MODULE1

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ROLE OF

ENGINEERS
Introduction:
What is sustainable development

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present,

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its
core is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing,
needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as
a society.

All too often, development is driven by one particular need, without fully considering the
wider or future impacts. We are already seeing the damage this kind of approach can cause,
from large-scale financial crises caused by irresponsible banking, to changes in global
climate resulting from our dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we
pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and severe its consequences are likely
to become, which is why we need to take action now

So is it all just about the environment?

Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable
development. One implication of not doing so is climate change.

But the focus of sustainable development is far broader than just the environment. It's also
about ensuring a strong, healthy and just society. This means meeting the diverse needs of all
people in existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion
and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity.

If sustainable development focuses on the future, does that mean we lose out
now?

Not necessarily. Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both
for the future and the present. We might need to change the way we work and live now, but
this doesn't mean our quality of life will be reduced.

A sustainable development approach can bring many benefits in the short to medium term,
for example:

Savings - As a result of SDC scrutiny, government has saved over £60m by improving
efficiency across its estate.
Health & Transport - Instead of driving, switching to walking or cycling for short journeys
will save you money, improve your health and is often just as quick and convenient.

How does it affect me?

The way we approach development affects everyone. The impacts of our decisions as a
society have very real consequences for people's lives. Poor planning of communities, for
example, reduces the quality of life for the people who live in them. (Relying on imports
rather than growing food locally puts the UK at risk of food shortages.)

Sustainable development provides an approach to making better decisions on the issues that
affect all of our lives. By incorporating health plans into the planning of new communities,
for instance, we can ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and leisure facilities.
(By encouraging more sustainable food supply chains, we can ensure the UK has enough
food for the long-term future.

How do we make it happen?

We all have a part to play. Small actions, taken collectively, can add up to real change.
However, to achieve sustainability in the UK, we believe the Government needs to take the
lead. The SDC's job is to help make this happen, and we do it through a mixture of scrutiny,
advice and building organisational capacity for sustainable development.

Why is sustainable development so Important?

The Brundtland Report was drawn up as part of the UN World Commission on
Environment and Development in 1987.
This over 300-page document aimed to shape national policies and sets out the key
measures to be integrated in order to protect the planet and human life. Although this
report on the technological process of sustainable development is titled, “Our Common
Future”, it is often referred to as the “Brundtland Report” after Gro Harlem Brundtland,
Prime Minister of Norway at the time and Chair of the commission.
The concept of sustainable development was explained in depth in this report through the
discussion of climate change, economic development, and global goals that should be
implemented in order to achieve sustainable development.

The definition is as follows:

“Sustainable development is development that strives to meet the needs of developing

countries seeking to achieve a more sustainable world. Sustainable development
addresses the needs of the present moment without compromising current and future
generations to meet their own sustainable lifestyles.”
 Sustainable development can be applied to corporate policy in the business world as
it encompasses three key areas: economic, environmental and social. Sustainable
development requires that a company must contribute to economic growth, social
progress and promote environmental sustainability.
.

What are the three pillars of sustainable development ?

Social pillar 🤝
The social pillar of a company's sustainable development refers to values that promote
equality and respect for individual rights. The social consequences of the company's social
activity are then assessed in accordance to these issues, such as gender equality.

The principles upon which this pillar is founded are as follows:

● Combat social exclusion and discrimination: helping with reintegration, supporting

gender equality, reducing the gender pay gap, promoting training, encouraging
dialogue, and applying global social rights. In other words, the goal is to seek to aid
the global population.
● Promote solidarity: helping to reduce social inequalities by collaborating with local
and international associations and projects, and prioritizing fair trade products which
guarantee an appropriate income for farmers and help to promote sustainable
agriculture.
● Contribute to the well-being of stakeholders: developing social dialogue,
encouraging the exchange of information and transparency, adapting working hours
according to employee profile, and making premises accessible to people with
reduced mobility.

Economic pillar 💵
This pillar is based on companies’ ability to contribute to economic development and growth.
In other words, they must encourage and promote the protection of the environment by
limiting the risks posed by their production. The recycling of products and the use of
renewable energy are therefore fundamental aspects of the development of the economic
pillar.
Furthermore, the ISO 50001 standard which is focused on energy efficiency, aims to
improve energy performance, while reducing energy consumption and therefore
contributing to economic growth. Effectively implementing of this standard leads to a
certification, serving as a guarantee of optimal, affordable and clean energy use.

