The Natural Step

Who We Are, What We Do

January 2011
2011 The Natural Step
 How it all began...

• 1989 – Doctor Karl-Henrik

Robert
• The King of Sweden as Patron
• Influencing Swedish society,
and Business
• International expansion

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Common approach to Economic,
Environmental, and Social Issues

Reductionism

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 The Natural Step Systemic Perspective

Structured overview

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“The Natural Step is a Clear
Voice in the Commotion.”

”
Leif Johansson, CEO
VOLVO

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 The Natural Step: who are we?

• International NGO
• Scientific approach
• Holisticframework
• Strategic advice &
education
• Leadership and role
models
• Innovative tools and
services
• Networks & partnerships Celebrating 20 years advancing
sustainable development around the world!

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 Capacity building
Widespread capacity building in strategic
sustainable development.

Research Advisory services

Scientific discovery, application, ’Think and Do Leadership’
continual development and Pioneering new solutions
testing of methods to that provide inspiration,
accelerate real change. success stories and proof
of possibility.

Learning network
Connection of people, ideas and resources to enable cross-
sector collaboration for accelerated learning and action.
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Online e-learning

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 Undergraduate & Master’s Courses in
partnership with universities....
1 year masters 3 month distance

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Industry Courses for Business Leaders...

A cooperation between:

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 Website
www.thenaturalstep.org

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 International Research Initiative
Real Change

www.realchange.nu

Product-Service Innovation (SWE)

Business development (SWE)

…
Algae biomass (AUS)

Energy systems (SWE) Conflict resolution (IL)

Traffic systems (SWE) Industrial metal flows (USA)

Rainforest ecosystems (BRA) Green Science / Chemistry (USA)

Water management (NL)
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 Our Approach

• The Natural Step approach is based upon and includes:

– Scientific consensus on a definition of sustainability

– A strategic framework for practical implementation of

sustainability

– An engagement process for individuals and teams to understand

and manage change effectively

– Demonstrated success through sectors and regions, worldwide.

– A global network of inspired, committed and competent

professional and role model partner organisations providing
leadership and hope by advancing sustainable development.

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 Three leadership questions

Do you have a definition of sustainability?


What is your gap?


What are you doing to bridge it?

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 20 Years of testing and developing a Framework
for Strategic Sustainable Development

Outcomes from our work...

green building codes
capital investment filters
sustainable purchasing practices
sustainable product design
zero-waste policies
carbon neutrality strategies
synergy / aligning tools & concepts
systematic value-chain cooperation
sustainability education programs on
all continents
Influencing whole sectors

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Sustainability-driven
regional planning:
since 1985

25% of Swedish
municipalities

17
 Olympic Communities- Whistler

“This simple, science- and

systems- based framework is
the best out there. It needs to
become part of a new
common language, as well
understood worldwide as the
rules of soccer”.

Ken Melamed, Mayor of the award winning community of

Whistler, Canada,
Host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
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 Uses?
The Natural Step Framework:

 Helps you define a clear path to sustainability

 Is scientifically tested, shared publicly and in use all around the world.
 Enables organizations to make strategic, economic decisions that will take them toward
sustainability.

Advisors from The Natural Step support you in building your sustainability competence,
helping you answer tough questions like:

1. What is sustainability?
2. What challenges and opportunities do you face to get there?
3. How can you decrease the gap between the current situation and sustainability?

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 Examples of what we do

• Building Sustainability Awareness (e.g. Elearning, sustainability briefings, public speaking)

• Building Sustainability Competence (e.g. Certificate Courses, defining the business case for sustainability, employee
training, executive masterclasses)

• Company Sustainability Analysis (e.g. Readiness Assessment, material flow risk / opportunity assessment,
organisational capacity assessment, best practice benchmarking)

• Assessment of Markets, Products, Services and Materials (e.g. Product Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment,
integration of Sustainability within Product Innovation Processes)

• Sustainability Integration within business processes (e.g. Vision and Strategy Development, planning,
management systems, monitoring and reporting )

• Sustainability Projects (e.g. climate strategy, strategic sustainability communications, employee engagement programs,
sustainability indexes, tool development etc.)

• Value Chain Collaboration ( e.g. customer and supplier engagement, industry-wide education programs)

• Cross-Sector Initiatives (e.g. stakeholder forums, applied sustainability research, networking)

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Business Partners and Collaborators

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 What others say...

“The whole world has dreamt about a solid definition of

sustainability that would allow systematic step-by-step
planning. When the definition arrived, delivered by The
Natural Step, it was remarkable to see how simple it was.
Why hadn’t anybody thought about it before?”

Paul Hawken, Author. The Ecology of Commerce, Natural

Capitalism and Blessed Unrest

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 What others say...

“The TNS framework is the most rigorous, scientifically-based,

and practical sustainability methodology on the planet.”
- Bob Willard, author of the Sustainability Champions Guidebook, The
Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave, and 6-year TNS Canada
Board Member

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 Business Example: Nike

“What really impressed me working with [TNS] was their ability

to take the principles of sustainability, understand the business
model they were being plugged into and come up with clear and
concise statement of what that means for the business.”

Jim Goddard, Director of Considered Innovation, Nike.

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 Business Example: Interface

Interface

“As we climb mount Sustainability, with the four

sustainability principles at the top, we are doing
better than ever on bottom line business. This is
not at the cost of social or ecological systems,
but at the cost of our competitors who still
haven’t got it”.
Portland US, October 2007, Ray Andersson, President, Founder and CEO, Interface. Inc.

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 Electrolux
"It was not until at least ten years later, we understood
how much money Electrolux had saved and earned from
applying the TNS Framework to foresee changes on
markets and legislation".
Leif Johansson, CEO Volvo and former CEO Electrolux

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Educating 55.000 employees…

Our approach to
sustainability is
based on the
model set out in
The Natural Step

IKEA
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 Contacts

The Natural Step Global Network - Italy Branch

Via Malpighi 1 - 20129 - Milano

Eric Ezechieli–President

eric.ezechieli@thenaturalstep.org
Phone: + 39 02 898 668 22
Mobile: +39 348 60 600 60

Helping you take strategic steps toward sustainability

Research for Real Change | Training for Leaders | Coaching for Role Models | A Movement for Change

www.thenaturalstep.org

2011 The Natural Step