1999). But what else? In order to answer this question it is important to consider the need that is Actual condition ur o i satisfied. How do the users use the exist- ies t av i ing product? When and why do they use it? h iv e b ct What do they expect from it? Pure func- A Supply ) d tionality, status, luxury, enjoyment, free- e uman lu dom, or self-development? What happens H a Desired Needs (V when they use it? What do they buy along condition with the physical product? What value does it have for them? Goods are usually not only purely functional, but they have an added Person value which allows the user to be identified Society with a social group and communicate a rise - Individual in status. It is an evolutionary biological Use fact that people strive to become a mem- ber of a group with higher social standing.

Figure 5: Maser, S.: “Mensch und Umwelt als System von Prozessen zur Bedürfnisbefriedigung (Maser, S. (1993): Zur Planung gestalterischer Projekte. Essen. S. 73.) redrawn by Wuppertal Institute

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What is a service and can it satisfy a need? a service definition, the theories of Sieg- “Do we really always need new things?” fried Maser (See Fig. 5), who sees people (Rams, 2011) We need a design approach and the environment as a system of need- Eco-design begins with the defini- that foes far beyond superficial and cos- fulfilment processes, are quite helpful. tion of the utility or the bundle of metic consumption, beyond an exclusively Once core needs have been clearly services which the end-user expects consumer-oriented society. “The only way defined, the service definition can be de- of a product. This utility must then out of this dilemma requires a change in termined. You may recall the “bundle of be generated with the least possi- outlook.” (Rams, 2011) service” concept which defines the end- ble quantity of natural resources in With these words, Dieter Rams assigned user’s expected utility for the product. This a process reaching all the way from designers responsibilities which go far be- means thinking in terms of the need a prod- its cradle (creation phase) to its grave yond the design of form. Carlo Vezzoli was uct satisfies (such as enjoying tasty coffee) (reuse life phase) or back to the cra- even more concrete when he stated: “In fu- instead of the physical product itself (such dle (Schmidt-Bleek, 1994). ture decades we must be able to move from as a coffee machine). Such an approach a society in which well-being and affluence comes to the conclusion that the user es- are measured by the production and con- sentially wants clean laundry (service unit) sumption of goods to one in which people and the washing machine (physical prod- Conclusion live better while consuming (much) less. In uct) is only a means to this end. Thinking in “We still have the opportunity to change our fact, we need to learn how to live better (the this manner leads to creative and innova- unsustainable habits, but we can no longer entire population of the planet: equity prin- tive product service systems (PSS). afford to take our current consumption pat- ciple) and, at the same time reduce our eco- Even though services seem less materi- terns for granted. A consumer demanding logical footprint.” (Vezzoli, 2006) ally intense than physical products, they cleanly-produced products might feel good To arrive at a “resource-light fulfilment of are not immaterial. For example, car shar- about his or her lifestyle choice, but it will a need”, the designer must define the core ing, which provides the essential service take more than just consuming such prod- needs and the surrounding system and in- of getting from point A to point B (service ucts to initiate a change – it will require a clude them in the following considerations. unit), still requires a fleet of cars, buses, decrease in consumption as well in order to In order to develop practical strategies for trains (physical product), fuel to run them, realise any gains.” (Clark et al., 2009) the future, it is crucial to come to solutions and support networks dependent on com- If current trends of population growth which are not based on today’s strategies munication technology, energy, etc. Here it and rising consumption persist, the con- (see chapter 13: Taking Stock). is important to be aware that ­categorical sumption of resource-light products alone When it comes to determining the core “quick fix” solutions are rare. will not result in a sustainable society. Only focus of a need before using it to develop when the societal context as well as the pat- terns of consumption are gradually changed References and Literature skammer Österreich, Vienna; Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2000): can we become a sustainable ­society. Bringezu, S. and Schütz, H.; et al. (2009): “Europe’s resource Das MIPS-Konzept : weniger Naturverbrauch - mehr Truly sustainable products are dis­ use. Basic trends, global and sectoral patterns and en- Lebensqualität durch Faktor 10. Munich: Droemer tinguished not only by efficient use of vironmental and socioeconomic impacts”. In: Bringe- Knaur. resources, but also by the integration of zu, S. und R. Bleischwitz (eds.), Sustainable Resource Vezzoli, C. (2006): “Design for sustainability: the new re- ­sufficiency and consistency into the prod- Management. Global Tends, Visions and Policies. search frontiers”. 7th Brazilian Conference on Design. ucts that results in the consumer consum- Sheffield: Greenleaf, pp. 52–155. Baltes, M. (ed.) (2004): Marken – Labels – Brands. Freiburg. ing less (e.g. transformative products) Clark, G. et al. (2009): Design for Sustainability, Current Bringezu, S. and Schütz, H. (2010): “Der ‘ökologische Ruck- without forfeiting quality of life (see Chap. Trends in Sustainable Product Design and De- sack’ im globalen Handel: Ein Konzept verbindet 3: Environmental Space ­– Challenging velopment. Available at: www.mdpi.com/journal/­ Ökonomie, Umwelt und Geographie”. In: Geographis- Transitions). sustainability che Rundschau, 42 (2010), 4, pp. 12–17 Lettenmeier, M. et al. (2009): Resource productivity in 7 Park, J. (2010): “Theoretisches Design: Gestaltung jenseits steps: How to develop eco-innovative products and der Objekte”. In: Romero-Tejedor, F. and Jonas, W. services. Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institute for Climate, (eds.) (2010): Positionen zur Designwissenschaft. pp. Environment and Energy. 95-99. Meyer, B. (2008): Costing the Earth? Perspectives on Sus- Sachs, W. (1993): “Die vier E’s: Merkposten für einen tainable Development. London. maßvollen­ Wirtschaftsstil”. In: Politische Ökologie, Eco-intelligent goods are objects, Rams, D. (2011): “Design for a More Human Environ- 11(33), pp. 69–72. devices, machines, buildings, and in- ment”. In: form 242. Verlag form. Available at: http:// frastructures which provide as many www.form.de/w3.php?nodeId=6401&lang=1&pV benefits as possible (differing and Id=954935540 measured according to the needs of Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2008): The Earth – Natural Resourc- the individual) at competitive prices. es and Human Intervention. London. Based on: Moreover, this entails a minimisation Schmidt-Bleek, F. (1994): Wieviel Umwelt braucht der of materials, energy, land use, waste, Mensch? MIPS – das Maß für ökologisches Wirtschaf- transport, packaging, and dangerous ten. Berlin; Schmidt-Bleek, F. and Tischner U. (1995): materials throughout the whole life- Produktentwicklung – Nutzen gestalten – Natur cycle, beginning with the excavation schonen. Wirtschaftskammer Österreich. Vienna; of the raw materials and ending with Schmidt-Bleek, F. (1999): Ökodesign. Vom Produkt zur recycling (Schmidt-Bleek, 2000: 4). Dienstleistungserfüllungsmaschine. Schriftenreihe des Wirtschaftsförderungsinstitutes der Wirtschaft-

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8. Design Process designer, the engineer, or other change target for the following decision processes. agents. The aim is to create products with a higher The eco-design approach focuses on in- level of service delivery while maintaining Human needs can be separated into two ba- tegrating environmental aspects without their quality or even improving it (Schmidt- sic categories: individual needs and social compromising functionality for the user. In Bleek, 2009). This is a pathway out of our needs. Given this fact, the economic sys- terms of the design process, this means a current ecological and economic dilemmas. tem or the technosphere should only exist holistic review of the product lifecycle in An important feature of eco-design is in order to satisfy such needs, but they can terms of raw material input. Environmental, that it considers the environmental impact in fact also create wants. This is not pos- social, and economic aspects need to be of a product or service over its entire life- sible without nature’s services, such as pol- considered simultaneously and be assessed cycle. lination of food crops by bees, for example. in an integrated manner. First and fore- It endeavours to determine possible en- The concept of sustainability integrates the most, however, the environmental space vironmental impacts (material consump- challenges of deciding between individual perspective, the target of eight tonnes of tion, energy input, toxic materials, waste, and social needs while conserving nature’s resources per person per annum is the first etc.) of a given product or service, starting services without which we cannot exist. Environmental and social or ethical Product life cycle considerations should be introduced into product planning as early as possible, as the decisions with the greatest impact are made at the very beginning of a new prod- Resource extraction uct’s or service’s development (during the & Assembly c r e a l d Processing & product planning phase, not only are 80% l d e a t r Distribution o c of the production costs defined but so are g o

