Design for Sustainability (DfS): the interface of sustainable production and consumption

Nowadays design is faced with the challenge to contribute to the transition towards a sustainable society. Design for Sustainability (DfS) is the response to this challenge. It includes but goes beyond what Design for the Environment or ecodesign provides, by integrating social, economic, environmental and institutional aspects and by offering opportunities to get involved, express one’s own identity beyond consuming standardised mass products.DEEDS, a Leonardo research project, had the mission to embed sustainability in design and design in sustainability. For this behalf, the project partners approached the issue from the angles of design, sustainability science and sustainable consumption analysis, developing tools and rules (the SCALES principles) to support DfS and to incorporate it into design education and practice.The paper describes the framework conditions as explored by sustainable consumption research, the obstacles identified by DEEDS and gives hints how to overcome them based in the lessons learnt in the course of the project.     

Comparison of sustainability issues in two sensitive areas of China

After 30 years of economic reform since opening to the outside world in 1978, China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased by 150% over the past 15 years. The sustainability of such intense economic activity has been questioned from the perspectives of the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. In this study, we assessed the spatial and temporal trends in sustainable development in two sensitive agricultural areas of China: Dezhou district, a well-developed region, and Guyuan district, an underdeveloped region. We used the pressure–state–response (PSR) model and a participatory approach that involved local experts to select and evaluate 27 area-specific indicators, then calculated changes in their values from 1985 to 2002. We aggregated these indicators into dimension- and PSR-specific indices to assess the sustainability of development in both regions. There two regions differed greatly in sustainability, but the current status of sustainable development raises concerns in both areas, especially from the perspective of balancing the three dimensions of sustainability. In 2002, Dezhou district performed well economically, with an index value of 0.78 (where 1.0 = sustainable), followed by environmental and social sustainability (both with index values of 0.48). All three indices have increased since 1985 (by 0.17, 0.25, and 0.13, respectively). In Guyuan district, environmental sustainability was highest (with an index value of 0.73), followed by economic and social sustainability (values of 0.55 and 0.37, respectively), but economic sustainability has decreased by 0.04 since 1985, whereas environmental and social sustainability increased by 0.18 and 0.12, respectively. To promote sustainable regional development, development priorities should be determined by considering both the regional and temporal variation in the three sustainability indices.     

Teaching sustainability as a contested concept: capitalizing on variation in engineering educators' conceptions of environmental,social and economic sustainability

This study documents variation in engineering academics conceptions of sustainability. We investigated how a group of Australian engineering academics described environmental, social and economic sustainability, and identified a broad range of actions that participating academics associated with achieving sustainability. The study suggested marked variation in the actions that participating academics viewed as coherent with sustainable engineering practice, and therefore, potentially marked variations in the sustainability actions academics might advocate to their undergraduate students. Rather than framing this variation as problematic for teaching and learning sustainable engineering, we suggest that such variation in conception of sustainability, and explicit contestation of this variation in the engineering classroom, offers opportunities to enrich undergraduate sustainability learning and teaching. We develop this argument by using some generic environmental, economic, and social theoretical frameworks to characterize the differences according to the values and assumptions that may underpin the observed variation. Validated frameworks are useful to move beyond discussions based on ‘opinion’, because they provide a framework for critical reflection by engineering students and academics about the values and assumptions that inform engineering practice generally and sustainable engineering practice, particularly.     

抽水蓄能电站工程建设中生态环境监理工作实践探讨

水利水电工程建设是促进国家经济发展的重要建设项目之一,抽水蓄能电站工程建设的重要性正在不断凸显。抽水蓄能电站工程的建设与生态环境有着密切的关系,由于抽水蓄能电站工程长期大规模的开发利用破坏了周边生态环境的稳定,加强工程建设中的环境监理工作是将生态破坏程度降到最低的必然要求。以抽水蓄能电站为实例,通过制定科学合理的环境监理方案,将生态环境监理要点落实到施工建设当中,以期最大限度地减少对生态环境的破坏。     

关于建设项目生态补偿的思考

作为一种解决环境保护与经济社会发展矛盾的重要经济手段,生态补偿越来越受到人们关注。建设项目生态补偿是生态补偿的一个重要领域,但相对于其他领域而言,理论和实践研究均相对较少。结合实际案例研究,文章初次提出了建设项目生态补偿概念、原则及应注意的问题。最后,建议加强两方面研究,建设项目生态补偿内涵和范畴确定;建设项目生态补偿方式及标准确定。     

Transitioning to sustainable production – part II: evaluation of sustainable machining technologies

