Society’s sustainability challenges relatedto materials management have been an area of concern for policymakers, industry and the public for decades. However, if those challenges are managed in a strategic way, they are not only aproblem, but could also bring in new opportunity for companies and other organizations to improve their competitiveness through developingproduct-service systems that promote sustainable development of society. The overall aim of this thesis is to explore how aframework for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) can support the development and design of sustainable materials management strategies in product innovation. This is achieved by four studies investigating howsustainability considerations are, or could be, integrated in decisions regarding materials selection. The studies are informed by the FSSD, Maxwell’s model for qualitative research design and the design research methodology. The first study is a theoretical discussion which provides a base for the following three exploratory studies. The exploratory studies have, through literature reviews and semi-structured interviews, investigated general sustainabilityconsiderations in companies, made a comparison of the strategic potential of two product improvement strategies and finally studied what considerations that are in focus and what types of solutions that are revealed when companies apply a strategic sustainability perspective to materials management. The studies have shown that decisions regarding materials management often arebased on compliance with legislation and on avoiding substances with characteristics commonly considered problematic (such as toxicity, persistency, etc.), and that decision support regarding how materials could be managed in a sustainable way are lacking. However, the results also include some examples from companies that have successfully developed pro-active strategies towards sustainable materials management. They have approached this through managing materials in closedtechnical loops, enabled material substitution through value chain collaboration and reduced material flows through new and innovative design. Most importantly, they have assessedactions not only regarding their potential to reduce a selection of current socio-ecological impacts but also regarding their potential to link toforthcoming actions towards the full scope of socio-ecological sustainability. Through this approach, they have found several ways by which materials with characteristics that are commonly considered problematic can be. The results highlight the possibility of enabling sustainable materials management practices by using a strategic sustainability perspective in combination with material characteristics knowledge and that a static division of “sustainable” vs. “unsustainable” materials (e.g., through lists of forbidden and allowed materials) is not necessarily serving the purpose in the best way. More subtle considerations are needed. By not applying a strategic sustainability perspective to materials management, organizations risk using “sustainable” materials in unsustainable ways or phasing out “unsustainable” materials that, managed differently, could be helpful for sustainable development. Developing decision support for materials management that integrates this new way of thinking will be the focus of future work.

There is mounting evidence that humanity is facing challenges that call for a strategic approach towards sustainability. The urgency is acknowledged by a growing number of people, but worldwide awareness, collaboration and a shared vision is required to create a sustainable society. Education is a gateway to prepare and engage young minds to be the change that is needed to transform societal systems. Teachers therefore have a grave and important task in engaging their students in learning to make strategic contributions towards a sustainable society. This thesis explores how teachers are already successfully engaging 14-15 year old students and it delivers a model with the essential elements of engagement: Interaction and Participation, Exploration, Relevancy, Engaging and Challenging Instruction, Authentic Assessment and Reflection and Futures Thinking. At the core of this model there is Systems Thinking that feeds into all elements and Fun should inherently be part of all teaching. The model, a tool for teachers to plan their classes strategically, is presented in combination with scientifically based concepts for Strategic Sustainable Development, including backcasting. A set of questions is defined to guide teachers through the process of integrating sustainability into how they already engage their students in learning.

Currently our society is heading towards the walls of the funnel; the funnel being a metaphor that describes the growing pressures that is acting on society. In order to move society towards sustainability and away from the walls of the funnel, all areas of our society need to move in that direction. Craft breweries being a part of this society need to move, as well. This research uses the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) to assess the sustainability challenges and the positive impacts of a craft brewery, as well as viable solutions to overcome the challenges these breweries face. The data was collected through literature, sustainability reports and a survey. Our research revealed five main challenges and four main positive impacts of a craft brewery; these challenges are energy, water, agriculture, packaging and distribution, and alcohol consumption, while the positive impacts are local connection, local economy, social interaction, and cultural identity. Furthermore, a prototype of a tool was developed to help craft breweries to become more sustainable and could help to move society, as a whole, towards sustainability.

The neighbourhood reconstruction involves three key stakeholders—municipality, builders and residents. There are some conflicts among them due to their different standpoints, and the reasons of most conflicts relate to human needs of residents when they are not met. The main purpose of this study is to create a general socially sustainable neighbourhood reconstruction process through the lens of FSSD and Max-Neef‘s human needs theory. This new process will promote the collaboration among these three key stakeholders and help residents to have their basic human needs fulfilled. First of all, a vision of a sustainable neighbourhood reconstruction process is created and amended based upon literature review and authorities‘ feedback; then a summary of the current reality of the reconstruction process is addressed in light of a case study; followed by the analysis of the gap between vision and reality. At last, different suggestions are given with the purpose of eliminating the gap.

Global urbanisation trends and pressing issues around sustainability pose great challenges for cities. The smart city concept has been developed as a strategy for working with cities as they become systematically more complex through interconnected frameworks, and increasingly rely on the use of Information and Communication Technology to meet the needs of their citizens. This thesis explores the concept of smart cities as a potential urban construct that can address the social and ecological sustainability challenges which society faces. Smart cities are defined as cities where investments in human and social capital, and traditional and modern communication infrastructure fuel sustainable economic growth and a high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through participatory governance. Through structured interviews with smart city practitioners and sustainability experts, the strengths and limitations of the smart city concept are identified and organised through the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). Then, a Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) approach is applied as a method to maximise the benefits of the concept, and to mitigate any identified limitations. This thesis recommends a planning guide, informed by an SSD approach, to help smart cities move strategically towards their smart city vision and also move society towards sustainability. / Den praktiska tillämpningen av detta projekt riktar sig till stadsplanerare som idag använder sig av the smart city concept men också till stadsplanerare som vill börja arbeta aktivt med att göra sina städer mer hållbara genom att minska resursanvändningen och optimera stadsaktiviteter. Det blir alltmer uppenbart att stora förändringar måste ske i världen idag för att förbättra utsikterna för vår framtid och framtiden för kommande generationer. Ett effektivt sätt att angripa en stor bidragande orsak till både miljöproblem och sociala problem är att rikta fokus mot utvecklingen av städer och försöka bedriva utvecklingen på ett mer långsiktigt hållbart sätt.Detta projekt analyserar the smart city concept, förstärker dess hållbara påverkan genom rekommendationer och tillhandahåller stadsplanerare med en strategisk beslutsprocess för hållbara smarta städer som guidar planerare igenom processen och stödjer dem i deras beslut i syfte att optimera den hållbara utvecklingen av städer. / <p>Sonya Frey: +45 53 35 80 51</p>