t

r

a e

80% of its environmental impact [Tischner v l

e d

a r End of Life

et al. 2000]). c The earlier environmental concerns are integrated into these decisions, the greater Usage & Maintenance the potential for cost savings, increasing profits, and reducing the environmental impact. This responsibility starts with the first actors in the production process: the Figure 6: Product Life Cycle - Wuppertal Institut References and Literature Bringezu, S. and Schütz, H. (2001): Total material require- ment of the European Union, Technical report No. 56, EEA. Copenhagen. Liedtke, C. et al. (2011): Booklet of the 2nd SSS. Avail- reduce reuse recycle able at: http://www.designwalks.org/fileadmin/ Figure 7: based on http://bit.ly/olnbek - redrawn by Wuppertal Institut designwalks/2nd_sss_booklet.pdf Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2009): The Earth – Natural Resources and Human Intervention. London. Based on: Schmidt- Bleek, F. (1994): Wieviel Umwelt braucht der Mensch? MIPS – das Maß für ökologisches Wirtschaften. Berlin; from the supply of raw materials through three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) serves as Schmidt-Bleek, F. and Tischner U. (1995): Produktent- manufacturing to final disposal or recycling. a basic signpost. Designers can help reduce wicklung – Nutzen gestalten – Natur schonen. Vien- This thinking in terms of lifecycles is the material needed in production and use na: Wirtschaftskammer Österreich; Schmidt-Bleek, F., also highlighted in terms such as “from phases of a product or service – a step that Tischner, U. and Merten, T. (1997): Öko-intelligentes cradle to grave” or “from cradle to cradle” would have the greatest environmental Produzieren und Konsumieren. Berlin. (Schmidt-Bleek, 1994). The latter em- impact. A reduction in consumerism is of Green, K. and Vergragt, P. (2002): “Towards sustainable phasises recycling and the concept of a course related to reuse, for if we begin re- households: a methodology for developing sustain- “closed-loop” recycling economy embed- ducing we have to think about reusing what able technological and social innovations”, In: Futures ded in European and other national regu- we already have (Walker, 2008). Designers 34(5), pp. 381–400. lations (producer responsibility) (Bringezu/ can help to REUSE products either in its Walker, S. (2008): “Extant objects: designing things as they Bleischwitz, 2010). originally intended manner or by giving the are”. In: International Journal of Sustainable Design, Given the high target and the recog- user enough leeway to interpret the prod- vol. 1, no.1, pp. 4–12. nised threats posed by current and pro- uct in a new way (see “non-intentional de- Wolf, B. et al. (2010): Booklet of the 1st SSS. ­­Avai­l­­­­able jected ­material use, solutions to enable sign” in the Glossary). Designing products at: http://www.designtheorie.uni-wuppertal.de/ dematerialisation are required. In order to with recycling in mind is another valuable downloads­/sss/1st_sss_booklet.pdf dematerialise production, the most logical contribution. Such approaches come under Tischner, U. et al. (2000): Was ist EcoDesign : Ein Hand- approach is to start at the source: the de- the umbrella term of eco-design (Schmidt- buch für ökologische und ökonomische Gestaltung sign process. Here the classic slogan of the Bleek et al., 1997). Frankfurt: Verlag form praxis.

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9. Sustainability assessment in Nature German economy design – overview and integra- 37% ear 100% tion of methods y

63% onnes / Introduction t ~5 billion metri c By now everyone should be aware of the fact that lifestyles in industrialised coun- tries are changing the ecosphere (see Chap. 3% Recycling 3: Environmental Space – Challenging Transitions), something that is clearly vis- Domestic use and ible in our changing climate, for example. foreign movements of unused material Once stable systems become unstable due to the influence of both materials extrac- tion and the emissions and wastes that are the result of human economy on natural German material flows in 2000 material flows and cycles (see Lettenmeier (billions of metric tons / year) et al., 2009; Schmidt­Bleek, 2009). 44% remains in the economy for a while Over the course of the last few decades, former West Germany only 31% emissions and discharges the technosphere’s demand for resources excluding consumption of has increased dramatically. At present the water and air 11% dissipative use human economy consumes a level of re- 11% landfill sources as if we had two planets at our disposal. Nevertheless, 90% of the non- Figure 8: Schmidt-Bleek 2007, p.13 - redrawn by Wuppertal Institute renewable materials we use are wasted in the process of creating products for the If we wish to guarantee the same quality sources (Schmidt-Bleek, 2000). Global lev- end-user. We simply do not handle natural of life for all of the Earth’s inhabitants, we els of natural resource consumption must resources in an efficient manner. must dematerialise our economy (see Chap. be reduced by half, and consumption rights Mankind must recognise that all human 3: Environmental Space – Challenging have to be evenly distributed among the use of materials is changing natural mate- Transitions). At present, 20% of the planet’s world’s rising population. This strategy will rial flows and ecosystems. people use 80% of all of its natural re- reduce occurrences of ecological disasters, thus be seen as a means or measuring the resource-based social conflicts and civil ­“ecological backpack of a service”. wars, and increase the financial stability of “If we want to guarantee everybody MIPS stands for “material input per unit our economies, companies, and households on this planet the same lifestyle we of service” over the entire lifecycle of a (Meyer, 2009). have to dematerialise our economy.” product or service. It allows us to estimate The use of natural resources by industri- (Lettenmeier et al., 2009) a product’s input­oriented environmental alised western countries therefore needs impact potential (Schmidt-Bleek, 1994, to be reduced on average to approximately 2008; Lettenmeier et al., 2009). one-tenth of its present level (Schmidt- Ecological backpack or material footprint Bleek, 1994; Schmidt­-Bleek, 2009). This The ecological backpack, also known as the is also known as the “Factor 10” goal (see material footprint, represents this invisible MIPS = material input per service unit Chap. 3: Environmental Space – Challeng- material burden. It is represented by the to- = MI / S ing Transitions). In order to implement Fac- tal input of natural resources (material in- tor 10, it is important to benchmark the put, MI) – minus the weight of the product RECIPROCAL of MIPS = S / MI eco­efficiency, or resource productivity, of itself – required by a given product “from = resource productivity technologies, products, and services to de- the cradle to cradle/grave.” It is measured termine resource efficiency potentials (see in mass unit such as kilograms or tonnes. MI is given in terms of tonnes, kilograms, Rohn et al., 2009). The ecological backpack provides a sum- or grams. In contrast, the service(s) is case In creating this unit of measurement, mary of resource use in the production of specific and must be defined as the spe- Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek developed the goods (Schmidt-Bleek, 2009) and is an im- cific performance offered by a product, e.g. concepts of the “ecological backpack” and portant measurement for comparing func- one kg of clean clothes or a 10­km journey MIPS (Material Input per Service Unit, see tionally equivalent goods from competing (Schmidt-Bleek, 2009). The service must be below), which visualise the invisible mate- producers at the point of sale (Lettenmeier rigorously defined in each individual case. rial burden posed by products or services et al., 2009). Focusing on a product’s benefits instead of in order to then compare their potential The ecological backpack describes a the actual ownership of a product opens environmental impacts. As any input from product’s invisible material burden. How- up a whole new dimension of development nature into the technosphere eventually ever, most products would provide no ben- options. This shift corresponds to growing becomes an output impacting the environ- efit if additional materials, energy, and/ market trends of renting, sharing, and leas- ment, measuring input can provide an esti- or water are not added to the equation. ing goods instead of merely owning them. mation of the potential for environmental This ­additional input is what is needed to (Schmidt-Bleek, 2008; Lettenmeier et al., impact. ­create a unit of service or benefit.­MIPS can 2009)

