1. Cosa sono le 'Condizioni di Sistema?'
2. Dove posso trovare maggiori informazioni sulle 'Condizioni di Sistema?'
3. Cosa e' il Framework di The Natural Step e in cosa si differenzia da The Natural Step?

4. Con quali aziende o altre organizzazioni lavora The Natural Step?
5. Quali altre organizzazioni hanno applicato l'approccio di The Natural Step ed il suo Framework ?
6. Potete dare un elenco di aziende che appartengono a The Natural Step?
7. Siamo un'azienda di piccole dimensioni: come possimo essere coinvolti?

8. In quali paesi opera ad oggi The Natural Step?
9. Sono interessato ad avviare The Natural Step nel mio paese: da dove inizio?
10. Avete lavorato con comunita' rurali o associazioni di agricoltori?
11. Ci sono materiali di The Natural Step in Spagnolo?

12. Erogate corsi o rilasciate certificazioni per facilitatori che vogliano adottare e diffonedere l'approccio di The Natural Step?
13. Ci sono materiali e presentazioni disponibili per persone e organizzazioni che vogliano diffonedere i proncipi e l'approccio di The Natural Step?

14. Dove posso trovare maggiori informazioni su governi regionali o locali che abbiano applicato l'approccio di The Natural Step?

15. Avete lavorato con ospedali o il sistema sanitario in Italia o nel mondo?
16. Che informazioni avete per applicare The Natural Step per lo sviluppo dei giovani o nei programmi scolastici?

17. Come posso introdurre o applicare The Natural Step nella mia vita o nel mio lavoro?
18. Come divento un membro di The Natural Step?
19. The Natural Step condivide le proprie mailing list con altre organizzazioni che vogliano promuovere iniziative affini?

20. Come devo fare per usare come citazione i concetti di base di The Natural Step?
21. Possiamo linkare il sito di The Natural Step dal nostro sito?

22. Dove posso trovare informazioni su prodotti sostenibili, statistiche e altri siti sulla sostenibilita'?

23. Come e' finanziato The Natural Step?
24. Posso investire in The Natural Step? Come?

Le 'Condizioni di Sistema' di The Natural Step, anche chiamate 'principi di sostenibilita', definiscono le condizioni di base che devono essere soddisfatte in una societa' sostenibile. Analizzando i tre modi 'di principio' con i quali possiamo danneggiare la natura, The Natural Step ha definito i principi per una societa' ecologicamente sostenibile. Inoltre, visto che la sostenibilita' in riguarda sia le persone che il pianeta, un quarto principio di sostenibilita' sociale va aggiunto agli altri tre. Da qui derivano i principi di base per una societa' sostenibile:

In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing:

1. concentrations of substances extracted from the earth's crust;
2. concentrations of substances produced by society;
3. degradation by physical means;
   and, in that society,
4. human needs are met worldwide.

Check out the following links to learn more about the system conditions:

• A Deeper Look at System Condition 1
• A Deeper Look at System Condition 2
• A Deeper Look at System Condition 3
• A Deeper Look at System Condition 4

Additionally, Seeding a Quiet Revolution, the Story of The Natural Step, by Dr Karl-Henik Robert, Dancing With The Tiger: Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step and The Natural Step for Business: Wealth, Ecology, and the Evolutionary Corporation by Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare Nattrass provide clear descriptions of The Natural Step system conditions, as well as case summaries on organizations using The Natural Step sustainability principles in their strategies for achieving sustainability. The books are available at many bookstores and through www.newsociety.com.

See our publications library for a complete list of academic papers written on The Natural Step and The Natural Step sustainability principles.

The phrase 'The Natural Step' used on its own only refers to one thing - the organization. The sustainability framework that The Natural Step has developed, often called 'The Natural Step Framework' refers to our principles and approach to sustainability and includes a strategy for action. The Natural Step has developed a methodology and processes for applying this framework in organizations.

The Natural Step is currently working with The Home Depot, Bank of America and McDonald’s Corporation.