This paper presents a case-study that highlights the importance of sustainable machining technologies in achieving sustainable development objectives. A technology evaluation was undertaken to understand the likely impacts of the use of technology on sustainability performance measures. The evaluation is more than an experimental method for supporting the design of technology and an instrument for supporting decision-making. It is also a tool for supporting technology policy and for encouraging its adoption and application in industry. More specifically, a sustainability evaluation of cryogenic and high pressure jet-assisted machining in comparison to conventional machining is examined. Sustainability performance measures refer to environmental impact, energy consumption, safety, personal health, waste management, and cost. The case-study refers to the machining of high-temperature Ni-alloy (Inconel 718). It is shown that tooling costs represent the major contribution to the overall production cost, which contradicts previous analyses, and that sustainable machining alternatives offer a cost-effective route to improving economic, environmental, and social performance in comparison to conventional machining.     

浅析绿色社区创建措施——以长沙市芙蓉区国家级绿色社区为例

随着我国经济建设的发展,生态环境受到了一定程度的破坏,环境污染成为制约城市发展的重要问题.国家颁布文件要求全国环境保护重点城市要逐步开展创建"绿色社区"活动,培养公众良好的环境伦理道德规范,促进良好社会风尚的形成.生态学在城市社区规划和建设中的应用为社区研究提供了指导思想和理论依据.绿色社区的创建工作在全国已经蔚然成风,关于绿色社区的研究在国内外逐渐兴起,成为建筑界、城市生态学研究的热点,由于它平衡了环境保护和人类社会经济发展之间的关系,被认为是可持续发展理论在城市发展中有效可行的具体应用.本文分析了绿色社区的基本内涵,指出绿色社区以可持续发展思想为指导,体现"人与自然和谐共生"的思想,具有整体性、长期性和地域性的特点,进而阐明长沙市芙蓉区绿色社区的创建情况,最后探讨了绿色社区的创建措施和途径.     

Methodology for the development of a new Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC)

The improvement of infrastructures in developing countries has become a priority for the most advanced economies, which have founded a broad range of international development organizations to undertake infrastructure projects worldwide. Infrastructure is the key driver that can accelerate the balance among the economic, social and environmental aspects forming the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in these countries. Given the lack of appropriate tools to ensure the achievement of this goal, this paper describes the methodology conceived for the development of a Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System (SIRSDEC) aimed at promoting the design, construction and operation of sustainable infrastructure projects in these geographical areas. SIRSDEC is structured into a hierarchical decision-making tree consisting of three levels of elements (requirements, criteria and indicators) selected to assess infrastructure systems according to sustainability principles. The methodology on which SIRSDEC is based combines the action of two multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES). AHP is proposed to weight the elements forming the decision-making tree after processing the opinions provided by a group of international experts regarding the importance of requirements, criteria and indicators, whilst MIVES is suggested to value infrastructure projects according to their contribution to the TBL. The article emphasizes the added value provided by the combination of AHP and MIVES in the design of an ad-hoc rating system aimed at fostering the implementation of sustainable infrastructure projects in developing countries.     

Application of the Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC) to a case study

A large amount of international public and private not-for-profit organizations strives to enhance the conditions of less developed economies under the flagship of sustainability throughout a wide range of infrastructure projects. However, the results are uncertain. Sustainable development in poorer countries requires effective frameworks to ensure the balanced consideration of social, economic and environmental dimensions. This paper discusses the application of the Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC) to a mining infrastructure project located in Peru, in order to validate the methodology developed for this framework. The opinions returned from a questionnaire addressed to international experts according to the pairwise comparison scale of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method were processed to obtain the weights of the elements forming the decision-making tree of SIRSDEC. The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) was introduced to assess infrastructure projects through the definition of value functions for each sustainability indicator, which enables the integration of variables measured in different units into a standardized value index. The weights obtained for SIRSDEC reflected the balance of the three pillars of sustainability, with a slight predominance of the social dimension. The case study highlighted the contribution of the new system to identify key sustainability issues which were omitted in the original project and posed several actions to improve community’s perception and facilitate the development of the project.     

