What are some ways to show that you are committed to sustainability?

Prioritizing sustainable design within architectural offices isn't just an option; it's an imperative. Here's why: Inspire Collaboration: Foster cross-disciplinary brainstorming for innovative, sustainable solutions. Educate and Integrate: Share success stories, integrate sustainability into design processes, and lead by example in your workspace. Community Engagement: Understand local needs, values, and aspirations to create spaces that resonate. Future-Forward Positioning: Be a pioneer in an industry shifting towards environmentally conscious solutions. Let's build not just for today but for a sustainable tomorrow. 🚀🌿 #SustainableDesign #ArchitecturalInnovation #GreenBuilding

One thing I have found helpful when advising organisations, is to be as transparent as possible. Consumers want to trust your motives, they want to understand your procurement process and they also want to know how they can be a part of your sustainability journey. Another step is to educate your employees, they are your biggest asset. They have living and breathing your companies mission, they deserve to understand how you want that mission to be portrayed.

The key focus needed today is to restore biodiversity and the necessary climate balance by firstly reducing impacts, then swapping out fossil fuels from utilities and transport and then using Nature Based Offsets to restore ecosystems, thereby drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and binding it within trees, wetlands, soils microbiology and also carbonate mineralisation within soils, corals, shellfish, and oceans.

I'm convinced that integrating sustainability into our lifestyle through small habits can yield a significant impact. Extending these principles to our project decision-making enables us to further promote sustainability, benefiting both the environment and society.

To show commitment to sustainability, embrace the idea of ''less is more.'' Focus on Source Reduction, the most effective waste reduction method. Fostering a mindset of consuming less. Launch a Recycling Program involving employees early on, making them aware of the benefits. This approach demonstrates a strong dedication to sustainability.

Circularity has three main precepts: - reduce toxicity and pollution - make resources and products last longer - restore and regenerate nature. We are starting to do better in the first two precepts and largely ignoring the third. Apply the first 2 does not restore nature, it just reduces the growth of the demands we place on natural systems and services. We need to put back more than we take to start restoring. We also need to make sure to use Nature based offsets that generate biodiversity and carbon co-benefits simultaneously and use 3rd party, independent certification to ensure claims made are being generated in actuality.

Promoting sustainability with a circular thinking requires various proactive steps. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in personal and professional life shows sustainability. This commitment is strengthened by investing in circular and eco-friendly goods and enterprises. Educating and raising awareness, pushing for circular economy legislative reforms, and engaging in community-driven sustainability projects all demonstrate a circular mentality. Innovative methods including developing goods for lifetime, implementing resource-efficient processes, and working in circular networks strengthen a comprehensive circular approach to sustainability.

A circular design mindset prioritizes the full lifecycle of a product or service. It encompasses the extraction, utilization, and eventual reintegration of resources, either through disposal or reuse. This approach marks a shift away from traditional linear, short-term thinking. It underscores the designer's responsibility in fostering a sustainable and environmentally mindful future. This mindset also recognizes the inherent material properties and biological aspects of objects.

we're all familiar with the phrase "don't fix it, if it's not broken", but the greater problem is, we almost never fix it when it's broken. we conveniently dispose appliances for the slightest crack or dent, so we can go ahead to buy a new replacement. electronic waste & discarded appliances are on the rise, and these products can be refurbished for a new lease of life. DIY restoration is good stress reliever, i strongly encourage everyone to try it.

One of the main challange to face is about reuse rather then disposal. It involves most of the iten that we common use but it's first of all a challenge to our mindset to refuse to buy always new stuff without considering consequences. Circular mindset should be not just shown as a production cycle of the materials that we use but being part of our consideration anytime we buy or use something.

"no man is an island", resource will be very limited and not quite financially viable for a single solution provider, to conjure sustainable design for any said system/product/infrastructure in totality. it takes an ensemble of like-minded subject matter experts, from relevant fields to make things happen. therefore, its urgently necessary for more people to connect & collaborate today, more than ever. this includes also the end-users appreciation & adoption for total intent.

Show by your example and others will follow. You may think that one person cannot make a difference, but through collaboration you can share your perspective and the future will be brighter.