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This means we can compare the degree of service that can be created by “invest- According to the ecological backpack Practical indicators for determining ing” a certain amount of natural resources. and MIPS, all material consump- relevant potential of environmental Resource productivity can be improved tion over a product’s entire lifecycle impact must satisfy the following re- by technical decisions as well as by the (beginning with the point of the ex- quirements: ­consumer’s personal decisions. traction in nature, over the course of They must be scientifically founded. manufacturing and use, and ending They must guarantee transparent and What makes MIPS unique? with its recycling or disposal) is cal- reproducible estimates of the poten- MIPS can be applied at different levels, culated as natural resource consump- tial environmental impact of process- such as at the company level as well as in- tion. The following categories of re- es, goods, and services from cradle to dustry-wide. By interlocking the processes sources are counted separately: grave. at all of these levels, the optimisation of all They must be easy to apply in practi- material inputs contributes to an increase » biotic (or renewable) raw materials cal use and be time and cost efficient. in resource productivity over the entire » abiotic (or non-renewable) raw ma- They must give targeted answers. lifecycle or in terms of the overall econo- terials They must be relevant to the econ- my (see for example Schmidt-Bleek, 2009; » earth movements in agriculture and omy and to profitability in terms of Schmidt-Bleek et al., 1998). forestry (including erosion) practise and concept. MIPS is a robust and reliable indica- » air (mainly the oxygen used in com- They must be applicable on local, re- tor for the comparison and estimation of bustion processes) gional, and global levels. functionally comparable products and ser- » water MIPS and the ecological backpack are vices in terms of their material and energy one option for an indicator meeting requirements over their entire lifecycles The MI factors are expressed in kg/kg (kg these requirements. (Lettenmeier et al., 2009). of resources per kg of the material used), (Schmidt­-Bleek, 1994, 2009) A further strength of the MIPS concept kg/kwh (kg of resources per kilowatt­hour is that it reflects the general sustainabil- of energy consumed), or kg/tkm (kg of re- Resource productivity ity strategies, efficiency, consistency, and sources to transport one tonne over one By turning around the MIPS formula (MI/S), sufficiency. Improvements in efficiency kilometre). In this manner, the use of MIPS one can derive the amount of benefit pro- and consistency are directly shown in the is at the same time practicable, compre- vided by a given cradle­to­cradle quantity of material input, the MI-value from MIPS. It hensible, and harmonised. (Schmidt-Bleek, material. S/MI thus becomes an expression is important to keep in mind that in MIPS 1994, 2008; Lettenmeier et al., 2009). for resource productivity. concepts, social as well as technical energy innovations have to be taken into consider- more using less. Understanding design as »» environmental aspects: resource effi- ation. A car motor could use only 3l/100km use management instead of products and ciency, water use/backpacks, land use, instead of 6l/100km and be twice as effi- service creation using as few materials as and energy efficiency/CO2 emissions cient. However, the same effect is possible possible is the overriding principle. when twice as many people use the same »» social aspects: consumer satisfaction, car (car sharing), for example. Hot Spot Analysis – an instrument for health and safety, hazardous substanc- Consistency, better known as the “cra- determining the most important criteria es dle-to-cradle” principle (Schmidt-Bleek, In order to establish an appropriate basis 1994: 108), can be expanded by not only for making decisions, it is important to »» economic aspects: cost efficiency in considering the quality of the material used, have the right tools and background in- production and consumption, cost of but also the quantity and/or the hidden formation at hand. One quite interesting research and development. material flows. The consistency principle method available to designers is known as emphasises the meaning of material quali- Hot Spot Analysis. As it was initially devel- Once identified, Hot Spots can be the lev- ty (when a T-shirt is 100% compostable, for oped for companies to help them improve erage points that can allow designers to example), but it neglects hidden or unused the sustainability indicators of their prod- make a product more sustainable in terms resource extraction. Only 3% of all material ucts and services, this method can support of eco­design. Additional aspects could be flows are currently produced within a cycle, the interaction between company needs added to the evaluation if necessary (see which is precisely where cradle-to-cradle and the developmental work of designers Chap. 16: Hot Spot Analysis). can be applicable. When for example the or scientists in the R&D process (Liedtke et seats in an airplane are produced in an eco- al., 2010). effective fashion, the question still remains Hot Spots are aspects in a specific phase as to the rest of the plane’s degradability as of a lifecycle that assume a high degree of well as the remaining necessary infrastruc- relevance within the entire chain. One can ture, such as airports. either use several different indicators or According to the MIPS concept, the focus on a large number of aspects related principle of sufficiency is hidden behind to the target or strategy. In order to sim- the service unit and accounts for the op- plify the approach, we can focus on a man- portunity to change the system in favour ageable number of different indicators in of reduced resource use. Do I need the ser- the design process. The following aspects vice? Do I see an improvement in quality could be among those considered: of life? The design task at hand is to make

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References and Literature Lettenmeier, M., et al. (2009): Resource productivity in 7 steps. Wuppertal Institute, Wuppertal Spezial. Liedtke, C. et al. (2010): “Resource intensity in global food chains: the Hot Spot Analysis”. British Food Journal. Meyer, B. (2009): Costing the Earth? Perspectives on Sustainable Development. London, Haus Publishing. Rohn, H. et al. (2009): “Identification of technologies, products and strategies with high resource effi- ciency potential – results of a cooperative selection process.” Resource Efficiency Paper 1.3., Wuppertal. Available at http://ressourcen.wupperinst.org Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2009): The Earth. Natural Resources and Human Intervention. Haus publishing ltd. London. Based on: Schmidt-Bleek, F. (1994): Wiev- iel Umwelt braucht der Mensch? MIPS, das Maß für ökologisches Wirtschaften. Birkhäuser, Basel, Boston, Berlin; Schmidt-Bleek, F. et al. (1997): Ökointelligentes Produzieren und Konsumieren. Wuppertal; Schmidt-Bleek, F. et al. (1998): Einfüh- rung in die Material­Intensitäts­ Analyse nach dem MIPSKonzept.­ Wuppertal Texte. Birkhäuser, Basel; Schmidt-Bleek, F. (2000). Das MIPS-Konzept : weni- ger Naturverbrauch - mehr Lebensqualität durch Faktor 10. Munich: Droemer Knaur. Systematic EcoInnovation­ report (2008): Final Report for Sectoral Innovation Watch. Tischner, U. et al. (2000): Was ist EcoDesign?: Ein Hand- buch für ökologische und ökonomische Gestaltung Frankfurt, Verlag form praxis. Sustainable Products and Services: Your Designguide TOOLS

35 36 10. General Information order to smoothly integrate the tools into the design process, the tool “Finding Solu- tions” is used as a transition between the The practical part of the DesignGuide pro- two creative processes, thus allowing all vides tools which allow for the integration solutions to be rated. of a sustainability rating into the design process. It is structured so that the tools can be used for many different design tasks. For this purpose, different jobs have Product / service development cycle been defined which allow the user to de- fine a design task. Once designers have Des TAKING STOCK igng found their job, they can integrate the tools uid e t C oo NATIONAL into the design process in the order indi- omm ls on SUSTAINABILITY de cated. They are always to be seen as extras EVALUATION SHEETS si INDICATORS gn tools that compliment the normal design CONSUMER BRIEFING p ro INSIGHTS c e STRATEGY WHEEL / process. s MARKETING s STRATEGY BAR The figure to the right shows how the FIELD TESTING & design process takes place and where RESEARCH HOT SPOT ANALYSIS USER INTEGRATED each tool (Taking Stock, National Sustain- EVALUATION ability Indicators, Strategy Wheel/Strategy Bar, Hot Spot Analysis, Evaluation Sheets) can be used. Depending on the job, differ- BRAINSTORMING ent combinations of tools can be used in DESIGN & PROTOTYPING STRATEGY WHEEL / various orders alongside the normal design STRATEGY BAR CONCEPTION process. & DESIGN FINDING SOLUTIONS Within this DesignGuide, the “Finding HOT SPOT ANALYSIS

Solutions” step is included in the jobs but EVALUATION SHEETS it is not aided with a method as it is a part of the normal design process. Here the de- signer can apply his or her own methods. In

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11. Tools - a Short Description and a Classification

Taking Stock »» Which system is considered? »» What should be included in the considerations and/or ratings? »» What is the (product’s) desired service? »» Is it really needed? »» If yes, what aspect of it is needed?

National Sustainability Indicators »» What are the necessary goals for change in the systems under consideration? »» Which social- and target-group-orientated sustainability strategies and/ or goals have already been developed and are in use within society? »» What role can my development play within the system?

Strategy Wheel/Strategy Bar »» How can the evaluation of an established or developed product system or service most accurately be used to compare different approaches or to show a change or rework?

Hot Spot Analysis »» How can I rate the contribution the product system or service? »» How can I determine where it can be improved?

Finding Solutions »» What is the core need? »» Which service is desired?

Evaluation Sheets »» How can I show or rate this process at the end? »» Which criteria catalogue can I use to compare different approaches? 12. Jobs - Possibilities of application

New Design Concept Redesign Comparison or Evaluation of one Concept in Different Situations Taking Stock Taking Stock National Sustainability Indicators National Sustainability Indicators (optional) National Sustainability Indicators Strategy Wheel Strategy Wheel / Bar Strategy Wheel / Bar Hot Spot Analysis (optional) Finding Solutions Hot Spot Analysis Evaluation Sheets Evaluation Sheets Finding Solutions Strategy Wheel Strategy Wheel Evaluation Sheets Hot Spot Analysis Strategy Wheel

New Product / Service Hot Spot Analysis Evaluation of one Concept Taking Stock National Sustainability Indicators (optional) National Sustainability Indicators Comparison of two Existing Concepts Strategy Wheel (optional) Strategy Wheel / Bar National Sustainability Indicators (optional) Evaluation Sheets Hot Spot Analysis Strategy Wheel (optional) Strategy Wheel (optional) Finding Solutions Hot Spot Analysis (optional)

