How can you design sustainable systems?

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Sustainable systems are those that can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. They are resilient, adaptable, and efficient, and they minimize the negative impacts on the environment and society. But how can you design sustainable systems? In this article, you will learn some principles and practices that can help you create systems that are more sustainable, whether they are related to energy, water, food, waste, or transportation.

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Pooyan Sedarati, PhD

Sustainability Strategist | Systems and Feasibility Architect

1 Understand the system

The first step in designing a sustainable system is to understand the system you are working with or creating. This means identifying the elements, boundaries, relationships, feedback loops, inputs, outputs, and goals of the system. You also need to consider the context, stakeholders, and external factors that affect the system. A useful tool for understanding a system is a system map, which is a visual representation of the system and its components. A system map can help you see the big picture, identify gaps, opportunities, and trade-offs, and communicate your ideas to others.

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2 Apply systems thinking

Systems thinking is a way of thinking that recognizes the interdependence and complexity of systems, and how they can change over time. Systems thinking can help you design sustainable systems by enabling you to see the system as a whole, rather than as isolated parts. It can also help you avoid unintended consequences, anticipate future scenarios, and find leverage points for intervention. Some methods and tools for applying systems thinking are causal loop diagrams, stock and flow diagrams, systems archetypes, and systems dynamics modeling.

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Pooyan Sedarati, PhD

Sustainability Strategist | Systems and Feasibility Architect
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it's essential to adopt a holistic perspective, recognizing the system as an interconnected whole where each part can significantly impact the entire system. This involves mapping the interconnectedness of all elements to understand their mutual influences and identify feedback loops. By distinguishing between positive feedback loops that can cause rapid changes and negative loops that stabilize the system, you can manage these dynamics effectively, ensuring balance and long-term sustainability.

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3 Use life cycle thinking

Life cycle thinking is a way of thinking that considers the environmental and social impacts of a system throughout its entire life cycle, from extraction of raw materials to disposal or reuse. Life cycle thinking can help you design sustainable systems by helping you identify the hotspots, or the stages where the system has the most significant impacts, and the potential improvements, or the actions that can reduce the impacts. Some methods and tools for using life cycle thinking are life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and eco-design.

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Pooyan Sedarati, PhD

Sustainability Strategist | Systems and Feasibility Architect
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Incorporating life cycle thinking into systems design using a systems thinking approach and an understanding of nonlinearity can significantly enhance the sustainability of a system. This method goes beyond linear, single-stage thinking and considers the entire journey of a product or system, from raw material extraction to disposal or reuse. In essence, this approach ensures a more holistic, sustainable, and adaptive system design, where every intervention is weighed for its systemic implications, fostering long-term sustainability.

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4 Adopt circular principles

Circular principles are principles that aim to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. Circular principles can help you design sustainable systems by helping you shift from a linear model of production and consumption, where resources are extracted, used, and discarded, to a circular model, where resources are reused, repaired, refurbished, remodeled, or recycled. Some methods and tools for adopting circular principles are circular economy strategies, circular design frameworks, and circular business models.

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5 Engage stakeholders

Stakeholders are the people or groups that have an interest or influence in a system, or are affected by it. Engaging stakeholders can help you design sustainable systems by helping you understand their needs, preferences, values, and perspectives, and by involving them in the decision-making and implementation processes. Stakeholder engagement can also help you build trust, collaboration, and ownership, and increase the acceptance and adoption of the system. Some methods and tools for engaging stakeholders are stakeholder analysis, stakeholder mapping, stakeholder interviews, and co-design workshops.

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6 Evaluate and improve

The last step in designing a sustainable system is to evaluate and improve the system. This means measuring and monitoring the performance, impacts, and outcomes of the system, and comparing them with the goals and expectations. It also means identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the system, and taking actions to improve the system based on the feedback and learning. Some methods and tools for evaluating and improving the system are indicators, metrics, dashboards, surveys, audits, and feedback loops.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you design sustainable systems?

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1 Understand the system

2 Apply systems thinking

3 Use life cycle thinking

4 Adopt circular principles

5 Engage stakeholders

6 Evaluate and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

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