Environmental pillar 🌱
The environmental pillar is founded on a commitment to protect the environment by
reducing risks and measuring the environmental impacts of companies' activities. The
challenges for companies in this area are as follows:
● Saving and preserving natural energy or agricultural resources
● Assessing their carbon footprint and reducing total greenhouse gas emissions and
further achieve sustainable development goals.
● Prevent water scarcity and reduce overall waste for current and future generations.

Companies must set targets toimprove their performance on environmental issues. These
goals are an integral part of Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (CSER).
The three pillars of sustainable development can be illustrated using a diagram to provide a
clearer understanding of the greatest challenges facing humanity involved and how they
impact one another.

Why is a fourth pillar sometimes mentioned?

A fourth pillar is often acknowledged as a sustainable pillar of culture. For instance, culture
can refer to the difference in sustainable lifestyles and carbon emissions in various places :
such as New York or small island developing states. Though it is often not recognized as a
core pillar to achieving sustainable development, culture is an important part of sustainable
development since it incorporates all three of the fundamental aspects of sustainable
development described above.

📚
Culture: a basic but central element of sustainable development

The Brundtland Report delineated how economic growth, social inclusion and
environmental balance are essential to create a sustainable development solutions network –
utilizing local, national and global development strategies. However, these aspects alone
cannot account for the full complexity of our current societies.
Organisations and events such as UNESCO or the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (2002) have since advocated for culture to be included in this model. Culture
is a complementary factor as it shapes our meaning of “development” and determines the
actions of communities around the world.
The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001) and the Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005) define
the relationship between culture and sustainable development in two specific ways:
● The development of the cultural sector in itself and its economic dimension (cultural
heritage, creative and cultural industries, crafts, cultural tourism, etc.);
● The notion that culture plays a clear role place in all public policy, such as in the
united nations – including everything related to education, economy, science,
communication, environment, social cohesion and international cooperation.

However, the world is not only facing economic, social and environmental challenges.
Creativity, knowledge and diversity are all key elements for creating a conversation to
promote peace and social progress. These values are intrinsically linked to the ideals
of human development and freedom.

The world’s cultural challenges are too complex to be considered in the same manner as the
other three original aspects of sustainable development. This fourth pillar is strongly linked
with the other three dimensions of sustainable development, and is complementary to each of
them.

Culture is thus a driver of social values (cohesion, solidarity, fundamental freedom,

human settlements, etc.), it contributes to global economic sustainability and is as
important as the environment to humankind because of the heritage it represents.
📌
Why integrate culture into the pillars of sustainable development?

As previously discussed, culture should be integrated into the pillars of sustainable

development predominantly because it encompasses social and economic dimensions. But
that is not the only reason. Culture can also be employed as an effective strategy to support
the three fundamental pillars. It plays a socially-binding and facilitating role in the face of
economic, societal and environmental challenges.
Furthermore, the culture of sustainable development (its foundations, its history, its
evolution) is often overlooked within companies. More importantly, raising awareness of this
culture would provide a better understanding of the issues at stake when implementing
management policy (particularly in terms of corporate social responsibility) and encourage
greater involvement: such as to eradicate poverty, ensure access to needs for youth, and to
provide under-developed countries with basic services that could help to mitigate climate
action or decrease the emission of fossil fuels.
Finally, culture can have a positive impact within a company insofar as it unifies and
consolidates human activities, i.e. “the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual
and emotional features of society or a social group [...]”: This is an essential element of the
company's overall functionality.
Therefore, it could be said that sustainable development is not defined by three
fundamental pillars, but through four major dimensions: social, economic,
environmental and cultural.

Social pillar: ensure the well-being of your employees 👥

Governance that conveys social values is conducive to the well-being of your
employees and associates. A company is more likely to prosper if its employees feel happy in
their work. They will certainly stay with the team longer and the work dynamic will be better.
For a company, taking ethical action means implementing a reference model of good
practices for a more virtuous society. Therefore, the social pillar plays a critical role in
achieving sustainable development.

Economic pillar: optimise your budget 💰

Adopting a more responsible approach to production by encouraging recycling,
limiting waste and using renewable raw materials can considerably reduce your current
expenditure while still promoting sustainable consumption. Better resource management and
the integration of waste into a second line of production or sales channel are good practices
for optimizing your budget and natural resources. The economic pillars plays a key role in
sustainable development as it opens more doors for success in the other pillars of sustainable
development.