Evaluation Sheets Evaluation Sheets

Strategy Wheel

Hot Spot Analysis

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13.1 Taking Stock design process as a whole, flows into the that has to be addressed. Only if you know individual, social, economic, political, and what (target state) you wish to achieve and cultural aspects of production and recep- where you have come from (current state) Introduction tion (Wagner, 2008). can you really think about how to achieve Before designing a product or service, it is To design a product or service which it (service). important to first consider the following stands up to such a wide design process questions: What is the product or service? concept, it is important for the designer How to use it What makes it special? In which context to be able to break down the process into Either alone or as a part of a group, try to will it be placed? Lucius Burckhardt’s in- the most important elements. The works of break down your design task into its prin- terpretation of Pattern Language (Alexan- Siegfried Maser, who “described the most cipal elements. Follow the four steps (de- der, 1977) in his book Design ist Unsichtbar elementary form of the design process” scribed in detail below) and first describe (Design is invisible) is of particular inter- (Bürdek, 2005), are helpful here. The basis the current situation. Then think about the est when it comes to considering these is formed by the change in real states. With target situation you want to achieve. In the points. He proposes a new classification help from the terminology of cybernetics it third step you will present the differences of the world into different types of objects. can be described as follows: in detail in order to then summarise your Rather than the conventional distribution findings. of the world of objects (house, kiosk, street, 1. Current states (ontic) are (linguistically) traffic light, bus, etc.), the integrated unit descriptive, as precise as possible, and References (such as the street corner as part of the ur- can be fully understood. Alexander, C. et al. (1977): A Pattern Language. Towns, ban system) should be used. The kiosk lives Buildings, Construction. from the bus running late, which gives the 2. A target state should be determined us- Bürdek, B.E. (2005): Geschichte, Theorie und Praxis der passenger has time to buy a newspaper, for ing this knowledge, as well as at least Produktgestaltung. example (Burckhardt, 1995). Whereas until a plan describing how the current state Burckhardt, L. (1995): Design ist unsichtbar. now the context of a design has been seen can be changed into the target state. Maser, S. (1972): Einige Bemerkungen zum Problem einer as a restriction, the context is now incorpo- Theorie des Designs (Manuskript). rated into the design process. The system 3. Effective change in reality due to the Norman, D.A.; Verganti, R. (2012): Incremental and radical limits can be questioned and moved. plan. (adapted from Maser, 1972) innovation: Design research versus technology and It is also important to consider that a meaning change. In: Design Issues. product or service not only has a functional When to use it Wagner, T. (2008): Ästhetik. In: Board of International Re- dimension, but also an aesthetic dimen- At the beginning of the design process in search in Design (2008): Wörterbuch Design, Begriff- sion. This dimension, when examining the order to understand the central problem liche Perspektiven des Design. Taking stock of your mission Summary Current State – Target State Finally, try to summarise these answers Now that we know there are many different in a single sentence. This is the starting c. Where does change take place? ways to view systems, it is now time to take point for your service definition. It will al- All of the users have to make a change in their the first steps towards describing the situ- low uncommon approaches, and here you consumption behaviour and stop thinking ation (the system and the most important will need a clear idea of what you wish to “I will get a new one after two years, so who aspects involved) to be changed. In order to achieve. cares?” They should learn to appreciate their capture all the relevant criteria later in the old products again. design process, every aspect needs to be When does change happen? described as precisely as possible. The ob- Change happens as soon as the consumer jective is precisely and thoroughly described 1 Mindmap starts acting differently and as soon as the in a second step. The basis for the following provider starts offering different solutions. design process is created with these descrip- a. Current state The question is how to start the process. tions of the situation. It helps to hang these These days I talk a lot on my mobile phone, seeing Who is involved? as how my contract is not at all that bad. It’s easier “principles” that show where you are coming Every consumer as well as every provider and for me to write a text message, though, and I do that from and where you are going somewhere producer. Even politicians play a part thanks a lot as well. Since my contract allows me to have a where you can see them. This way, you can to their role in defining the rules for designing new free phone every two years, I just take it. I know see if you are on the right track and whether products. that it’s not really free and that I’m somehow pay- Why do you have to invent something? or not you following the set goals. ing for it monthly. But to be honest, I’m just too lazy Modern lifestyles mean we are all “online to change my cell phone provider. I already have a Change of Reality lot of phones lying around in a drawer at home. I’m 24/7” so that we can stay in touch with our In order to come up with answers for how to afraid there might be sensitive data hidden away surroundings. It’s certainly a question of life- get from the beginning situation to the tar- on them, so I don’t want to throw them away – al- style, but it is also a social demand. get situation, it helps to show con­nections though I recently did get rid of the oldest one. between the two positions. A change can be triggered through targeted questioning: b. Target state d. Summary asking how, why and when, for example. I want to be able to communicate on the road in a I want to have a sustainable means of commu- Try to formulate different questions that sustainable manner, concentrate on my ten most nicating within a communication infrastruc- arise from your described situations. The important contacts, and have the time to deepen the ture according to my needs in both an analog as answers indicate the starting point for the relationships. well as in a digital manner. development of a solution.

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13.2 National generational justice or quality of life by References Sustainability Indicators employing well-developed ecological in- Overviews dicators. This lends the German strategy a http://www.iisd.org/measure/gov/sd_strategies/ generally ecological focus. The figures can national.asp Introduction help you decide which indicators to take http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_ni/ni_index.shtml This worksheet is based on the intro­ductory into account during the design process. http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org chapter which discussed the connections http://www.ssfindex.com/ between dematerialisation, the “Factor When to use it 10” concept, its strategies, and associated If you are confused by the concept of sus- Direct links to sustainability indicators indicators. Please refer to the introduc- tainability, this worksheet can provide you Australia: http://www.environment.gov.au/about/­ tory chapter for background information. with insight and rough overview of the international/wssd/publications/assessment/over- The following paragraph will provide you main indicators for sustainable develop- view.htmwl with a detailed summary of sustainability ment as well as the respective strategies. Brazil: http://www.iisd.org/ measure/capacity/sdsip.asp strate­gies and indicators which may be of If you are not sure which sustainability at- Canada: http://www.ec.gc.ca/dd-sd/default. help during the design process. tributes to include in your concept, you can asp?lang=en&n=917F8B09-1 According to the “Factor 10” concept, use this worksheet to get your bearings, China: http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/ the strategies of well-developed countries approach the concept of sustainability, and t20070205_115702.htm such as Canada and Germany are more fo- select indicators which can form the basis Finland: http://www.ymparisto.fi/default. cused on ecological aspects, whereas less of your concept. asp?node=15131&lan=en developed countries (in material terms) France: http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/ place their focus on social and economical How to use it pdf/RevueCGDD_idd_1_.pdf development. The Indian and Tanzanian You can orientate yourself towards the in- Germany: http://www.nachhaltigkeit.info/ indicators focus in particular attaining a dicators of the country for which you will artikel/­statistisches_bundesamt_nachhaltige_ minimum standard of living for the major- design your concept. Sustainability is an entwicklung_i_1439.htm ity of their citizens. When discussing na- all-encompassing idea that may include India: http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2004/measure_sdsip_india.pdf tional indicators in general terms, it does indicators from other areas (ecological or Japan: http://www.environment-health.asia/userfiles/file/ not make much sense to categorise certain socio-economic indicators, for example) Basic%20Environment%20Plan_Japan.pdf national strategies into the typical poles of which you might also consider. New Zealand: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainabil- ecological and socio-economic clusters. For ity/programme.html example, the German strategy attempts to divide its indicators into aspects of inter- Tanzania: http://www.helio-international.org/uploads/ Example are not comfortable with listing your own Tanzania-EN.pdf Defining your Sustainability Indicators ideas or you cannot think of any further USA: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-of- Sustainability Indicators - Mindmap sustainability aspects, you can jump to the fice/2010/09/22/fact-sheet-us-global-development-­ What does sustainability mean to you? next steps that will guide you towards a set policy Which aspects of sustainability do you find of indicators you can use. important? Record your thoughts using a mind map and cluster your ideas. If you 2a Mindmap

factor 10 local recreation areas upgrade reuse eco disassembly organic food for all factor 5 construction recycling waste = food

work & life balance consumption patterns cradle to cradle SUSTAINABILITY rebound local food user integration change habbits public transportation bionic reduce sharing is caring less traffic material non toxic long lasting transportation cradle to cradle car sharing jobs closer by

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2b Research, 2c Analysis National Sustainability Indicators - National Indicators - Selection Research Using the analysis, select and define­several Taking into account the notion of equitable indicators that are relevant for the design GERMANY distribution of environmental space, it is of your concept. List the indicators that are SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS important to consider the specific national most important to you. Think about, define, environmental requirements. Where do and record your goal/goals in the imple- you plan to implement your concept? Is it mentation of your concept. Most impor- an industrialised or developing nation? Is it tantly, does your concept provide a service quality of life in need of economic or ecological progress? that fosters individual and social quality Look at the overviews in the graphics and of life for present and future generations research the specific sustainability indica- without moving beyond the envisaged en- strengthen civil society tors used in the country where you plan to vironmental space (refer to introduction for implement your concept. A good starting explanation)? climate and energy point for research are the UN, DSD, and IISD websites (see links on page 1). Sustainability Indicators - social cohesion National Indicators National Sustainability Indicators - Once you have completed the first step, Analysis compare your results from step 1 with the Write down the indicators that are impor- analysis from steps 2 and 3. In which re- international responsibility tant for this country. It may be helpful to spects do they overlap? Are there any indi- carry out the steps using some form of mind cators from step 2 and 3 which you would renewables map. Analyse these indicators. Describe now include in your personal set of indica- food for the world the main aspects of each indicator. What is tors from step 1? used to measure the indicator? What is the intergenerational equity ultimate goal of your country? Is it striving for economic progress or ecological health? Which steps need to be taken to reach the goal described by the indicators? 2c Analysis / 2d Selection / 2e Combination

public transportation jobs closer by car sharing waste = food mobility less traffic local recreation areas local food factor 10 organic food for all air pollution health & nutrition recreation areas water-saving work & life balance

climate and energy quality of life

level of education employment rate

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

integration social cohesion

open-ended contracts employment rate education for everybody services integration car sharing sharing is caring international responsibility neighbourhood generations learn communities from each other