In addition to the companies included in our client list, a variety of companies and organizations have adopted the principles and approach of The Natural Step and applied it to their business including IKEA, Interface, Collins Pine, CH2MHill, LF Insurance Group, the U.S. Marine Corps, The University of Texas-Houston Health Sciences Center, and Norm Thompson Outfitters.

• LF Insurance Group Case Study
• University of Texas, Houston Case Study
• Interview with Norm Thompson Outfitters

People often ask for a list of "Natural Step Companies", however, The Natural Step is not a member organization, so there is no such thing as a "Member Company". The Natural Step is aware of the potential for, and concern about, "greenwashing" and is committed to providing guidance and education for its supporters and clients, not a green stamp of approval. Sustainability is a long-term journey, therefore it is very rare for a company within the current business context to call itself "sustainable." Companies more accurately may say they are committed to moving towards sustainability, and provide transparent reporting on their year-to-year progress. To learn more about companies that are applying The Natural Step sustainability principles and approach, see our case summaries, and the books The Natural Step Story, Dancing With The Tiger and The Natural Step for Business.

We encourage you to integrate The Natural Step sustainability principles and approach into your business. Find out what others have done by checking out case summaries and learn about the basic science behind The Natural Step sustainability principles. Additionally, you can find a number of educational tools about The Natural Step in our Learn section. If you'd like to receive updates and event announcements from The Natural Step please join our mailing list.

The Natural Step currently has offices in nine countries: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, The United Kingdom and The United States. The Natural Step International is the governing body that facilitates communication between The Natural Step offices and reviews and coordinates activities. It is made up of representatives from the board and staff of each country organization, and has a small and growing international staff.

New countries wishing to start a Natural Step office need to apply for a license (operating agreement) and to undergo a significant initial review process with The Natural Step International. For more information, contact Kirsten Abrahamsson at kirsten.Abrahamsson@detnaturligasteget.se.

The Natural Step South Africa and The Natural Step Australia have done work in this field and may have some useful materials or experience. Contact them directly at natstep@iafrica.com or natstep@ozemail.com.au.

Several papers produced by The Natural Step have been translated into Spanish. For more information please contact Kersten Abrahamsson at The Natural Step International kirsten.Abrahamsson@detnaturligasteget.se. In addition, a video is available in Spanish that describes how the University of Texas - Houston used The Natural Step principles and approach at the Health Sciences Center. To order "Building Sustainability" see http://www.videoproject.org or call 1-800-4-PLANET.

No. The Natural Step does not offer any form of training or certification for individuals interested in teaching The Natural Step principles and approach. Consequently, individuals not formally employed by or connected with the organization are not permitted to represent themselves as a part of The Natural Step or in any way as trainers or consultants on The Natural Step Framework. For more information on representation, please see our Policy on Regional Interest Groups and Consultants.

No. The Natural Step does not release slides or other presentation materials to people wanting to talk publicly about The Natural Step principles and approach. All publicly available information is accessible on or through this web site. The Natural Step staff and board are available for select presentation and workshops. Please see our Presentation Request Form.

The Natural Step principles and approach have played a role in city planning and sustainability initiatives in a variety of cities, including Dekalb, IL, and Eugene, OR, Santa Monica, CA, and Whistler, BC.

Visit our document library to read about a bill Connecticut's General Assembly passed which rewards companies for adopting principles of sustainability. The bill explicitly includes The Natural Step principles and approach in its definition of sustainability principles.

Related Documents:

• The Natural Step in Connecticut Legislation
• For information about our work with the municipality of Whistler, British Columbia, see our case summary or visit www.whistleritsournature.ca.
• For information on Santa Monica's sustainability initiatives, please visit www.santa-monica.org/environment.

To-date, The Natural Step has not formally worked on any healthcare projects in the United Sates outside of its work with The University of Texas-Houston's Health Sciences Center.

Find out more about our work with the university by reading the UT Houston Case Summary or check out the video about the project.

Related Documents:

• University of Texas, Houston Case Study

The Natural Step South Africa has worked with Smith Kline Beecham. Please contact them for additional information at natstep@iafrica.com.