Environmental pillar: improve your CSR strategy 🌳

Integrating environmental targets into the management of your company is essential
from a corporate social responsibility (CSR)perspective. Already a legal obligation for
companies with over 500 employees, a CSR strategy is also recommended for other
businesses that want to invest in an eco-friendly way while improving their brand image. The
environmental pillar is imperative as it creates a more sustainable world for future
generations, and overall helps to mitigate climate change.
‍

📖
Cultural pillar: boost cohesion and support among stakeholders

Integrating the cultural role is an essential component of any company. As a unifying

force, culture helps to build real social ties, which result in more dynamic exchanges, better
group work and, therefore, an increase in the productivity of your employees. Moreover,
culture boosts motivation and education through intellectual stimulation. Overall, the cultural
pillar of sustainable development plays a crucial role the individual performance of your
company's stakeholders.

What Is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international accord that was adopted by nearly
every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts. The agreement aims
to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global
temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, while
pursuing the means to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. The agreement includes commitments
from all major emitting countries to cut their climate pollution and to strengthen those
commitments over time. The pact provides a pathway for developed nations to assist
developing nations in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, and it creates a
framework for the transparent monitoring, reporting, and ratcheting up of countries’
individual and collective climate goals.
History of the Paris Agreement
Hammered out over two weeks in Paris during the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) and
adopted on December 12, 2015, the Paris Agreement marked a historic turning point for
global climate action, as world leaders came to a consensus on an accord comprised of
commitments by 195 nations to combat climate change and adapt to its impacts.

President Obama was able to formally enter the United States into the agreement under
international law through executive authority, since it imposed no new legal obligations on
the country. The United States has a number of tools already on the books, under laws already
passed by Congress, to cut carbon pollution. The country formally joined the agreement in
September 2016 after submitting its proposal for participation. The Paris Agreement could
not take effect until at least 55 nations representing at least 55 percent of global emissions
had formally joined. This happened on October 5, 2016, and the agreement went into force 30
days later on November 4, 2016.

How Many Countries Are in the Paris Agreement?

Since 2015, 197 countries—nearly every nation on earth, with the last signatory
being war-torn Syria—have endorsed the Paris Agreement. Of those, 190 have solidified their
support with formal approval. The major emitting countries that have yet to formally join the
agreement are Iran, Turkey, and Iraq.

What was agreed?

● To "pursue efforts" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C, and to keep them "well
below" 2.0C above pre-industrial times
● To limit greenhouse gas emissions from human activity to the same levels that trees,
soil and oceans can absorb naturally - known as net zero - between 2050 and 2100
● Each country to set its own emission-reduction targets, reviewed every five years
to raise ambitions
● Richer countries to help poorer nations by providing funding, known as climate
finance, to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy.
Why is it so significant for COP27?

Some of the key discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt will be about whether and how
countries are building on what they promised in Paris.
When the agreement was signed, governments admitted the targets set would not be enough
to limit global warming to 1.5C.

At the COP26 climate summit held in Glasgow in 2021, some countries brought forward new
targets. But even with these pledges, global warming would still only be limited to 2.1C,
according to the independent Climate Action Tracker.
Parties were again asked to submit more aggressive targets for reducing emissions before
COP27 to align with the Paris goal, but only 25 of the 194 have come up with improved
commitments.

It is expected that South Africa and Indonesia will announce funding plans to phase out fossil
fuels, and it is hoped that more countries will sign up to the methane, finance and
deforestation pledges drawn up at COP26.

COP27 will also host one of three technical reviews as part of the "global stocktake" (GST).
This is where countries review whether their plans are strong enough to prevent temperatures
rising above 1.5C, using analysis prepared by UN officials and scientists.
It is hoped the process will strengthen the case for further action.

What about promises to help poorer countries?

The Paris Agreement restated a commitment made in 2009 that the world's richer countries
should provide $100bn (£87bn) annually by 2020 to help developing nations deal with the
effects of climate change, and build greener economies.

Did the Paris Agreement go far enough?

Although the Paris Agreement laid out a clear target point, it did not contain the
specific detail on how to reach it.

The ambition is to create a "net zero" world by 2050. That means reducing greenhouse gas
emissions as much as possible, and removing any remaining emissions from the atmosphere,
through natural or artificial processes.
Scientists argue it is vital to assess the progress being made towards that goal every year.
The UN group of climate experts, the IPCC, has estimated an annual budget of carbon
emissions the world can release before temperatures rise above 1.5 degrees, measured in
gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e).

In 2018, the IPCC estimated that the world should only release 25-30 GtCO2e per year by
2030.
It currently emits 36.3 GtCO2e per year, according to the IEA.
The priority of COP27 will be to develop a specific plan of action to bring that figure down,
and - as in Paris - secure international support for the way forward.

