Many tools have been developed to assess global, national or regional sustainable development policies. However, as governments develop sustainable policies, individuals must also feel empowered to affect their personal impact on the planet. This thesis integrates three sustainability concepts that lend themselves to individual sustainability: The natural step, life cycle assessment, and the ecological footprint. TNS serves to provide the meaning and substance toward sustainable development. LCA helps provide the framework for assessing sustainability. The EF calculator determines the driving components and measures the qualitative decisions made through TNS and LCA. From the analysis of the household footprint calculator a simplified footprint calculator was developed to assist individuals and communities in setting benchmarks and goals as they move away from over-consumption and towards a sustainable lifestyle.

This report deals with the managing of the waste of a company, Ericsson- site of Borås, in an analytical context. Based on sustainability (concept and aspects), they are interested to have a method to check their waste management capability whether they are in right direction. Among all studied methods, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is utilized. This method works based on a mathematical algorithm starting by making a hierarchy, continuing with pairwise comparisons between correspondent items, then doing calculations and finally checking and reviewing to be certain of the correctness of the whole process by an eligible team of decision makers. In spite of some critiques that scientifically are accepted, it remains reliable for the purpose.The method is applied to some instances of waste items, wood boxes and pallets and hard plastics, in Ericsson. Then, two controversial issues of the selected method, consistency and rank reversal, are investigated and discussed on the mentioned waste items. Application of the method for their future use is foreseen thereafter.

This study has been carried out at Klättermusen, a Swedish company producing outdoor clothingand equipment with a focus on durability, safety, function and environment. The purpose of thethesis was to investigate if Klättermusen should use Cradle to Cradle (C2C) in their sustainabilitywork. This was reviewed by studying the working procedure, by making a case study, byinvestigating if there are alternative ways to practise C2C, by studying the weak points of theC2C-certification and by investigating the compatibility with other sustainability tools.The C2C vision is inspired by the ecosystems and is based on the three rules Waste equals food, Usecurrent solar income and Celebrate diversity. An important aspect of C2C is the focus on attaining apositive impact on humans and the environment instead of doing things less bad by minimizingemissions. To make it possible for companies to communicate their effort and progress to theircustomers and become more competitive a C2C certification has been elaborated. The core ofthe certification is an assessment of the materials included in the product to make sure they aresecure, healthy and recyclable. Other parts included in the certification are energy, water andsocial aspects.When studying the C2C certification three of Klättermusen’s products were used as references.To certify these products Klättermusen has to gather information from their suppliers and makestrategies regarding Materials, Material Reutilization, Energy, Water and Social Responsibility. Forexample all the substances that contained in the garment at a concentration of at least 0.01 %must be reported, which means that all suppliers must be requested to list their substances. Thecertification cost of a pair of pants investigated in this study was estimated to 54 500 €.An assessment was made to find alternative ways to practise C2C and identify weak points of theC2C certification. It is based on interviews held with Jenny Pfau working for EPEA and threepersons in contact with C2C in their work; Kjersti Kviseth, Magnus Hedenmark and RichardBlume. According to Jenny Pfau Klättermusen can practise C2C by making a screening, a detailedassessment or a workshop. Both Magnus Hedenmark and Richard Blume practise the frameworkof The Natural Step and think that the C2C certification should be used as a tool within theframework. Some weak points found by these persons in the certification are that it is timeconsuming,not transparent enough and lack of a systems perspective.The C2C certification was compared with bluesign, a sustainability standard for the textileindustry, and Eco Index, a sustainability tool made for the outdoor industry. The purpose was toinvestigate if the C2C certification is compatible with other tools and the compared aspects weremainly lifecycle stages, impact categories and level of detail, but also purpose, procedure,workload, required knowledge and experience, cost, credibility and transparency.Both strengths and weaknesses were found when studying the C2C certification. It has got apositive approach to sustainability and develops safe products from a chemical perspective buthas a lack of systems perspective, is costly and time-consuming. The compatibility of the toolswas discussed with the comparison as a basis. Eco Index is modular and could be adjusted tocomplement the C2C certification but both tools have a big workload. bluesign and the C2Ccertification include the same lifecycle stages but have different strengths, which could makethem complementing each but possibly contradictive.Klättermusen is recommended to make a sustainability vision of their future products and thenchoose which tools to use. Since Klättermusen is already a bluesign system partner it could be agood idea to complement bluesign with Eco Index and C2C, but this choice should depend onthe future vision.

