USA
Sustainability in the U.S. begins with The Natural Step Network.
The foundation for many sustainability programs in the United States and around the world is The Natural Step Framework. Why? Because the science-based process has been tested and proven by forward thinking organizations for nearly two decades. See Solutions for Business, Solutions for Communities, Case Studies.
Our mission: We guide organizations to act according to the principles for sustainability, now.
What we do: We provide a range of courses to educate the leaders at all levels who will drive the process forward. We also support your progress as you define sustainability and success, creating your own vision, strategy and action plans. We facilitate collaboration to create opportunities for discussion and action.
Why we’re different: The Natural Step created the systems-based approach which considers the interconnectedness of your activities and how they impact our social and physical environment. Without this broad understanding, best intentions may produce short term successes with unintended negative long term effects.
The path to sustainability requires a course of deliberate decisions and conscious choices. Our systematic Framework ensures that individual steps lead to transformations for long term viability.
Where to start: We are a network of members – public and private sector leaders, educators, consultants and students. We host frequent events with insightful speakers. We offer regular introductory workshops and more advanced courses. In partnership with The Natural Step in Canada, we also offer online courses as stand alone learning or in combination with live courses. Explore this site to discover the opportunities. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates and bookmark our Events page to see upcoming classes and speakers.
LATEST NEWS
- Sustainable Twin Ports Welcomes New Executive Director and Invites You to ReceptionMonday, 09 August 2010 | Submitted by Anouk Bertner
August 6, 2010. Duluth (MN) – Sustainable Twin Ports (STP) announces the hiring of Nan Stubenvoll as their new Executive Director. STP is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering economic, environmental and social sustainability in the Twin Ports and western Lake Superior region through education, networking and action. Current focus is on training of business leaders, municipalities, community groups, and individuals in the ‘principles’ of sustainability, using The Natural Step, a science-based, systems framework for making sustainable decisions in a strategic way.
- All hands on deck: how systems thinkers will salvage the Deepwater Horizon Oil SpillTuesday, 29 June 2010 | Submitted by Anouk Bertner
By Maura Dilley and Dermot Hikisch
When I was in 6th grade, my teacher Mrs. Love explained to the class that just one drop of oil can contaminate a gallon of potable water. She showed us an eyedropper of black oil and took a sip from the jug of water; then she asked the class, “Should I show you what happens when they mix?” My classmates and I were on the edges of our seats, begging her to let it rip, desperate to see the black ooze and swirl in the clear water. At the last moment, Mrs. Love pulled back her hand astonished and scolded us “Are you crazy? I won’t intentionally pollute water.” We were so ashamed.Drilling for oil is the penultimate red flag for those who understand, in one capacity or another, the inherent violation of systematically increasing the amount of substances from the Earth’s crust into the biosphere. A deepwater oil spill is the perfect storm for un-sustainability, violating every system condition egregiously and simultaneously. - Ecological Flow in “Living Buildings:” An interview with Clark BrockmanTuesday, 29 June 2010 | Submitted by Anouk Bertner
There aren’t any “Living Buildings” in the world. Yet.
Clark Brockman of SERA Architects in Portland, Oregon is one of the leaders in urban design and planning who is working to raise the bar by crafting buildings that meet the Living Building Challenge. The Challenge asks project teams to design and construct to buildings that function “as elegantly and efficiently as a flower” by creating buildings that are informed by their bioregion’s characteristics, that generate all of their own energy with renewable resources, that capture and treats all of its own water, and operates efficiently and for maximum beauty. All of the LBC’s 16 imperatives are required, and must demonstrate 12 months of successful operation in order to achieve recognition. - Interface reduces water use 80% per unit since 1996Tuesday, 29 June 2010 | Submitted by Anouk BertnerBy: Erin Meezan, Vice President, Sustainability, InterfaceInterface, Inc. today uses only 20% as much water to make products as they did in 1996. This is an impressive accomplishment, especially for a materials manufacturer, and shows the benefits of looking at a business through the lens of sustainability.
- Business as Usual With a Coat of Green Paint?Tuesday, 08 June 2010 | Submitted by Youth Storyteller
Last week The Natural Step Network-USA and Illahee hosted Boston College sociology professor and author Juliet Schor, who spoke about her most recent book Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth. Schor has examined the intersection of our economic and social systems for many years.