Paris Agreement and Role of Engineering

Global climate change is one of the greatest environmental threats facing the world.
Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation over the past 150 years
have led to the emissions of massive amounts of greenhouse gases (eg carbon dioxide and
methane). These gases are increasing the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere leading to
changes in climate faster than at any time since the transition from the last ice age 10,000
years ago [1]. The consequences will be grave: large rises in sea level causing widespread
coastal flooding; more severe weather (droughts in some areas, storms in others); and major
threats to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Those affected most will be those already
vulnerable today: people in poorer countries and endangered wildlife.

The choices that society makes on the use of engineering today and in the near future will be
instrumental in determining whether we successfully tackle the problem or not. In this paper I
briefly outline some of the main technical options for dealing with climate change, and
highlight the ethical dilemmas that surround these options.

Reducing Greenhouse Gases

Because so many human activities result in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), there is a
very wide range of possible ways of reducing these emissions. Here I focus on three areas of
particular importance to engineering:

● Changes in energy production

● Improvements in energy-efficiency by technical means

● Reducing GHG emissions by social means

Changes in energy production

Energy production can be changed in several ways to reduce emissions. For a start we can
switch away from coal and oil to gas, as gas emits only half the CO2 of coal and two-thirds
the CO2 of oil per Joule of energy used. A further way is to expand the use of Combined Heat
and Power (CHP or cogeneration) plants. Such plants use the waste heat from electricity
production to provide space heating or hot water for local buildings. Whereas conventional
plants producing electricity work at efficiencies of about 35% to 45%, CHP plants work at
efficiencies of up to 85%.

Improvements in energy-efficiency by technical means

The potential for technical change to lead to energy efficiency improvements as a way of
reducing GHG emissions is very high. For example, most buildings in the UK are not well
insulated due to (up until recently) low energy efficiency standards being followed in the
building industry. Since most buildings are heated using fossil fuels, either directly or
indirectly, a large amount of GHG emissions are needlessly produced. Large-scale
deployment of building insulation will thus yield significant savings. Further, the recent
improvements in the energy efficiency standards governing household appliances is
beginning to have an effect.

One of the largest sources of GHG emissions in the UK is from motor vehicles. The recent
introduction of the first 'hybrid' cars, which use a combined petrol-driven motor with an
electric motor, can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50%. The promise of using fuel cells
(see above) to drive motor vehicles has the potential to reduce GHG emissions further.

Reducing GHG emissions by social means

It is also important to consider social changes which could reduce GHG emissions. For
example, if more people were to switch transport mode, from cars to public transport or
cycling they could make very large savings in their personal energy consumption and hence
reduce emissions. Of course, the ability of people to make such changes depends on many
factors, such as how far they live from work. But if such changes encourage people to live
closer to work, they could reduce their emissions further. Indeed basing more of our economy
on local activity, eg buying locally-produced food or other goods and services, could reduce
GHG emissions quite substantially.

Ethical dilemmas for engineers

There are four main ethical questions I will tackle in this section:

1. Will nuclear power cause more problems than it solves?

2. Is CO2 capture & storage an acceptable option?

3. Are improvements in technical efficiency just undermined by more consumption?

4. Will reducing GHG emissions conflict with international development?

IS CO2 capture & storage an acceptable option?

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) raises a number of ethical issues. The first is whether the
CO2 injected into the ground will leak out. Current research indicates that the CO2 will
remain, but it is still a technology in the early stages of development. Further concerns
include the way in which it will support the continued use of fossil fuels. The extraction and
transport of fossil fuels have significant non-climate environmental and social impacts, eg oil
tanker spills and damage to ecosystems during oil extraction. Perhaps the strongest concern is
that it will continue to exacerbate geo-political problems, eg in the Middle East. Related to
this is the concern that R&D in this area will divert finance away from renewable energy.

Are improvements in technical efficiency just undermined by more consumption?

When energy efficiency is improved it obviously leads to a drop in the amount of energy that
can be sold by suppliers. To compensate (which is the same for any business whose sales
fall), the suppliers try to lower the price so that people are encouraged to consume more.
Unfortunately, such a response can undermine the original energy savings. The simplest way
around this is for energy prices to be increased by the use of taxes. The particular taxation
method of most relevance to climate change is carbon taxes, whereby the tax is determined
by the emissions of CO2 per Joule of energy. Unfortunately, many large businesses involved
in energy generation and use oppose such taxes because of the potential cost to their business.
However some businesses have more progressive environmental policies and support such
taxes.