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, as it threatens the survival of human civilisation. With the increasing number of initiatives trying to address climate change, it is important to examine how effective they are and what other roles these initiatives can serve in transitioning society towards sustainability. This thesis investigates the role of one such initiative, carbon neutrality, within a strategic approach to sustainable development, based on the case study of the North American Credit Union (NACU). A scientific understanding of climate change and sustainability provide a strict evaluation of the carbon neutrality concept with its benefits and challenges, including the role of carbon offsets. Within this context, recommendations are provided for roles and actions that a financial organisation such as NACU can take in order to set high standards in this new and still evolving market of voluntary carbon offsets, while striving for full sustainability and leadership within the community.

This thesis focuses on the effects of a strategic planning process for sustainability (SPPS) on individuals. Very little research has connected strategic planning and sustainability for individuals, while related research has focused on strategic planning in organizational contexts and psychological determinants of individual change related to the environment (e.g., environmental attitude and perceived personal threat). An SPPS, based on backcasting from scientific principles of sustainability and the ABCD Analysis, a generic strategic planning methodology utilized by The Natural Step, was adapted for individuals and introduced to eight people in Karlskrona, Sweden. The SPPS was delivered to each participant in three, two-hour sessions, facilitated by three researchers. The study: 1) measured participants’ ability to identify new actions that move towards sustainability; and 2) investigated what can be learned from applying the SPPS to individuals. Our research indicates that applying an SPPS can help individuals to identify additional actions that may move towards a principled definition of sustainability. Time for personal introspection within the structure of the SPPS appears to be a main value of the process.

The intrinsic characteristics of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) make it useful in moving society towards sustainability. However, most of the change agents who work with the FSSD report that it is not diffused widely enough to have a systemic impact on society. The purpose of the study is to enable those who wish to foster such diffusion to be more effective in their efforts by giving them information they need to strategically plan those efforts. An ‘important factors for diffusion’ lens is constructed from Diffusion of Innovations theory and social marketing concepts, and verified with case studies of the diffusion of Biomimicry 3.8, GRI and Cradle to Cradle. 152 current barriers and enablers to broader diffusion of the FSSD are identified from interviews with 27 practitioners and a survey of 58 additional practitioners. These are scored against the lens to determine the current diffusibility of the FSSD, then distilled and influence flows between them mapped, to identify seven leverage points for broader diffusion. Interrelations between these leverage points, as well as other emergent themes, are discussed, conclusions are drawn, and further research suggested. / <p>irena.efrem@gmail.com; sijme@sijme.com; scott@notutopia.com</p>

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are an underutilised sector to disseminating sustainability within communities. Entrepreneurs are action-oriented individuals who enjoy challenges and act upon environmental feedback, making them ideal change agents. However, there is a lack of tools specifically targeted towards SMEs to help them act strategically towards sustainability. In order to support entrepreneurs and motivate them into becoming catalysts for change towards sustainability the research team identified the need to provide them with a customized tool. The tool will be focused towards entrepreneurs interested in starting up new businesses with a core strategy of sustainable development. If the entrepreneur is able to apply sustainability at the beginning of their business venture, it reduces the need for later corrections. The research examines what is needed in a tool to support entrepreneurs and how to encourage them through the conception of adopting sustainable strategies. / <p>Renee Simard #1066 Amphion St., Victoria, BC V8S 4G3 Rachelle McElroy 637 Cowper St. Victoria, BC V9A 2E8 Itzel Orozco 1138 E 22nd Ave Eugene OR 97403 United States</p>

The purpose of this research is to examine how The Natural Step Framework, combined with Life Cycle Assessment and Ecological Footprint could help to manage the sustainability challenges of construction materials in China and to consider how these tools and concepts might inform each other in combination. Based on a literature review regarding the current reality of building materials in China and industry experience with use of existing sustainability concepts and tools, we build a conceptual model to integrate the three above concepts and attempt to analyse how they could work better together in the management of a sustainable transition. We then analyse the likely strengths and limitations of such an integrated model and finally use this to inform a vision of a sustainable future for building materials, discussing how the model may help China move towards sustainability.