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13.3 Strategy Wheel / teria catalogue with which the different process in companies, which also makes it Strategy Bar socio-economic and ecological conditions a good tool to present to stakeholders. It in the target area can be rated, taking into helps when the “National Sustainability In- account the preset goals and the inferred dicators” tool has already been used, as this Introduction indicators for the project. This is a common will allow the important indicators to be The EcoDesign Strategy Wheel (also known as Lifecycle Design Strategies – LiDS) and the Strategy Bar show whether the goals 3a Example Strategy Wheel (described by the chosen indicator set) are addressed during the design process which is intended to focus on these indi- cators. They show both the improvements and downturns respective to the spe- cific indicator set chosen by the designer (Brezet; van Hemel, 1997). It is also used to describe and communicate design de- cisions. It is a goal-oriented tool used to steer the develop­ment process of products and services. It can be considered as a tool ready for use at every stage of the design process. It shows the designer and other stake­holders which effects can or cannot be achieved. The strategies shown here are mainly used during the product life- cycle. Nevertheless, you can also use the tool for more focused areas (such as the consumption phase, for example) or divide the whole lifecycle into separate steps and examine each indi­vidually. The goal of this Strategy Wheel/Strat- egy Bar is to create an indicator set or cri- sorted into a set. This makes it possible to In order to be able to compare the start- When to use it measure and visualise how well the project ing situation and the finished project, the After you have worked with the indicators is tailored to the context and requirements, starting situation and goal are rated ­using at the beginning of a project. This tool thus creating the highest acceptance rate the same indicator set and/or criteria cat- helps to structure the subsequent work possible. alogue. process. If you are not yet sure what the requirements for your project are, this tool helps to create a context and define the 3b Example Strategy Bar framework around which the project will be developed.

How to use it By creating an indicator set against which the project can be measured, you can create a guideline which can then be used to see if the concept matches the sustainability needs of the target environment through- out the development process. The indica- tor set is used to evaluate the concept on an ongoing basis and to maintain focus on the goals. In this manner, decisions can be made or revised. Two presentation methods are shown here: the Strategy Wheel and the Strategy Bar. Use the tool that you find more appro- priate and with which you can better show your indicators.

References Brezet, H. and van Hemel, C. (1997): EcoDesign: A Prom- ising Approach to Sustainable Production and Con- sumption. France: UNEP.

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13.4 Hot Spot Analysis cradle/grave”. In a sense, the ecological increased fertiliser use, loss of biodiver- backpack parallels the monetary price of sity and loss of unique landscapes. (http:// Identifying Points for Improvement: products in physical terms. It is an impor- www.fao.org/nr/land/degradation/en/) This section will show you how to identify tant measure for comparing functionally Every day, biodiversity is lost at up to 1,000 Hot Spots within an existing product chain equivalent goods from competitors at the times the natural rate. The abundance of or service system. A “Hot Spot” is an envi- point of sale (e.g. tools or cars). species has declined by 40% between 1970 ronmental, economic, or social aspect in a (http://www.wupperinst.org/uploads/tx_wibeitrag/ and 2000. Species living in and around riv- specific lifecycle phase that assumes high ws41.pdf) ers, lakes, and marshlands have declined relevance in the context of the entire chain. by 50%. Since 2000, 6 million hectares of The steps below will guide you to a better Water Use primary forest have been lost each year. understanding of where products and ser- The amount of water used, including water (http://www.iucnredlist.org) vices can be improved. used for the related phase and the entire Before following the practical steps, it is life cycle. Energy Efficiency / CO2 Emissions important to understand what the environ- The energy used along the life cycle of the mental, social, or economic aspects identi- Example product and green house gas emissions fied by Hot Spots entail: While the world’s population tripled in the during the whole process. 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Yet more Example Environmental Aspects/ than one in six people lack access to safe Warming of the climate system in une- Ecological Backpacks drinking water. quivocal and can now be firmly attributed Resource Efficiency (http://www.worldwatercouncil.org) to human activity. The century-long linear All the raw materials (abiotic and biotic) warming trend (1906–2005) was 0.740°C used during the different phases of the Land Use with most of the warming occurring in the whole lifecycle (resource extraction, pro- The area of land used. This aspect also in- past 50 years. The warming for the next 20 duction, use, disposal/recycling) cludes the biodiversity loss and soil degra- years is projected to be about 0.20°C per dation that can lead to desertification. decade. Example (http://unfccc.int) The ecological backpack denotes the invis- Example ible material burden (the “subsidy by na- Land degradation costs an estimated US Continued increases in greenhouse gas ture”), or the total input of natural resourc- $40 billion annually worldwide, without emissions and associated global warming es required by any product “from cradle to taking into account the hidden costs of could well cause a rise in the sea level of between 1m and 3m this century. Hundreds Example Hot Spot Analysis involves extensive fact of millions of people are likely to be dis- In California, some rubber ducks are sold finding, calculations, and is more complex placed by a rise in sea levels. with the disclaimer: “This product contains overall. It is often used by different com- (http://www.wds.worldbank.org/servlet/­ chemicals known by the State of California panies (e.g. Liedtke et al., 2010; ProPlanet). WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/02/09/0000164 to cause cancer or birth defects”, to warn For the design process, it is enough to use 06_20070209161430/Rendered/PDF/wps4136.pdf) consumers of the risks associated with its a simplified­version to obtain an idea of the use. crucial aspects. Social Aspects (http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/william_mcdon- Consumer Satisfaction ough_on_cradle_to_cradle_design.html) How to use it Degree of satisfaction felt by users and The complete Hot Spot Analysis procedure consumers (estimation, survey, user-inte- Economic Aspects is comprised of three different steps: two grated evaluation) Cost Efficiency different ratings, a multiplication, and a The cost for the user and the producer summary. Health should be economically optimal and offer 1. Look at the lifecycle phases and gauge Health standards of a given product, prod- the best possible price-quality ratio. these against one another. uct safety, information and transparency 2. Rate in the first instance the lifecycle regarding health issues (allergens, nutri- Cost of Research and Development phases referring to the different as- tional values) The price paid for the R&D process must be pects of sustainability (as mentioned reasonable and suitable. Consider the nec- above). In the second instance multiply Example essary steps for the manufacturer’s devel- the latter rating with the rating above. In 2004 the FDA and EDA issued a warn- opment and marketing processes. 3. Note the highest scores – known as Hot ing about mercury levels in fish. This heavy Spots – showing the lifecycle phase metal causes neurological and heart prob- Cost of Diffusion and the Sustainability Aspect. lems. It accumulates in the food chain and This aspect considers the necessary steps is often found in older and larger fish. for the implementation of the product or The grading scale (http://www.eufic.org/) service in the market. 1 stands for low relative significance, 2 for medium relative significance and Safety When to use it 3 for high relative significance. Warnings if some type of use is restricted A simplified Hot Spot Analysis will help If you cannot rely on sources, the rat- or hazardous, declaration of control mech- you identify the aspects of the product or ings should be estimated as accurately as anisms for health and safety. service that most need improving. A full ­possible.

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Rating a Material Product. 4a Example Rating a Material Product Getting Started

Rating the Phases - Product

T I N G First, you have to grade each lifecycle A R phase to reflect the contribution to the 33 1 = Local 2 = National

overall environmental impact of the A smartphone con-A RATING 3 3 = Global Packaging Energy Retail product lifecycle. Compare the phases sists of up to 60 Storage Logistics Advertising Water T I N G different materials. A with one another (if possible, get some R

information from the producer or scien- INPUT 3 transport B tists.). This way, you are taking the whole It‘s very wasteful to produce chips lifecycle into account in order to get an Energy Water Metal impression of where the highest impacts Textile Raw Materials... Plastics A

are. Think of the whole supply chain of the Resource INPUT Extraction &

product. This will illustrate the vast and g Assembly n i D l is c Processing p y complex impacts of producing a product. o c s e a D & R 1 = Local l 1 = Local

/ Distribution 2 = National transport e transport 2 = National By taking into account when the resource s RATING RATING

1 3 = Global u 3 3 = Global e input is used, you will get an impression of R End of Life B T I N G A R Usage & each phase’s emphasis. Do not forget the Replacement Parts Maintenance 1 Energy Detergents Water “invisible things” such as transport within D C Storage It‘s not easy to Replenishment

the whole lifecycle. Rate it separately and T I N G recycle this material mix A take it into account once you make the fi- R 2 nal evaluation. Electricity is C If possible discuss it with experts or needed, depending on do your own research. Estimate the grade INPUT transport the usage intensity

for each phase and rate them. Note your Disassembly Energy Infrastructure 1 = Local INPUT Air 2 = National

grades and write down your arguments for RATING 1 3 = Global your rating. Rating a Service. Getting Started 4b Example Rating a Service