水利工程规划中的环境保护方式的影响与应对研究

水利工程在社会发展过程中起到的作用日益明显。在建设水利工程的时候,不仅要在开工前对其相关影响因素进行分析,更要考虑工程项目建设完成后对河流生态系统的影响,以保障周边环境资源的可持续发展。在进行工程建设时要遵守环保原则。根据当地的实情,在保障工程安全的基础上既要提高经济收益,还要注重环境保护的问题。因此基于环保角度提出HSPF模型水利工程产流计算方法对工程项目进行监测评估并进行相应实验,该方法有助于推进水利工程建设项目良性发展.以达到水利工程建设项目环境影响最小化、经济和环境效益最大化目标。     

On eco-planning for an eco-demonstration park (EDP) and sustainability-Case study of the Luhua EDP in the Chongming Island of Shanghai,China

The background, concept, connotation, principles, and methods of eco-planning for an Eco-Demonstration Park (EDP) and sustainability were examined based on a case study of the Luhua EDP in the Chongming Island of Shanghai, China, which is an important part of Shanghai Eco-city planning and construction in the 21st century. By analyzing natural, social and economic conditions, calculating population using the land capacity eco-model, eco-function zoning, and eco-construction, an innovative eco-industrial structure and technical chain were formulated. A comprehensive eco-planning scheme for the EDP was proposed, including planning and management strategies for subsystems of efficient industry, good quality human settlement, high standard eco-construction and eco-tourism as well as effective environmental protection and attractive landscape. The EDP should be an area with coordinated and sustainable economic, social and environmental subsystems. Eco-planning for the EDP should be a very important part of eco-city planning and sustainability. The paper aims to set up a theoretical framework and practical basis for eco-planning and promoting harmony between human and nature.     

Informal knowledge processes: the underpinning for sustainability outcomes in EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was originally tailored for restructuring rules and values regarding environmental protection, through interdisciplinary work. EIA has developed as a tool for decision-making for the implementation of projects which potentially pose significant environmental impacts. This paper reviews the sustainability and interdisciplinarity assumptions inherent in EIA. It illustrates through a case study of a proposed landfill extension in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, that these principles can arise more from informal knowledge processes than from legal ones. It can be shown that interdisciplinarity is often misunderstood as multidisciplinarity or simple knowledge clustering, and sustainability has no common definition amongst EIA practitioners, but that there predominates an understanding which delivers weak sustainability, driven primarily by social and economic goals. The conclusion is that EIA cannot achieve the original vision set out in the world's first legislation adopted in 1970 unless a learning-organization approach is taken whereby: the critical role of informal knowledge is recognized; informal knowledge is properly managed by EIA teams to engender a common understanding of sustainable development goals; interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary working practices are adopted.     

Environmental decision making in multi-stakeholder contexts: applicability of life cycle thinking in development planning and implementation

According to the targets set for sustainability, integrating the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs is one of the main goals for development projects. A major challenge in the development field is cross-sectoral integrated planning and achieving multi-stakeholder consensus for collaborative joint projects, especially when sustainability is a goal. This increases the complexity of the multi-stakeholder interaction in decision making and requires enhanced mechanisms for stakeholder participation, coordination, and commitment beyond narrow self-interest. A critical aspect in the decision making process is to enable stakeholders to not only interpret and make decisions based on expert judgments, but also to appropriately involve the relevant parties in the research and decision making process. Therefore, scientific analyses in multi-stakeholder contexts have to be more transparent, participatory, and stakeholder-based in order to provide useful information to assist responsible decision making.This paper presents an outline of a stakeholder-based life cycle assessment approach that can be used to support sustainable decision making in multi-stakeholder contexts. The framework is discussed and compared to other common methods used to support environmental decision making in development projects. We argue that the fundamental concept of life cycle thinking can be effectively used to incorporate stakeholders in the research and decision making process, which can lead to more comprehensive, yet achievable assessments in collaboration with stakeholders. Life cycle thinking is not just a way to examine environmental impacts of activities, but also a way to comprehend and visualize a broader set of upstream and downstream consequences of decisions in development planning and implementation. A life cycle framework including the mapping of stakeholder involvement at each activity in upstream and downstream stages would give stakeholders a holistic view that they otherwise may not have.     

基于可持续性的城市总体规划环境影响评价指标体系

城市总体规划（简称“总规”）是实施城市可持续性战略的重要载体,战略环境评价（SEA）是连接抽象的、宏观的可持续发展战略与具体的、可操作的建设项目之间的桥梁,是实施可持续发展战略的政策工具;指标体系是SEA工作的核心工作和评价依据。然而,当前存在城市总体规划环境影响评价（总规环评）指标体系与城市规划内容、城市可持续性脱节,指标体系的设计缺乏理论支撑等问题。本文首先归纳出城市可持续性的一般内涵,然后通过逻辑关系分析、影响评价矩阵的方法,识别总规的可持续性影响,构建了可持续性总规环评指标体系框架,最后以太仓为案例说明框架的应用。     