Will reducing GHG emissions conflict with international development?

A criticism which has been levelled by some of the developing world is that, if they are
forced to reduce GHG emissions, this may increase the costs of energy and hence undermine
their efforts to tackle poverty. Hence it is crucial that the richer industrial nations assist in the
transition to cleaner energy generation and use. One aspect of particular benefit to poorer
communities is simpler 'intermediate' technologies. These technologies, which include some
renewable energy technologies like small-scale hydro and wind, tend to be easier to maintain
and cheaper.

An ethical agenda for engineers?

It is very difficult to define exactly what an ethical approach to tackling climate change is.
Rather than make pronouncements that any particular technology or approach is ethical or not
ethical, I make a series of recommendations of which areas deserve the most attention from
engineers.

● Given that there are options for tackling climate change which have clear benefits,
working in these areas should be a priority. These options are:

● renewable energy technologies because they produce zero GHG emissions during
operation;

● power storage technologies, including hydrogen technologies, which can assist in the
deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources;

● large technical changes in efficiency, eg CHP or fuel cells;

 ● technologies that support social change, eg buses/bikes rather than planes/cars;

● intermediate renewable and energy efficiency technologies that will be of particular

value to communities in poorer countries.

● Seek employment with organisations with strong environmental and social policies,
including supporting eco-taxes.

The Engineer's Role in Sustainability

Development can be called the sum of our products and projects, i.e. our application of techn
ology. In these applications engineers carry out, influence or decide the options evaluated, the
decisionmaking criteria, the decision and the detailed design and implementation/production.

For development to become ‘sustainable’, engineers must incorporate ‘sustainability’ into all
our planning and engineering of products and projects. Technology is neither good nor bad in
itself - how we choose to apply it determines whether a good balance is achieved.

Engineering integrates with all aspects of society; it takes concepts from maths and sc
iences and puts them into context through social and economic considerations before implem
enting them as tangible outcomes in society. It is essential that engineering understands social
and environmental constraints and does not just conform to economic necessities. The purely
business influence has been the paradigm norm of engineering, which has led to the problem
soutlined above.

Bill Kelly describes how social responsibility is key to an engineer’s role:

“Social responsibility is not a new issue for the engineering profession. It is fundamental t
o defining engineering as a profession. Following the concept that the outward part of an e
ngineer's social responsibility is affecting public policy, the engineering profession is chall
enged today to help define social responsibly as part of defining the principles and practice
s of sustainable development. ”

Engineering: The art of directing the great sources of power and Nature to the use
and benefit of Man.” -Thomas Tredgold, 1818

“Engineering is defined as the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and apply
ing scientific, mathematical, economic, social and practical knowledge, in order to desig
n and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes.”

The Engineering Council in the UK has produces a guidance on sustainability, which defines
6 principles that engineers should adhere to:

● Contribute to building a sustainable society, present and future

 ● Apply professional and responsible judgement and take a leadership role
● Do more than just comply with legislation and codes
● Use resources efficiently and effectively
● Seek multiple views to solve sustainability challenges

Sustainability Concepts
Factor 4
Definition

The Factor Four concept visualizes a quadruple increase in resource efficiency using existing
methodologies whilst avoiding negative impacts on the overall quality of life. The concept
aims for society to last twice as long or enjoy twice as much whilst using half the resources
and placing half the pressure on the environment.

Main Features

Factor Four moves away from labour productivity and towards resource productivity and
sustainability. By using best available technology, advanced engineering and improved
production methods, fewer resources are required to produce more products and services. As
a result, the life span of resources is stretched and future generations provided for. In other
words, four times as much wealth can be extracted from the resources we currently use.

Factor four is used in decision making; production; and product-oriented environmental

protection. Fundamentally, Factor Four is an economic idea. Reducing resource use by a
factor of four is not a fixed target. Rather technologies and processes should aim to increase
resource efficiency.

Case Studies and Examples

1. Recycling Carpets
Most used carpets in Europe are sent to landfills or waste incineration plants. However,
several European companies collect, sort and identify used carpets according to fibre type.
The carpet or carpet components are then reused or recycled into underlays, insulation,
cement clinker, synthetic vehicle components, fuel pellets, new carpets, etc.