Human society faces serious environmental and social threats as a result of systemic unsustainable actions and values. This is a time of cultural self-evaluation and profound change. This study examines how 13 social and environmental change-based organizations, through network partnerships and a robust organizational knowledge-base, are responding to these challenges. A systems perspective was used as a guide to promote a holistic understanding of the actors within the system, their perceptions of success, strategies, actions and tools used to guide them toward sustainability. The results indicate that organizations seeking to scale-up their impact toward sustainability might benefit from the following success factors: 1. Collaboration with diverse partners to contribute to more effective interventions in complex systems, 2. Integrating comprehensive definitions of sustainability with organizational vision to facilitate success, 3. The application of leverage points and transparent prioritization processes to asure congruence between organizational purpose and actions, 4. Practices of dialogue and deep listening build rewarding partnerships and, 5. Metrics that support partnerships and gauge progress toward sustainability. In conclusion network partnerships have the potential to generate widespread sustained change and can be supported by complex systems science and a Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development.

Sustainable Development was conceived as a visionary idea to have society meet the needs of the today while also considering those of future generations. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development was developed to provide an operational planning methodology to move society towards ecological and social sustainability. While abundant scientific research and project work have been completed in the ecological issues area - a significant gap remains regarding Social Sustainability. This research project sought to identify leading Actions of Social Sustainability that might strategically remove the systemic conditions (barriers) to Social Sustainability. Reducing the complexity of Social Sustainability for sustainability practitioners can be helpful for working within Strategic Sustainable Development. Using an assessment tool based on Social Sustainability Actions Criteria, leading Actions of Strategic Sustainable Development emerged from case studies and interviews research with social sustainability practitioners and experts. Although this research process was successful, the study of Social Sustainability Actions also resulted in two aspects of proposed discovery: a means to identify systems barriers within a Social Sustainability Actions Criteria Tool and a model of Core Characteristics of Social Sustainability Actions. Additionally proposed, 3 potential Universal Categories of Social Sustainability Actions. / Actions speak louder than words - It means a lot more if we act on our beliefs than if we just talk about them. In this research project, the Action Level of The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is researched with regards to possible leading actions, a strategic planning model for grass roots sustainability work, and 3 potential universal categories for Social Sustainability actions.

Many people have focussed on the physical or technical aspects of what needs to change in order for us to achieve a sustainable society. These approaches have been vital in addressing major challenges facing our world. This study adds that in order for us to move towards a sustainable society it is fundamental to address the root cause of our unsustainable ways. The focus is at the level of the individual and how they can shift to a new way of thinking, a new paradigm of sustainability as the core driver to reaching a sustainable society. An understanding of the old paradigm and new paradigm is defined, and from literature review and expert feedback, four qualities are proposed that individuals need to develop in order to operate within a new paradigm of sustainability. The study explores and presents some of the most effective ways to develop these qualities within individuals and as a result of this research the authors propose a tool – a guidebook with the intention to help inspire and empower individuals to effect change in their own lives and organizations, live more whole, meaningful and authentic lives and, in this way, move society towards sustainability.

Current methods for reaching and defining success in society are not sustainable. A major shift in society’s definition of economic success is required, and organizations represent a key leverage point in the transition to a sustainable economy. This research looks to practices within organizations with a sustainability purpose in an attempt to understand how their organizational culture creates an environment for continual strategic decision making towards sustainability. A combination of literature review and structured interviews were used to elicit the cultural practices of 18 organizations with a clear social and ecological sustainability purpose. The research confirmed the importance of organizational culture for maintaining alignment with a sustainability purpose by fostering motivation and commitment towards sustainability at both a collective and individual level in the organization. Eight overarching areas of practice were identified as being present in the organizations included in the study. The practices identified help organizations to act strategically and in the right direction towards sustainability on a daily basis, standing as a complement to the strategic prioritization model of the FSSD. / <p>giancarlo@pucci.cr</p>

This research explores how the web‘s collaborative potential can be harnessed strategically towards sustainability. With the success of web-scale collaborations such as Wikipedia and Linux in mind, we sought to understand how web-enabled collaborations could be used strategically, particularly to support innovation for sustainability. Building on Peter Gloor of MIT‘s research into collaborative innovation networks (COINs), a framework for collaborative organizational networks supporting innovation, we evaluated COINs‘ strategic potential for sustainability utilizing the framework for strategic sustainable development and the approach of backcasting. We found that COINs can provide a strategic and effective way to work towards sustainability because they harness collective intelligence towards innovation and support distributed working styles. Additionally they provide an organizational framework that supports socially sustainable modes of working. However, COINs can amplify the impact of unsustainable innovations, so a strong systems perspective based on principles of sustainability is required to use COINs strategically. The final product of this research is a set of recommendations for people considering utilizing COINs for sustainability.