Design Council’s Post

How do we design products and services which drive sustainable impact? And what's the difference between traditional innovation, and innovating to address social and environmental challenges? I discussed this at the Design for Planet Festival, recently hosted by the Design Council #innovation #sustainability

🌱 Sustainability: A Journey, Not a Destination Studying Social Design and Sustainable Innovations has taught me one essential truth: sustainability is complex, challenging, and often imperfect. As much as we aim for 100% sustainability, real-world constraints make it difficult to achieve. However, what truly matters is intent and incremental progress. Every step a company takes toward being more sustainable—whether it's reducing waste, improving processes, or sourcing responsibly—contributes to a greater collective impact. As designers, it’s crucial to understand this nuance. Instead of striving for perfection, we can encourage organizations to aim for "better" rather than "ideal." By embracing these efforts, we foster a culture of innovation, transparency, and continuous improvement. 💡 Takeaway: Let’s challenge ourselves to approach sustainability not as a finish line but as a mindset—celebrating the small victories while pushing for bigger ones. What are your thoughts on balancing ambition with realism in sustainable design? Let’s discuss. image by: Beckers Sustainability Index (BSI) #SustainableDesign #SocialInnovation #DesignEthics #SustainabilityJourney #IncrementalChange

There are real commercial opportunities for businesses focused on driving social and environmental impact. I discussed this in my keynote speech at the Design for Planet Festival led by the Design Council. #innovation #sustainability #designcouncil

Our new sustainability publication, Unwavering focus on the big picture, is an evolving document highlighting our work, approach and understanding of pertinent issues in sustainable design and innovation. The publication is organised into thematic chapters – Design efficiency, Whole life carbon, Social value and Health + wellbeing – alongside information about our practice’s ambitions as well as research and innovation projects. The content is not an exhaustive catalogue of our work in this field, as we are progressing solutions and engaging in new ways every day to help push our industry forward. Instead, the publication provides our collaborators with a summary of how we critically apply our inventive, multi-layered approach and how this results in designs that fundamentally rethink how we live, learn, work, and play. This detailed catalogue sits back-to-back with our Sustainability Charter, further illustrating the key principles that shape our work and thinking. View the full publication on our website: https://lnkd.in/ebg6uWqY #sustainability #sustainabledesign #wholelifecarbon #socialvalue #passivedesign #wellbeing #publicationdesign #architecturepublication

This is becoming such an important area to differentiate products and businesses in the sector.

Debunking Misconceptions on Circular Economy ♻️💥 What is the circular economy really? Is it one of many commercial sustainability strategies or a shift to a new economic paradigm? The field of circular economy is contested, and several misconceptions thrive in the public debate. With this article, we want to unravel the contradictory positions, respond to the critique of the circular economy, and take our place in the debate. Read the full article by Julie Hjort, Therese Balslev, and Andreas Korntved Mortensen below 👇 The article was first published on November 1, 2023. #design #circularity #circulareconomy #circulardesign #debate

I often receive questions about sustainability: What exactly is sustainability? How do I establish a sustainable business? Can I, as an individual or a business, truly make a difference in the world? This is your opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, clear up any doubts, and get your questions answered. I'll be presenting on these topics on August 20th at 3 PM Melbourne time, as part of the 20th Design Edge Festival 2024, organized by TCFWA. The presentation will cover sustainability, eco-textiles, the R's, ethical production, and much more. Don't miss it! #sustainability #SustainableBusiness #EthicalProduction #ReuseRefuseRecycle

🚀 New Report Release: Building Prosperity! 🚀 We are excited to announce the publication of Ellen MacArthur Foundation's latest report: "Building Prosperity: Unlocking the Potential of a Nature-Positive, Circular Economy for Europe." 🌍🏗️ This insightful report highlights the urgent need to shift towards a regenerative, circular economy. As nature continues to be overexploited and undervalued, the report emphasizes that our economic health is intrinsically linked to the health of our environment. 📥 Access to the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gu6QqiCM Key points from the report: 🌍 A true circular economy is nature-positive by design, paving the way for a resilient economy and better societal outcomes. 🌍 By decoupling economic activities from the consumption of finite resources, we can achieve climate and biodiversity targets while delivering benefits across various sectors. 🌍 Focusing on Europe’s built environment, the report reveals significant economic opportunities through increased resilience, competitiveness, and urban vibrancy. 🌍 The construction sector, accounting for the largest share of Europe's material footprint and over 36% of its total emissions, stands at a critical juncture requiring immediate action. 🌍 Six circular economy strategies have been identified for their potential to drive economic and environmental gains, delivering wider social and environmental outcomes. This report makes it clear that we don't have to choose between economic growth and nature preservation. By adopting a nature-positive, circular economy model, we can achieve mutually reinforcing benefits across the economy, nature, and society. Congrats to the main authors! Lenaïc Gravis Nick Jeffries Jessica Watts Systemiq Ltd. Arup Andrew M. Joss (Jocelyn) Blériot 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 L 📚 We encourage you to explore also additional reports on circularity in construction prepared by CirCon4Climate experts. Download reports: https://lnkd.in/dGzGT2UX #circulareconomy #sustainability #built #environment #green #building

Two successful days are now in the books — bring on day 3! Before you leave The Mart today be sure to stop by the Metropolis Magazine Sustainability Lab to enter to win a trip of a lifetime ✨🌎✈️ Suite #1120 #interiordesign #sustainableinteriordesign #commercialinteriordesign

We need to be more punk. We need to totally reframe value. And we need to question the brief. What an inspiring day of deep dives, shared insights, and bold ideas we had yesterday at Design for Planet Festival 2024. Here’s what resonated with me as we envision a sustainable future through design:   🌍 Quality, Value & Longevity: We need a shift from disposable to durable—prioritising design that truly serves people and the planet. 🌍 Designing for Less: Thoughtful consumption is key. Let’s focus on creating things that matter, last, and reduce waste. 🌍 Radical Collaboration: Real change requires breaking silos. We need cross-sector partnerships and brave, "punk" solutions that challenge outdated norms. 🌍 Bringing the Public Along: Sustainable change is a shared journey. Let’s engage the public, making sustainability approachable and inclusive.   Thank you to everyone who joined us online and in person for bringing their passion, ideas, and hope for the future. A special thank you goes to Kyle Soo, our wonderful MC for the day! Also to our partners The Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester School of Art, AHRC @UKRI, Affinity, SUEZ UK, Smile Plastics and our media partner The Guardian. And of course a huge thank you to all of our wonderful and inspiring speakers!   For anyone who missed out or wants to relive their favourite moments you can watch everything on our platform for the next 30 days - just log in: https://lnkd.in/eT-_7WGn   #DesignForPlanet #SustainableDesign #RadicalCollaboration #PlanetPositiveBusiness