Overview

The Natural Step is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in Sweden in 1989 by scientist Karl-Henrik Robèrt (per The Natural Step organisational records). The entity operates as both an institutional body and the namesake of a partially open source framework it developed for strategic sustainable development. Following the publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987, Robèrt formulated The Natural Step framework, which establishes the system conditions necessary for the sustainability of human activities on Earth. This framework is derived from a scientific understanding of universal laws and the aspects of our socio-ecological system, including the laws of gravity, the laws of thermodynamics, and a multitude of social studies.

The concept serves as a structured approach to defining and achieving sustainability. By grounding the framework in physical and social sciences, The Natural Step provides a back-casting methodology for organisations and societies to align their operations with the fundamental constraints of the planetary system. The four system conditions outlined by Robèrt act as benchmarks for evaluating progress toward a sustainable society. These conditions are not arbitrary goals but are derived from the universal laws governing the Earth system, ensuring that the framework remains scientifically robust and universally applicable. The organisation continues to operate in Sweden, maintaining the framework as a tool for strategic planning and decision-making across various sectors.

History and Origins

The Natural Step was established as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation in Sweden in 1989 (The Natural Step, 1989). The entity was founded by scientist Karl-Henrik Robèrt, who developed the associated framework to define the system conditions necessary for the sustainability of human activities on Earth (The Natural Step, 1989). The organisational structure and its conceptual framework are operational and remain active under the operator The Natural Step (The Natural Step, 1989).

The development of the framework was directly influenced by the publication of the Brundtland Report in 1987 (The Natural Step, 1989). Following this publication, Robèrt formulated the four system conditions that constitute the core of The Natural Step framework (The Natural Step, 1989). These conditions are derived from a scientific understanding of universal laws and the aspects of the socio-ecological system (The Natural Step, 1989). The scientific basis for these conditions includes the laws of gravity and the laws of thermodynamics, alongside a multitude of social studies (The Natural Step, 1989).

The Natural Step framework is also used to refer to the partially open source framework developed by the organisation (The Natural Step, 1989). This framework sets out the system conditions for sustainability based on the scientific consensus process initiated by Robèrt (The Natural Step, 1989). The integration of physical laws, such as thermodynamics and gravity, with social studies provides a comprehensive basis for evaluating human activities within the socio-ecological system (The Natural Step, 1989). The organisation continues to operate in Sweden, maintaining the framework and its non-profit status since its inception in 1989 (The Natural Step, 1989).

What are the 8 sustainability principles?

The Natural Step framework defines sustainability through specific system conditions derived from scientific laws, including thermodynamics and gravity (The Natural Step, 1989). These conditions are operationalized into eight sustainability principles that guide decision-making in socio-ecological systems. The principles are divided into three ecological and five social categories, ensuring a holistic approach to reducing global and local impacts.

Ecological Principles

The first three principles address the physical constraints of the Earth system. They require that society systematically reduces the concentration of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust, such as fossil fuels and metals, to prevent accumulation in the biosphere. This aligns with the laws of thermodynamics and material flow.

Secondly, the framework mandates the systematic reduction of substances produced by society, such as synthetic chemicals and plastics, to avoid their buildup in the environment. This principle targets anthropogenic pollutants that natural systems have not evolved to process efficiently.

Thirdly, it requires the reduction of physical degradation of natural systems, including soil erosion, deforestation, and land-use change. This ensures that the biosphere’s capacity to regenerate and support life is maintained, respecting the laws of gravity and ecological carrying capacity.

Social Principles

The remaining five principles focus on social sustainability, ensuring that human systems are structured to meet basic needs and foster long-term viability.

The fourth principle requires that society is not structurally exposed to conditions that undermine people’s ability to meet their basic needs. This includes access to food, water, shelter, and health, forming the foundation of social equity.

Fifth, society must not be structurally exposed to conditions that undermine people’s ability to influence decisions. This emphasizes democratic participation and agency in both local and global contexts, ensuring that individuals have a voice in the systems that affect them.

Sixth, the framework calls for a reduction in structural exposure to conditions that undermine people’s ability to use knowledge. This involves improving education, information access, and transparency to empower informed decision-making.

This includes legal and institutional frameworks that encourage accountability and ethical behavior in both public and private sectors.

This promotes social cohesion and fairness, ensuring that all individuals have equal opportunities regardless of background or status.

Principle Category Key Focus
1. Crustal substances Ecological Reduce extraction of fossil fuels and metals
2. Synthetic substances Ecological Reduce production of anthropogenic pollutants
3. Physical degradation Ecological Reduce soil erosion and deforestation
4. Basic needs Social Ensure access to food, water, shelter, health
5. Influence Social Ensure democratic participation and agency
6. Knowledge Social Improve education and information access
7. Responsibility Social Foster accountability and ethical frameworks
8. Discrimination Social Promote social cohesion and fairness

How does the 5 Level Framework work?