Rating the Phases - Service If you want to analyse a service you first have to define its boundaries. Only then you can start thinking about all the real material prod- Machines Storage After-sales-services ucts that have to be considered when analys- Logistics Staff room Businesstrips BACKBONE OF THE SERVICE - ADMINISTRATIVE Working room Transport / Locations ing an immaterial service. Pre-sales services Telecommunication infrastructure Distribution / Advertising Once you have carved out the systems set- Heating Distribution Staff Call center Work clothes Office supplies Working room ting you have to take all elements into considera- Telecommunication Computers Computer Administrative effort tion and start the rating on several levels. Staff At the product level you must grade each lifecycle phase, reflecting their different contri- Telephone Leasing butions to the overall environmental impact of SERVICE DEFINITION the product chain. Compare the phases with one T I N G T I N G T I N G A A A another (If possible, get some information from R R R the producer or scientists.). In this manner you A B C are taking the whole lifecycle into account in order to get an impression of where the highest A A A impacts are. B B B D D D Think about the whole supply chain of the C C C service. This will illustrate the vast and complex impacts of producing a service. Asking questions mobile phones network infrastructure take-back about the origin and delivery of the material in- device handling distribution disposal puts for the service will prepare you for improv- ing the sustainability of the design. By taking into MATERIAL GOOD GOOD #1 MATERIAL GOOD #2 MATERIAL GOOD #3 MATERIAL account when the resource input is used, you will get an impression of each phase’s emphasis. Lifetime Complexity If possible discuss it with experts or do your Emissions Intensity of use Further use own research. Estimate the grade for each phase and rate them. Note your grades and write down your arguments for your rating.

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Getting the Hot Spots 4c Example Getting the Hot Spots This worksheet will help you to identify the Hot Spots, the lifecycle phases with the highest impact in the respective columns pertaining to aspects of sustainability. Enter the rating you gave for every life- cycle phase in the first step, and then as- sign a level of importance for every aspect (environmental, social, economic). The grading scale: 1 stands for low rela- tive significance, 2 for medium relative significance, and 3 for high relative signifi- cance. If you cannot rely on sources, the ratings should be estimated as accurately as possible. Multiply these two ratings to obtain the overall rating of each aspect. The ones with the highest score are the Hot Spots of the existing product or service. The higher the rating, the higher the pri- ority of this phase. A high priority means that this phase needs to be examined and addressed. For example, a high rating for land use means that land use is of a high priority and therefore a Hot Spot. A high rating for the consumer translates to a low level of satisfaction among consumers, an- other Hot Spot. Summarizing the Hot Spots 4d Example Summarizing the Hot Spots Where are the relevant Hot Spots that need improving during your design process? Map the result in the graphic to the right. Please discuss the results from Step 1 and Step 2 at the workshop: Which Hot Spots did you identify? Insert the results in the 3 9: Environmental Aspects: Resource Efficiency following graphic. 3 9: Environmental Aspects: Water Use 9: Environmental Aspects: Resource Efficiency After you have identified the aspects in 9: Socio-Economic Aspects: Durability 9: Environmental Aspects: Water Use need of drastic improvement, the next step 9: Socio-Economic Aspects: Repairability 9: Environmental Aspects: Land Use is to design a better product. During this process keep in mind that the optimisa- tion of one aspect can negatively influence other product characteristics. Ask yourself the following: Can the demand be satis- fied without products, without the existing number of products, or without additional products? Can a service concept fulfil the demand? Think of a service concept using as little material as possible throughout its entire lifecycle. If service concepts are not 1 possible, search for new solutions such as products or infrastructures. The solution 2 6: Environmental Aspects: Resource Efficiency you design should be the least possible 6: Socio-Economic Aspects: Product Safety materially intensive option. 6: Socio-Economic Aspects: Human Rights

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References and Literature Safety Further Information about Hot Spot Analysis / Examples http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/william_­ Liedtke, C. et al. (2010): “Resource intensity in global mcdonough_on_cradle_to_cradle_design.html food chains: the Hot Spot Analysis.” In: British Food US Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www. Journal. cpsc.gov/

Links http://www.proplanet-label.com/de/pro-planet Resource Efficiency http://wupperinst.org/uploads/tx_wibeitrag/ws41.pdf Water Use http://www.worldwatercouncil.org Land use http://www.fao.org/mr/land/degredation/en/ http://unccd.int http://www.isric.org/UK/About+ISRIC/Projects/ Track+Record/Glasod.htm http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/ current/lectures/land_deg/land_deg.html http://www.luckredlist.org Energy efficiency /CO2 emissions http://econ.worldbank.org; Dangupta et al. (2009): The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper no. WPS4136 Health Redman, N. (2007): Food Safety: A Reference Handbook. California. http://www.utopia.de/produktcheck European Food Information Council: http://www.eufic.org 13.5 Finding Solutions 5 Example Finding Solutions Summary

Short description Searching for possible product-service so- (5–10 sentences or keywords) lutions and selecting options by scrutiniz- ing sustainability aspects. SOLUTION A SOLUTION B SOLUTION C Design new solutions for a product or Establishment of a Design of a smartphone Change in the social service! smartphone-sharing ser- without using harmful structures resulting in Techniques such as brainstorming, mor- vice system. This system substances. Due to a tech- less talking on the phone. phological analysis, or analogies may be will allow anyone to lease nological breakthrough A slow down of today’s helpful at this stage. Select the most prom- a suitable smartphone it is now possible to have lifestyle and a change ising of the solutions from a sustainability with full support including a device that helps me to in everyday ways of life point of view (resource efficiency). maintenance and repair. communicate without will help get by without a Fill out the table and describe your solu- A leasing concept ensu- using either “bad energy” smartphone – and without tions and their advantages. res there will not be any or “bad materials”. missing anything. leftover, old-fashioned It might be unbelievable phones. The used phones from today’s point of are designed to be very view, but it is worth a try, long-lasting, and their isn’t it!? aesthetic is timeless.

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13.6 Evaluation Sheets lution and your product or service is more eco-efficient. If the sum is negative, you can look back over the worksheet to find General Information the reasons. Feel free to evaluate the ex- Evaluating Solutions: These sheets can be isting solution and try to find out whether used as many times as you see fit. your solutions really are an improvement. Assess your solution with the detailed Estimate a sustainability score for the environmental criteria below using the fol- aspects based on your own estimates. This lowing scores: helps illustrate your level of knowledge and what you think of the product or ser- (+3) (+2) (+1) (-1) (-2) (-3) vice. This promotes awareness of what and how you already automatically evaluate completely met not met at all and make unconscious decisions conscious. It also shows you what you have not yet If a certain criteria is not relevant for any par- thought about and do not yet know how ticular aspect of the solution, please mark to evaluate. Highlight these scores, note the field with “n/a”, meaning “not applicable”. your questions, and organise other possi- If there are a great many “n/a” fields for a ble aspects that are important for the sus- certain product, this does not mean the so- tainability score. With these results you are lution is not worth realising. Please keep in ready to discuss questions and estimations mind that some solutions are visionary and with your teachers and relevant experts. cannot be scrutinised in as detailed a fashion When on the job and working on pro- as “mature solutions” over the shorter term. jects with companies, evaluation results Add up the total scores in each phase can help pinpoint where expert help is per solution by adding together the plusses needed. You can then consult with these and minuses (for example, +3 and -2 makes experts and use them as an option in cal- +1). Doing so you will get an estimate per culating of your proposal. solution for each phase, which then makes it possible to compare the solutions with each other. If your total score is positive, it means that you have found a better so-

6 Example Evaluation Sheets

PRODUCTION PHASE

Solution A Solution B Solution C

Low material or energy input +3 -2 +2

Low waste intensity -1 +1 0

Low scrap rate n/a 0 +2 USE OR CONSUMPTION PHASE Low material diversity +2 +1 -1 +3 0 Low transport intensity +1 Solution A Solution B Solution C Low material or energy input Low packaging intensity 0 -2 -1 -2 -1 +2 Minimised size & weight / easy storage Minimised appropriation of land area +2 -1 n/a +3 -2 -1 Low cleaning effort Minimised use of harmful substances +1 +1 +2 +2 +1 +3 High functionality / variability +1 0 -2 TOTAL PHASE SCORE +8 +1 +4 DISPOSAL PHASE High opportunity for repeated use 0 +1 -1 Not applicable Solution A Solution B Solution C High opportunity for joint use n/a +2 -1 High compostability or fermentability +3 +3 +1 Low waste intensity +2 0 +2 Positive combustion characteristics -1 +2 -3 Minimised use of harmful substances -1 +3 +3 Low environmental consequences -2 +1 n/a Non-fashion-oriented design of land filling +3 +2 -1 High value estimation +2 -2 0 TOTAL PHASE SCORE 0 +6 -2 ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS Not applicable Low maintenance effort 0 -1 -1

Easy repairability -2 -3 +1

High reliability 0 +2 +1

RECYCLINGPHASE Modular construction & high degree of standardisation +2 +1 +3 Solution A Solution B Solution C Easy disassembly or seperability, Upgradability +3 -1 -2 possibility of collecting & sorting +1 +3 -2 TOTAL PHASE SCORE +13 +2 +6 Low cleaning effort +2 -1 +3 Not applicable Clear material labeling 0 +1 +1