Collaboration paired with generosity and humility is the hallmark of a truly effective sustainability professional. This is simply a logic to pursue if sustainability outcomes are desired. It must be remembered that we are all dealing with people. During interactions you will often be fortunate to receive amazing insights and solutions, and in this case celebrate the contributions. And other times you will be encouraging and feeding information in the hope that people will see something. When they do see it, they will often take all the credit for it, in this situation, praise their ideas! At the end of the process, it is likely that your reputation as a sustainability professional will rapidly grow.

Open your experience to other and create a sharing environment. You only can get good achievment when a teamwork is good and you can be sure of sharing the same goals. For a wide notion as sustainability is necessary to be sure that you are considering the same specific goals withins that notion.

Guiding a sustainable project requires a big-picture perspective of sustainable priorities for a given project. Each party may have like-minded goals of sustainability, but interests sometimes compete with the overall goal of a project. A team needs to recognize which sustainable items are the priority to make each project a success.

We don't know what the future will hold, but we need to start reducing our carbon footprint. It will be trial and error. If we find one product is not working, we need to keep experimenting to find the best construction materials - not only what is the cheapest, but what will last the longest, be recycled, and reinvented into a new product.

Please don’t wait until you have everything perfect to release your project. It is impossible to have anything 100% sustainable operating in the system we currently have. Everything is connected and this is one of the major challenges. Keep working and improving. To quote Anne Marie Bonneau, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” It applies not only to zero-waste, but to all aspects of sustainability. Ultimately, you show your commitment by taking action!

Design is liquid; in its early stages, it's formless, flowing, and elusive. The beauty of this fluidity is the freedom to explore and make mistakes. Mistakes are not just missteps; they're stepping stones to deeper understanding. Prototypes become invaluable here—they give shape to our ideas, making them tangible and testable against the real-world use. They allow us to see beyond the immediate, to anticipate needs and solve problems more accurately before they arise. And if we fail? That’s alright to make mistakes for the better.

The influence and credibility afforded by “walking the talk” cannot be underestimated. The sustainability professional should have a heart for sustainability and apply that to their own personal life. They should not boast about this but allow this fact to naturally percolate through their social and professional connections. In the appropriate situation this can be shared. For example, back in 2000 I did a full ecological renovation of my home, so in a project that came up at work, when challenged that organic paints do not exist, I could say, “yes they do, these are ones that I have used!”.

Do not wait for perfection; publish your project right away. In our current system, achieving 100% sustainability is impossible. Continue to improve imperfectly. Apply this to all aspects of sustainability, not just zero waste. Reduce your carbon footprint now; it will take some trial and error. Experiment with different process in design to find long-lasting, recyclable ones for a more sustainable future.

In the industry of construction and design, to engage in integrative design process and delivery in order to minimze wastage and optimize output at every level- this will surely contribute to sustainability.

From the perspective of a product manufacturer, we can showcase our commitment to sustainability by providing transparent information about our supply chain, using eco-friendly materials, obtaining relevant certifications, and highlighting energy-efficient production processes. Clear communication through labels and marketing materials can help consumers understand the environmental benefits of our products.

portfolio is a form of empirical evidence for the achievable; a demonstration of successful design execution, following painstakingly thorough design considerations, all within allocated lead time & budget. these proofs-of-work are also evidences & testaments to the person's/ organization's/ entity's vision, mission & commitment towards SDGs.

The portfolio should be concise but clear and easy to understand. Attempt to clearly explain the design process and demonstrate the role of sustainability in each project.

Demonstrating commitment to sustainability involves a multifaceted approach including regular sustainability reporting, pursuing relevant certifications, engaging in community and environmental programs, adopting green office practices, investing in sustainable technologies, and educating and training employees. These actions not only showcase a dedication to sustainable principles in business operations but also contribute to broader environmental and social objectives.

For the aspiring sustainability professional - some tips from my over 30 years in this arena: a) Consider the long view, especially in the career early stages be prepared to forego a rise in salary for the opportunity to work in a new field. b) Consider working in a not-for-profit organization as a path to gaining way more responsibilities early in your career. c) Always be studying, especially informally - own a vast resource of case studies of sustainability successes. d) If you find yourself simply measuring & reporting rather than developing solutions then give up, find a new place to work! e) If your employer makes it clear that your work is purely to earn them a “license to operate” & is unwilling to make any real changes (see d).

Some key concepts and their interrelation to consider: Reductionist Conservation Sustainable Circular Holistic Regenerative Interconnected Systems Thinking Root Cause System Leverage Points Tools, resources & agency