The Natural Step framework provides a structured approach to sustainability, grounded in the scientific system conditions established by Karl-Henrik Robèrt. This methodology translates abstract scientific principles into actionable strategies for organizations and communities. The framework is organized into five hierarchical levels, each building upon the previous one to ensure alignment between scientific reality and practical implementation. Understanding these levels is essential for applying the framework effectively to complex socio-ecological systems.

System Level

The first level defines the overarching system conditions for sustainability. These conditions are derived from universal scientific laws, including the laws of gravity and the laws of thermodynamics, as well as social studies. This level establishes the fundamental constraints within which human activities must operate to remain sustainable. It serves as the scientific foundation for all subsequent strategic decisions, ensuring that actions are aligned with the physical and social realities of the planet.

Success Level

The second level translates the system conditions into a vision of success. This involves defining what a sustainable society looks like in practical terms. It provides a clear target for organizations and communities to aim for, bridging the gap between abstract scientific principles and tangible outcomes. This level helps stakeholders understand the end goal of their sustainability efforts, fostering a shared understanding of what constitutes success.

Strategic Guidelines Level

The third level outlines the strategic guidelines necessary to achieve the vision of success. These guidelines provide a roadmap for organizations, detailing the key areas of focus and the general direction of change required. They help prioritize actions and resources, ensuring that efforts are concentrated on the most impactful areas. This level is crucial for aligning organizational strategies with the broader sustainability goals defined in the previous levels.

Actions Level

The fourth level involves the specific actions taken to implement the strategic guidelines. This includes operational changes, policy adjustments, and behavioral shifts within an organization or community. These actions are the tangible steps that drive progress toward the vision of success. They are designed to be practical and measurable, allowing for continuous monitoring and adjustment. This level ensures that the framework is not just a theoretical model but a practical tool for change.

Tools Level

The fifth level consists of the tools used to facilitate the implementation of actions. These tools can include assessment methods, metrics, and software applications that help organizations track their progress and make informed decisions. They provide the necessary support for executing the actions defined in the previous level, ensuring that efforts are efficient and effective. This level completes the framework by providing the practical means to achieve sustainability goals.

Why it matters for global sustainability

The Natural Step framework provides a scientifically grounded methodology for defining and achieving sustainability, distinguishing itself from purely economic or social indicators by anchoring goals in universal physical and social laws. This rigorous basis allows the framework to serve as a partially open-source tool for organizations seeking to align their operations with the socio-ecological system’s inherent requirements.

Global Adoption and Implementation

The practical significance of The Natural Step is evidenced by its widespread adoption across municipal governments and major corporate entities. In its country of origin, Sweden, the framework has been implemented by more than 80 municipalities, demonstrating its scalability and applicability to local governance structures. These municipalities use the system conditions to guide policy decisions, infrastructure development, and community planning, ensuring that local actions contribute to broader sustainability goals.

Internationally, the framework has gained traction in the United States, where 12 eco-municipalities have formally adopted The Natural Step to structure their sustainability initiatives. This cross-continental adoption highlights the framework’s flexibility and relevance to diverse administrative and cultural contexts. The use of The Natural Step in these regions facilitates a standardized approach to measuring progress toward sustainability, enabling comparisons and knowledge sharing between different jurisdictions.

Corporate Integration

Beyond the public sector, The Natural Step has been integrated into the strategic planning of major global corporations. Companies such as IKEA and Nike have utilized the framework to evaluate and improve their supply chains, product designs, and operational efficiencies. By applying the four system conditions, these corporations can identify critical leverage points for reducing environmental impact and enhancing social equity. This corporate adoption underscores the framework’s utility in translating abstract sustainability concepts into actionable business strategies, driving tangible changes in global industry practices.

What distinguishes backcasting from forecasting?

The Natural Step framework employs backcasting as its primary strategic planning tool, distinguishing it sharply from traditional forecasting methods. While forecasting projects current trends forward to predict a likely future, backcasting begins by defining a desired future state—specifically, a sustainable society that meets the framework's system conditions—and then works backward to identify the steps required to reach that goal. This approach is critical in sustainability planning because it challenges the assumption that current trajectories are inevitable.

Defining the Target State

In the context of The Natural Step, the "target state" is not an arbitrary vision but a scientifically defined endpoint. As noted in the grounding, the framework sets out system conditions for the sustainability of human activities on Earth, derived from universal laws such as gravity and thermodynamics, alongside social studies. Backcasting uses these conditions as the fixed destination. Planners first visualize what a society looks like when these conditions are fully met. This contrasts with forecasting, which often results in "business as usual" outcomes where incremental changes fail to address systemic issues.

Working Backward from Sustainability

Once the sustainable future is defined, the backcasting process identifies the barriers and milestones between the present and that future. This involves analyzing the socio-ecological system to determine which structural changes are necessary to align with the laws of thermodynamics and social equity. The Natural Step’s partially open-source framework facilitates this by providing a common language for stakeholders to evaluate progress. Unlike forecasting, which may accept a "good enough" future based on current data, backcasting demands that strategies are explicitly designed to achieve the defined system conditions. This method ensures that sustainability is treated as a destination to be reached, rather than a trend to be observed.

See also