High possibility of disposal +2 -1 -3 FINAL TOTAL SCORE Continued use, re-use +2 n/a +2 for different solutions Solution A Solution B Solution C Recycling of component parts, -1 0 +1 Production Phase secondary utilisation of materials +8 +1 +4 Use or Consumption Phase Low material or energy input 0 +3 +2 +13 +2 +6 Recycling Phase +6 +5 +4 TOTAL PHASE SCORE +6 +5 +4 Disposal Phase 0 +6 -2 Not applicable TOTAL SCORE +27 +14 +12

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Decision making 7 Decision making Having scrutinised the possible solutions in terms of their detailed environmental, so- cial, and economic aspects, it is now time to choose which solution to pursue further. This table will assist you in your decision SOLUTION A SOLUTION B SOLUTION C making. Fill in the main benefits of each to Developing a smart- Designing a smart-phone Slowing down of now- gain an overview. Here it is necessary to Short description phone-sharing system. without using harmful adays lifestyles in order to check back to the detailed tables for the substances. not using the smartphone. strengths of each solution. Under addition- reduction of material fewer health risk for wor- improve the quality of life al benefit(s), brainstorm other advantages consumption kers producing the pone through more conscious of the solution you think are important. In- smartphones used more and also for users living Main benefit(s) dicate your preference in the last row: this frequently reduced environmental reduction of nervous ten- is the product-service solution to design! fostening social inter- impact sion and deseases caused action by stress facilication of recycling, reduction of material reuse consumption alternative materials can Additional benefit(s) also be used for designing other electronic items

Total score + 27 + 14 + 12

Best solution because it´s Not applicable a combination of reduced Best possible solution resource use and encoura- (tick and briefly explain your choice) ging social interaction. 14. Glossary tic to change things, communicative, con- processes, systems, services, and proce- fident of their own capability to act, and dures that can satisfy human needs and Abiotic materials are all materials taken have considerable specialist knowledge bring quality of life to all people with a directly and unprocessed from nature and and processes expertise (Kristof, 2010). life-cycle-wide minimal use of natural re- are not renewable in hundreds of years, sources (material including energy carriers, e.g. ores in a mine, “unused extraction of Cycles: A series of natural, but also techni- and surface area) per unit output, and a raw materials”, excavation of earth and cal substance flows can occur in cycles. A minimal release of toxic substances. (Reid, sediment etc. typical example is the natural water cycle. Miedzinski, 2008).

Air is accounted for in the MIPS concept, as Dematerialization is the radical reduction Ecological backpack (Ecological rucksack) long as it is changed chemically or physi- of natural material resources for satisfying denotes the invisible material burden (the cally (aggregate state). Most of the air con- human needs by technical means. Neither “subsidy by nature”), or the total input of sumption calculated in the MIPS concept is environmental nor economic sustainability natural resources required by any product oxygen used in combustion processes. can be attained without dematerialization. “from the cradle to the point of sale”. In a sense, the eco-logical rucksack parallels Biotic materials are all organic materials Earth movement encompasses all move- the monetary price of products in physical taken directly from nature, before process- ments of earth in agriculture and forestry, terms. It is an important measure for com- ing, (e.g. trees, fish, fruits, cotton). all ploughed land and erosion. paring functionally equivalent goods from different competitors at the point of sale Change agents are competent actors Eco-efficiency means the delivery of com- (e.g. tools or cars). working as a kind of (internal or external) petitively priced goods and services which consultant i.e. in change or innovation satisfy human needs and produce quality Ecosphere is the natural environment of ­processes in a company and can facili- of life while progressively reducing eco- human beings. tate diffusion. They support and promote logical impacts and resource intensity, change processes by developing a bearing through the life cycle, to a level at least in Efficiency: The effectiveness, with which idea and suggestions for solution. They can line with the earth‘s estimated carrying ca- means are introduced into an existing successfully integrate other relevant ac- pacity (Frank Bosshardt, Business Council process in order to attain a defined output tors and professionally design change pro- for Sustainable Development, 1991). (see, in contrast: productivity). cesses, while adequately taking aspects of timing into account. To do so, they should Eco-innovation means the creation of Emissions are material contaminations be able to develop a vision, be enthusias- novel and competitively priced goods, of the air, noises, vibrations, light, heat,

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­radiation, and similar energetic or material Greenhouse effect: Sunlight falls on the that, for the moment, do not yet perform a phenomena, which come from a facility, earth’s surface, where it is transformed service, or, are not yet of use, (e.g. a car bat- a vehicle or piece of equipment. into warmth and partly reflected towards tery, in regard of a car). outer space. Some constituent parts of the Factor 10 is the strategic economic goal earth‘s atmosphere, especially water vapor Life-cycle-wide: encompasses all life phas- of generating human well-being in indus- and carbon dioxide, are involved in the pro- es, i.e. from the extraction of raw ­materials, trialized countries with (on average) ten cess of capturing part of this warmth. If this through the production and use, applica- times less natural material resources by natural greenhouse effect did not exist, the tion, to the recycling and disposal of a the ­middle of the 21st century than was earth‘s average temperature would not be product. the case at the turn of the century. fifteen degrees Centigrade, but as cold as minus eighteen or nineteen degrees Cen- Material Input (MI) encompasses all materi- Factor 4 is the global goal of achieving tigrade. Mankind is currently changing the al inputs, which are necessary for the man- a fourfold increase in global resource relative amounts of important greenhouse ufacture of goods or for the provision of a ­efficiency by the middle of the 21st cen- gases in the atmosphere. As a result, the service, expressed in mass units (kg or t). tury by halfing resource use and doubling man-made greenhouse effect is added to welfare. This requires at least Factor 10 in the natural greenhouse effect, changing Material Intensity (MIT) is the material in- the industrialized countries. Factor 4 can the earth‘s climate. put in relation to a unit of measurement. MI also be seen as an interim step on the way factors are used to express material intensi- to Factor 10. Industrial products are machine-pro­cessed ty of production inputs (materials or energy),­ foods, medicines, infrastructures, ­machines, expressed in mass unit of re­sources per unit Factor X and Factor Y are variations on equipment, tools, instru­ments, vehicles, of input (e.g. kg / kg or kg / kWh). ­Factor 10, with the purpose of indicating and buildings produced with technical the unavoidable uncertainty in individual means in the technosphere. MI factors are called the material intensity cases regarding how far dematerialization values for the single/individual materials or can and must go. Input includes everything that is employed modules, expressed in mass unit of resourc- in a process. In the MIPS concept, the inputs es per unit of input (e.g. kg / kg or kg / kWh). Goods are machines, products, equipment, are materials (including energy), measured objects, means of transport, buildings, in- in kg or tonnes. MIPS is the abbreviation for Material Input frastructures (including works of art and Per Service unit. It is the life-cycle-wide musical instruments). Intermediary products are products that input of natural resources (MI) which is are manufactured in the process chain, but required to fulfill a human desire or need (S) by technical means. The material input Productivity: yield of production of goods Serviceable products are goods that were is expressed in mass units, the unit of the or services. While efficiency describes the produced for use or consumption and that services depends on the case. MIPS = MI / S effectiveness of the use of the available can provide utility by being used (for exam- means, productivity measures the result, ple, robots, sundials, automobiles, mouse- Output encompasses everything that re- in other words, the yield of products and traps, spoons, oil paintings). There are also sults from a process, a procedure or a be- services, regardless of which means were non-serviceable goods, such as bars of gold havior. Output need not be material, en- employed to obtain the result. or aluminum profiles. joyment and pleasure can also be outputs. Emissions and waste are also called unde- Rebound Effect: The rebound effect is the Sustainability has several fundamental di- sired outputs. ‘increased demand due to an improvement mensions: economic, social, ecologic, and in productivity’. This increased demand is institutional. The ecological dimension de- Process is the procedure (machine, method, an unwanted side effect, which is contrary termines the corridors for economic and so- use), during which the inputs are convert- to the goal of saving energy. cial developments because the availability ed into outputs, by means of an action. By of natural resources is limited and the vital which, at least one intended output is pro- Resource productivity is the amount of services of the ecosphere can be diminished duced, (e.g. shaped metal sheet, a chemical goods and services which can be produced or annihilated, but not replaced, by human or the transport of goods). per unit of input of resources (materials, activity. Sustainability is the capacity of water, surface area, energy). The reciprocal the economic system to provide prosperity Process chain is the representation of the of MIPS (service per material input = S / MI) for all and, at the same time, to secure the process system, with the individual pro- is a measure for resource productivity. natural, social, and economic foundations cesses and their links. that this capacity depends on for the fu- Service (technically provided service) is the ture. Achieving sustainability necessitates Production intensive are products, whose purpose-oriented fulfillment of a need by overcoming current challenges today and manufacture causes greater resource con- technical means. All man-made services not shifting the burden to the shoulders of sumption than their use. require the use of technical infrastruc- future generations. tures, equipment, vehicles, and buildings. Production technologies are machinery, Services can be rendered by humans or by Sustainable economic activity is service- plants and tools etc., which are necessary machines. From the end consumers‘ point oriented and knowledge-intensive. It can for the execution of a process, but are not of view, a provided service is the ability of be approximated but not necessarily fully used in the process, itself. goods to satisfy needs or provide utility. reached. It creates prosperity comparable to the level attained in industrialized coun-