Development of a facility-based environmental performance indicator related to sustainable development

Companies are increasingly interested in environmental performance indicators as a means of managing the degree to which environmental goals and objectives are implemented. Many companies have publicly endorsed goals associated with sustainable development, like the International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) principles for sustainable development. There is a need for metrics that facilitate implementation of these principles at the facility level and for research metrics that measure management improvement. An existing environmental self-assessment management tool called ESAP by the Global Environmental Management Initiative has been modified to measure a facility's response to the ICC's 16 principles of sustainability. The new tool's focus was shifted to a practical, facility based and easily applied assessment of progress towards sustainable development as represented by the ICC's 16 principles of sustainability. The new tool was called the Green Management Assessment Tool or GMAT, pilot tested and used in a research setting. Such tools have value to companies that are interested in the strategic goals of sustainable development and struggle with shifting corporate goals and objectives to manufacturing operations at the facility level.     

环境优化对经济发展的作用分析

依据辽宁省环保厅近年来审批的建设项目,分析环保审批如何在优化经济发展中起到的重要作用。分析表明:严格环境准入,提高环境门槛、引导产业优化,实现循环经济和可持续发展并通过禁止、限制、鼓励、引导等方式,优化经济发展,带动经济发展模式的转变,实现资源节约型社会和环境友好型社会发展的重大战略目标。     

Building more sustainable solutions in production–consumption systems: the case of food for people with reduced access

In new product development, the ability to integrate different dimensions of sustainability at a value chain level is still a complex, problematic goal. As product-service approaches are increasingly enabling the introduction of more sustainable paths, this paper describes the authors' experience thus far when building insights into conditions for the implementation of integrated solutions in a process of co-development and testing in real life conditions, which are driven by a social need focusing on food for people with reduced access. Throughout this process, which brought together producers, consumers and other stakeholders to design and test industrialised, sustainable solutions, empirical evidence demonstrates feasibility and usefulness of the approach and insight into the conditions for implementing interactive, comprehensive multi-stakeholder processes in real life situations. In addition, results show that the delivery of innovative solutions enabled to offer social added value, economic profits and environmental improvements under specific experimental conditions.     

不同生态系统管理情景下资源环境承载力动态仿真研究

环境问题与社会经济发展关系机理错综复杂,研究环境承载力状态对实现区域可持续发展具有重要意义.基于资源环境复合系统原理,构建"经济-资源-环境"系统动力学模型,通过生态系统评估的4种情景时间序列动态仿真,探索经济社会发展的优化方案.结果表明：全球协同和技术家园更适合福州市自身发展需求,为保持福州市经济发展的可持续性,应优先选用全球协同发展模式,后期可逐步向技术家园发展模式转变.福州市作为生态文明思想重要实践地,在提高经济发展水平的同时,需更好地保护生态环境,实现经济-资源-环境协同发展.研究结果在一定程度上可为经济社会发展模式提供科学依据.     

线性工程选线环境比选研究

线路方案的选取决定了线性工程建设及营运期对环境影响程度的大小,而方案的环境比选是预防和减缓建设项目不良环境影响的重要措施.在建设项目选址选线和环境影响评价过程中,通过对生态环境、水环境、声环境和大气环境等多因素进行了环境比选、分析以及环境保护措施优化,选出环境最优方案,可以从源头确保项目决策的科学性和环境可行性,达到最大限度地减轻项目对沿线环境的不利影响,促进区域经济社会和环境保护的协调可持续发展.     

Tools and concepts for sustainable development,how do they relate to a general framework for sustainable development,and to each other?

We present a general framework to plan for sustainability and then relate it to some well-known tools for sustainable development. This framework follows from principles for how a system is constituted (ecological and social principles), and contains principles for a favorable outcome for the system (sustainability), as well as principles for the process to reach this outcome (sustainable development). The principles for sustainability define the favorable outcome and direct problem-solving upstream towards problemsources. A program of activities is then constructed by backcasting from defined outcomes to the current problems. This is followed by “metrics”, i.e. various concepts for measuring and monitoring the activities. Most concepts and tools for sustainable development function as metrics, for instance life cycle assessment (LCA), ecological footprinting (EF), and Factor X. An environmental management system (EMS), like ISO 14001 or EMAS, is an administrative vehicle that should systematically align a firm's specific outcomes, activities and metrics with a general framework for sustainability. From a strategic point of view, metrics should measure alignment of activities with the principles contained in a framework for sustainability. A framework is not an alternative to concepts and tools for metrics. We need them all, because they represent different interrelated levels of strategic planning.