The benefits of automated carpet sorting and recycling/reuse include:

● Less energy - recycling carpets consumes less energy than manufacturing new
carpets.
● Less virgin materials - new products made from recycled carpets require less virgin
material (by a factor of 4).
● Materials diverted from landfill - saving land use for landfills by a factor of 4.
● Environmental protection - recycling halves the greenhouse effect, acidification,
nutrification and toxicity of carpeting and reduces the ozone-emitting-potential by
80%.
● Financial savings - automation makes the sorting and identification process
economically feasible.
● New jobs are created.
● Market advantage - recycling and the recyclablity of carpets gives manufactures a
completive advantage.

2. Dirt Repellent Surfaces using Nature as a Model

Many plants have leaves with a rough surface that naturally repel water. As water runs off the
leaves in little beads, it also washes away dirt. Technological advancements allow scientists
to replicate this water-repellent effect in materials such as house paint; tiles; glass panes;
plastic sheets; and roof tiles. The result: materials that naturally repel dirt and are therefore
self-cleaning or require minimal effort to clean.

The benefits of this process include:

● Less water and cleaning products utilised.

● Surfaces are more durable and scratch resistant, thereby requiring less repair work,
maintenance, replacement, etc.
● Surfaces stay dryer longer, thereby preventing algae.
● Surfaces last longer and age better.
● Surfaces are more aesthetically pleasing and take much less time to clean.
● When used on vehicle windshields, visibility is improved.

Target Sectors / Stakeholders

The main stakeholders of Factor Four are industry, research institutions, governments and
consumers. Developed nations are targeted more than developing nations.

Scale of Operation

Factor Four is applicable world-wide, however, it is best implemented at a business level.

Factor 10
Definition

Factor 10 states that over the next 30 to 50 years (one generation) a decrease in energy use
and material flows by a factor of 10 and an increase in resource productivity/efficiency by a
factor of 10 is required to achieve dematerialisation. That is, to attain sustainability and
environmental protection we need to reduce resource turn over by 90% on a global scale,
within the next 50 years.

Main Features

Countries around the globe are consuming resources at an untenable rate, with developed
nations consuming more than they should. Schmidt-Bleek et al (1999) note that developed
nations account for 20% of the global population yet consume 80% of the world's resources.
As such, developed nations are promoting an unsustainable model of development.
Consequently, if nations want to ensure they do not exceed the planet's carry capacity and
want to provide adequate resources for future generations, a change in resource use and
development models are required. The Factor 10 concept can help achieve this.

Based on sustainability, Factor 10 focuses on materials and the input side of the economy. It
requires new technologies; policies; services; and manufacturing processes, as well as
socio-cultural change to create and do more for longer periods of time with fewer resources.

Factor 10 is a long-term concept and as such, governments or business working to short term
plans may have difficulty achieving factor 10 reductions. Since Factor 10 aims to decrease
energy and resource use, it helps governments work towards multi-lateral environmental
agreements.

Business and governments implementing the Factor 10 concept have used tools such as
eco-efficiency, environmental purchasing design for environment, policies and environmental
taxes.

Case Studies and Examples

1. Household Appliances
Environment Enterprise @ RMIT (Australia) investigated emission and resource use
reductions through partial or full replacement of existing household appliances with
equipment using best available technology. Behaviour modification was not considered. The
study found that technological advancements had reduced material and resource use in
appliances by a factor of 1.6 to 3.4, depending on appliance. The study noted that further
technological advancements might result in a big jump in eco-efficiency.

2. Transport and Housing

Open University (UK) examined the potential for Factor 10 reductions of environmental
impacts for personal transport, housing and higher education over the next 50 years. The
study found that some sectors could reduce their environmental impact quicker than others.
The study argued that a combination of eco-design, new product services and production and
consumption modifications are required to reduce environmental impacts.

3. Factor 10 Strategies
The International Factor 10 Club noted that the Austrian and Norwegian Governments have
adopted a Factor 10 strategic goal. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBCSD) has asked businesses to adopt a strategic target of factor 20 for resource
productivity increases.

4. Plastic Bags
A tax on plastic bags in Ireland resulted in a factor 10 (90%) reduction in plastic bag usage.

Target Sectors / Stakeholders

The main stakeholders of Factor 10 are governments, industry, research institutions,

non-government organisations, businesses and industry groups. Consumers and the insurance
industry drive Factor 10 through purchasing or insurance policies that require energy and
resource efficient products.

Factor 10 clubs and institutes, established either nationally or internationally, utilise a

multi-disciplinary approach to promote and bring about the realisation of the Factor 10
concept.

Scale of Operation

Although Factor 10 is a global issue, it is predominantly targeted to developed nations. Factor

10 is best implemented at a national level by businesses and governments.