Sustainable Everyday

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) welcomes the scenarios presented in this volume as they propose systems that reflect the idea of ‘responsible prosperity’. This is well-being for all, based on different consumption patterns and behaviour.

Design is often identified with the aesthetics of an object, although a product is essentially a means to meet the functional needs of a user. Increasingly, however, designers are offering more than beautiful and functional objects. This research demonstrates imagined but practical options for a shift from products to systems, exploring alternative, less resource-intensive portals, leading to ‘experiences’ rather than consumption.

Development has resulted in a higher life expectancy, and greater wealth in many countries and with that, some would argue, a higher quality of life. However, these benefits have reached a tiny proportion of the world’s population, stressing the earth far beyond its carrying capacity and leading to growing poverty and social problems.

For this reason, the lifestyle of wealthy consumers need to be adapted to enable them to reduce their excessive use of earth’s natural resources. The shift from products to sustainable services systems is a promising new approach to achieve such a shift without having to convince people to ‘consume less’ or compromise their sense of well-being.

Based on a thorough analysis of what consumption means for different people, current consumption and production patterns need to be critically analysed, and alternatives developed with due regard to all three dimensions of sustainability: economic, ecological and social. This is not something that can be done by one societal group or one group of countries alone.

Architects, designers, city planners, retailers, businesses, and consumer groups from all regions and countries need to sit together and prompt each other to think ‘outside the box’.

Creativity, together with laws and guidelines, price incentives, multi-stakeholder and multicultural dialogues will eventually lead us to a better world for all. ‘One size fits all’ solutions do not exist; different people, different values, different experiences, all need unique solutions.

This, the book and the exhibition richly demonstrate.

Bas de Leeuw Coordinator Sustainable Consumption United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics