The Natural Step

The Natural Step is an international non -profit consulting organization. It was founded in 1989 in Sweden by Karl- Henrik Robert, with the goal of teaching basic principles for maintaining global ecosystems.

The vision of The Natural Step is to accelerate the change in sustainability. TNS is active in the following areas:

  • Scientific approach
  • Holistic, overarching framework
  • Strategic consulting and training
  • Leadership and role models
  • Innovative tools and services
  • Networks and partnerships.

At present there are branch offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States.

The TNS approach

The aim of the TNS approach is to come from an abstract concept to a concrete guide to action. Science shows us that we need to avoid the deterioration of our natural and social systems in order to be successful in the future. Building on this basic understanding, we can ask ourselves:

  • What are the fundamental problems that cause that our societies are not sustainable?
  • What is our contribution to these problems?
  • What can we do today and tomorrow to not further contribute to these problems?

The TNS approach presents the results of research together on scientific and social fields of two decades. It is based on ' best practices ' and is based on input from experts, entrepreneurs and managers from various communities around the world. He is a systemic approach.

Four Principles of Sustainability

Scientists today agree that humanity about 4 basic lever affects the functioning of natural systems and humans limits the possibility of satisfying their needs.

The Natural Step has developed over the last 20 years in an international network scientifically and internationally recognized definition of sustainability. By any mechanism, the negation was " not exposed ... " added, The Natural Step has developed four basic principles that limit what is acceptable in a sustainable society:

The funnel metaphor

The metaphor of the funnel helps us share a common vision of the current situation to win ( biosphere, humanity, every organization, every individual ). The pressure on our societies is increasing: Demand is rising in parallel with the decline of natural resources, ecosystems are congested, stricter laws are needed, consumers increase their pressure, social tensions caused by the unjust distribution ....

This leads to a smaller and smaller room for maneuver and the risk to crash into the walls of the funnel increases.

A logical and strategic approach: backcasting

Backcasting is a beautiful word to describe a way of thinking that we use everyday. It consists in defining what we want to achieve in the future and think about what we need to do today to get there.

This intuitive functionality helps us cope in complex systems. So researchers are always impressed by the amount of information that needs to process our brains to come home. Unconsciously, we visualize the future - getting home - and plan the way we from our present location from there go. This thought experiment of the desired future becomes the present we refer to as backcasting.

When planning a sustainable society that is backcasting efficient logic to find this because of the complexity of the challenge and the need for new ideas and actions to achieve sustainability.

Concrete implementation of The- Natural -Step Approach

Based on the experience of recent years, The Natural Step has designed a strategic process in four steps. This approach allows to create, secure and increase the organization 's long -term success of a prioritized list of actions realized rapidly.

This participatory approach creates a common language for all participants and oriented like a compass, the various tools and concepts towards sustainability.

  • A. Developing a common definition of sustainability and a common vision.
  • B. An analysis of the current situation, with the risks and opportunities, strengths and weaknesses, this is based on the success principles of sustainability and the vision.
  • C. Solutions and visions be searched around the current system to lead to success.
  • D. solutions and visions be prioritized. The following steps are performed for each action: D.1. The right direction?
  • D.2. If it is a platform that opens up new opportunities for us?
  • D.3. Worth doing this action? ( financial, political, customization, ...)

The 5-step planning model

The 5-step planning model was developed by TNS to help groups in various (complex) situations to come to success. The TNS approach is based on the level of success (4 principles of sustainability ) and the plane of the strategy ( ABCD). The to use the TNS approach as a compass for the introduction of a comprehensive strategy and complementary him with other standards (ISO, ... ), labels ( Blue Angel, ...) allows the start at the level of actions and tools to use.

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