Today, global socio-ecological problems are too complex and urgent for isolated actions, and cross-sector collaboration is increasingly required to generate transformational change towards a sustainable future. Partnerships between businesses and civil society organisations (CSOs) in particular have the potential to achieve the required change for sustainability. However, the ‘backcasting’ approach used in this study highlights a gap between current approaches and what partnerships might look like in a sustainable future. Research draws on literature, eighteen interviews and an action research project with Interface Europe. Results indicate that: 1) in the current paradigm shift, collaboration provides a competitive advantage; 2) individual, organisational and societal benefits of partnering are significant; 3) understanding the art and science of partnering is needed to make them work 4) organisational development and strategy affect partnership type and outcomes; 5) Corporate Social Responsibility efforts initiate cross-sector partnerships, but are responsive and fall short of being strategic; 6) articulation of visions for a sustainable future is rare and; 7) most partnerships are not aligned with core business strategies. In conclusion, dialogue across all sectors is advocated to co-create a sustainable future and The Natural Step Framework is recommended to align business planning and partnership strategies with sustainability. / <p>Andrew Outhwaite (arouthwaite@gmail.com) Miriam Karell (jazzminq@gmail.com) Richard Blume (rblume@gmail.com) Website http://partnerships4SSD.blogspot.com</p>

En hållbar utveckling är kritiskt för att kommande generationer ska kunna leva på vår jord med liknande möjligheter som vi har idag. Att arbeta med hållbarhet är viktigt för såväl privatpersoner som företag. För att säkerställa en mer hållbar utveckling har Europeiska Unionen tagit fram direktiv som sätter krav på större företag att redovisa sitt hållbarhetsarbete. I Sverige ingår detta direktiv i Årsredovisningslagen som ställer krav på hållbarhetsrapportering från större företag.Syftet i denna uppsats är att utreda om Ur &amp; Penn, ett stort företag inom klock- och smyckesbranschen har en hållbarhetsrapport i sin årsredovisning som fyller de krav Årsredovisningslagen ställer. Datainsamlingen som används om företaget kommer från offentliga källor samt empiriskt kunskapsinsamlande från den inblick en får genom att arbeta inom företaget. Företagets hållbarhetsrapport för räkenskapsår 2017-2018 har utretts och i resultatet fastställs det att hållbarhetsrapporten inte lever upp till de krav som Årsredovisningslagen ställer. Global Reporting Initiative används som mall för att ge förslag på förbättrad hållbarhetsredovisning.En värdekedjeanalys görs av ett armbandsur i rostfritt stål för att se vilken miljöpåverkan en populär produkt från företaget har och utifrån detta görs en SWOT-analys för att ta fram strategier som företaget kan använda till sitt hållbarhetsarbete. Den miljöpåverkan som värdekedjeanalysen fastställer kopplas till Det naturliga steget som belyser att produktionen av rostfritt stål har stor påverkan på miljön och att det arbetssätt som finns inom företaget bidrar till en icke hållbar värld.Slutsatsen i denna uppsats är att företaget inte lever upp till de krav som Årsredovisningslagen ställer gällande hållbarhetsrapportering. Företagets produkt och arbetssätt är inte hållbara och om företaget vill säkra en framtid på en marknad som blir allt mer hållbarhetsfokuserad behöver företaget arbeta mer med hållbarhet. / Sustainable development is crucial for future generations ability to live on this planet with similar opportunities as we do today. To work with sustainability is important for the individual person as well as companies. The European Union has developed directives that require big companies to account for their work with sustainability, this is to ensure a more sustainable development in the union. This directive is a part of the Annual Accounts Act in Sweden, and it requires that bigger companies have a report on their sustainability work.The purpose of this essay is to investigate if a big company within the watch- and jewelry industry have a sustainability report that meet the requirements of the Annual Accounts Act. The information that is used about the company is from public sources as well as personal experiences from the author that has worked within the company. The company's sustainability report for the financial year 2017-2018 does not meet the requirements. Global Reporting Initiative is used as a guide to give suggestions on improving the report.A value chain analysis is made for a wristwatch made of stainless steel to see which environmental impact a popular product from the company has. A SWOT-analysis is made based of the value chain to illustrate strategies that the company can use with its sustainability work. The environmental impact that the value chain determine is linked to The natural step which proves that the production of stainless steel has a big impact on the environment and that the working model within the company is contributing to an unsustainable world.The conclusion of the essay is that this company does not live up to the requirements that the Annual Accounts Act have regarding sustainability reports. The product from the company and their working model is not sustainable and if the company wants to ensure a future on a market that is becoming more focused on sustainability; they need to work more with sustainability. / <p>2021-11-26</p>