In addition, The Natural Step UK has worked with a company called Carillion on the construction of a hospital facility. To download a report on this project, visit the publications page at http://www.naturalstep.org.uk/uk_homepage.htm.

The Natural Step does not have a formal K-12 curriculum.The Natural Step Sweden initiated The Swedish Youth Parliament for the Environment (SYPE) program in 1989. As a project by young people for young people, SYPE's goal is to expand youth's knowledge of environmental issues. SYPE does this by targeting students age 13-19 by improving environmental education for this age group at schools all over the country. SYPE reaches out to everyone in the target group, not just those already interested and involved in established environmental projects and organizations. SYPE also raises awareness of the democratic rights of youth and how students can use these rights to effect desired changes, both locally, and on a national and global scale. SYPE provides them with tools to use in their future environmental work. Although the project is funded through sponsorship and works independently, it maintains a strong connection with The Natural Step Sweden. The best way to get more information is by sending an email query to info@umr.se.

The Natural Step encourages people to promote The Natural Step principles and approach in whatever work they do by using the educational tools listed below.

• Contact us if your company or organization is interested in one of our advisory services.
• Join the mailing list to stay up to date on The Natural Step's progress and events.
• Surf this site. There are a number of resources in the Learn section designed to help you deepen your understanding about sustainability and our work.
• Attend one of our events.

As resources become available, we will provide self-help information on our site for communities, small businesses and individuals on how to implement sustainability initiatives. For more information on promoting the programs and principles of The Natural Step please see our Policy on Regional Interest Groups and Consultants

The Natural Step is a non-membership organization. However, as a 501(c)3 educational organization, we are dependent on charitable contributions and welcome your support. Contributions to The Natural Step are tax deductible. Join our mailing list to keep up with our activites. Organization updates and event announcements get sent to our entire database free of charge as part of our ongoing public education about The Natural Step principles and approach.

We welcome volunteers in our office. If you’re interested in volunteering, email your resume and a letter telling us more about your skills, expertise and any volunteer project ideas you have to Caroline McDowell at cmcdowell@naturalstep.org.

We have a strict policy against sharing our mailing list with other organizations. The Natural Step has explicitly promised those on our mailing list that we will not disseminate their contact information under any circumstances.

When providing information about The Natural Step's programs, The Natural Step’s approach or The Natural Step sustainability principles, please reference The Natural Step. For more information on referencing the work of The Natural Step, please see our Policy on Regional Interest Groups and Consultants.

We encourage you to link to our site. We only request that you let us know by sending an email to Jill Rosenblum, Director of Communications and Outreach at jrosenblum@naturalstep.org so that we can keep track. Thank you.

The Natural Step does not certify products as sustainable. A number of sites on the Web provide information about environmentally responsible products and procurement guidelines, such as product recommendations www.greenseal.org, Co-Op America’s Green Pages www.greenpages.org, the EPA’s Green Procurement Guidelines www.epa.gov/cpg/index.htm and the Green Guide www.thegreenguide.com. For statistics related to sustainability, visit www.worldwatch.org.

The Natural Step is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We are dependent upon charitable contributions from individuals, foundations and companies. Other income is generated from our educational programs and advising activities. In 2002, The Natural Step raised 47% its total income from foundation grants, 33% from individual donors and 20% from earned income. See our List of Donors, or if you are interested in donating visit the Support section of our website.

As a nonprofit organization, it is not possible to invest money in The Natural Step and receive money back from your investment. However, we consider all financial contributions to our work investments in a sustainable future. See our Support page for a variety of ways you can "invest" in The Natural Step.

In 1994 The Natural Step Sweden created The Swedish Environmental Fund. This joint venture with Banco Funds LTD allows The Natural Step Sweden to invest in companies with strong sustainability practices, and thereby reinforce these companies’ environmental thinking and actions. The rating model for the fund is based on The Natural Step principles and approach. Helene Lindman at The Natural Step Sweden info@detnaturligasteget.se can answer questions about sustainability analysis and general questions about the Fund. International investors interested in investing can contact Johan Edquist at Banco Funds LTD.