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tries at the beginning of the twenty-first this report, the WBGU uses these terms pri­ century with extremely little use of natural marily in the sense they are used in socio­ resources (material, water, space). Demate- scientific transition research focusing on rialization is a necessary, but not sufficient the analysis of politi­cal system changes. As condition for approaching sustainability. transition research is a branch of compara- tive politics studies, it usually refers to the Technosphere: the part of the ecosphere, transition from authoritarian regimes to de- which is directly affected by mankind. mocracies. The term transition is here often used synonymously with the term transfor- Total Material Flow (TMF): see Total Mate- mation, amongst others. The far ­reaching rial Requirement (TMR). processes of social, economic, cultural and political change are always the research Total Material Requirement (TMR) is the subject (WBGU, 2011). sum of the abiotic and biotic raw materials and of erosion used for a certain purpose. References An an economy level, it is a robust eco- German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) nomic indicator to measure the annual to- (2011): World in Transition. A Social Contract for Sus- tal amount of natural materials – including tainability. Flagship Report. Berlin. rucksacks – which are processed through Kristof, K. (2010): Models of Change. Einführung und Ver- an economic area by technical means. The breitung sozialer Innovationen und gesellschaftlich- term TMR is also used on the product level er Veränderungen in transdisziplinärer Perspektive. when the abiotic and biotic material input Vdf Hochschulverlag. and the erosion are summed up to one Lettenmeier, M., et al. (2009): Resource productivity in 7 value. steps. Wuppertal Institute, Wuppertal Spezial.

Transition (Transformation): These terms refer to the form and progression of a transition or a change; however, they are viewed and defined differently in different scientific disciplines (including genetics, mathematics, linguistics, technol­ogy). In 15. Master Copies 1 Mindmap

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2a Mindmap factor 10 local recreation areas upgrade reuse eco disassembly organic food for all factor 5 construction recycling waste = food

work & life balance consumption patterns cradle to cradle SUSTAINABILITY rebound local food user integration change habbits public transportation bionic reduce sharing is caring less traffic material non toxic long lasting transportation cradle to cradle car sharing jobs closer by 2c Analysis / 2d Selection / 2e Combination public transportation jobs closer by car sharing waste = food mobility less traffic local recreation areas local food factor 10 organic food for all air pollution health & nutrition recreation areas water-saving work & life balance

climate and energy quality of life

level of education employment rate

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

integration social cohesion

open-ended contracts employment rate education for everybody services integration car sharing sharing is caring international responsibility neighbourhood generations learn communities from each other

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3a Example Strategy Wheel

water use energy efficiency resource efficiency land use

ECOLOGICAL LEVEL OF FULFILMENT 6 5 4 3 2 1 SOCIO - ECONOMIC

safety cost for diffusion cost for R&D health customer satisfaction 3b Example Strategy Bar

LEVEL OF FULFILMENT ECOLOGICAL SOCIO - ECONOMIC 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1

customer satisfaction cost for diffusion water use energy efficiency cost for R&D resource efficiency land use safety health

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4a Example Rating a Material Product

T I N G A R

1 = Local 2 = National

A RATING 3 = Global Packaging Energy Retail Storage Logistics Advertising Water T I N G A R INPUT transport B

Energy Water Metal Textile Raw Materials... Plastics A

Resource INPUT Extraction &

g Assembly n i D l is c Processing p y o c

s e a D & R 1 = Local l 1 = Local

/ Distribution

2 = National transport e transport 2 = National s RATING RATING

3 = Global u 3 = Global e

R End of Life B T I N G A R Usage & Replacement Parts Maintenance Energy Detergents Water D C Storage Replenishment

T I N G A R C

INPUT transport

Disassembly

Energy Infrastructure 1 = Local INPUT Air 2 = National

RATING 3 = Global 4b Example Rating a Service

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4c Example Getting the Hot Spots 4d Example Summarizing the Hot Spots

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5 Example Finding Solutions Summary

Short description (5-10 sentences or keywords)

SOLUTION A SOLUTION B SOLUTION C 6a Evaluation Sheet ecological aspects

PRODUCTION PHASE

Solution A Solution B Solution C

Low material or energy input

Low waste intensity

Low scrap rate USE OR CONSUMPTION PHASE Low material diversity

Low transport intensity Solution A Solution B Solution C Low material or energy input Low packaging intensity Minimised size & weight / easy storage Minimised appropriation of land area Low cleaning effort Minimised use of harmful substances High functionality / variability TOTAL PHASE SCORE DISPOSAL PHASE High opportunity for repeated use Not applicable Solution A Solution B Solution C High opportunity for joint use High compostability or fermentability Low waste intensity Positive combustion characteristics Minimised use of harmful substances Low environmental consequences Non-fashion-oriented design of land filling

TOTAL PHASE SCORE ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS High value estimation Not applicable Low maintenance effort

Easy repairability

High reliability

RECYCLINGPHASE Modular construction & high degree of standardisation Solution A Solution B Solution C Easy disassembly or seperability, Upgradability possibility of collecting & sorting TOTAL PHASE SCORE Low cleaning effort Not applicable Clear material labeling

High possibility of disposal FINAL TOTAL SCORE Continued use, re-use for different solutions Solution A Solution B Solution C Recycling of component parts, Production Phase secondary utilisation of materials Use or Consumption Phase Low material or energy input Recycling Phase TOTAL PHASE SCORE Disposal Phase Not applicable TOTAL SCORE

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6b Evaluation Sheets: Socio-Economical Aspects

LEGEND PRODUCTION PHASE

P / S Product / Service Solution A Solution B Solution C Low material or energy input how the design criteria I know that buying or using the P/S contributes to my well-being Low waste intensity will not contribute to resource depleti- on – I’ll make a friend for life. Low scrap rate

I like to foster regional cycles, Low material diversity employment, and know the story behind the P/S. Low transport intensity

Financial freedom gives me more time Low packaging intensity and flexibility. Minimised appropriation of land area

Transparency of the P/S gives Minimised use of harmful substances me a feeling of confidence and connectedness. TOTAL PHASE SCORE

Not applicable

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS RECYCLING / DISPOSAL PHASE

Solution A Solution B Solution C I feel good about the P/S being easy to Minimised use or emissions of recycle without too much harm to the harmful substances environment.

ALL PHASES It makes me happy when I can reuse Continued use, reuse incl. the P/S for other purposes instead of transport intensity Solution A Solution B Solution C discarding it. Working conditions such as: It is comforting to know that the P/S Easy dissasembly or separability Health / Safety tells me how to recycle or discard it. I feel good if I know that Training / Learning everyone involved in the Belonging It is exciting to have a P/S that Low cleaning effort supply chain of the P/S is Human rights such as: exists of parts that have their own treated properly. Dignity / Self-Esteem interesting life histories. Re-use of components Self-Actualisation Recycling of materials The P/S supports employees being treated humanely Social security such as: Low material or energy input who are able to work under Safety conditions that allow them Inclusion Secondary utilisation of materials to live a satisfying life. TOTAL PHASE SCORE TOTAL PHASE SCORE Not applicable Not applicable USE OR CONSUMPTION PHASE including RETAILER

Solution A Solution B Solution C

The P/S guarantees my acceptance to a social User Acceptance group. It represents a positive status symbol for me and helps me to develop my own lifestyle..

The P/S causes a positive social rebound effect. It helps me to become a better person in terms Training and education for positive of my consumer behaviour. It helps me to sustainable effects behave more sustainably and thus gives me a good feeling. .

The P/S makes me feel more secure as it is Minimised use or emissions of trustworthy and simple to use. Knowing that harmful substances the P/S and its components are not harmful Product safety (prevention of wrong makes me feel secure use, accidents etc, using security)

My stuff is no longer separated into pieces but Modularity instead fits smoothly together, and it’s easily kept up to date. It’s easily adaptable to my own Durability (material) lifestyle, and individualisation is easy to do. Upgradability The timeless nature and high quality of the P/S is comforting. Non-fashion oriented design

The P/S makes me feel good and is valuable to me. High value estimation

As the P/S is easy to maintain, I have more time for things that are really important to me. Low maintenance effort Easy repairability

TOTAL PHASE SCORE

Not applicable

FINAL TOTAL SCORE for different solutions

Solution A Solution B Solution C All Phases

Production Phase Use or Consumption Phase including Retailer

Recycling/Disposal Phase TOTAL SCORE

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7 Decision making

SOLUTION A SOLUTION B SOLUTION C

Short description

Main benefit(s)

Additional benefit(s)

Total score

Not applicable Best possible solution (tick and briefly explain your choice) Notes

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