The Natural Step Framework in Practice

You may have read some of our project profiles, our overview of The Natural Step Framework (TNSF), a complete (and quick) perspective about it, or even an in depth presentation, but the big question remains: How does it work? How is it put in practice?

The Natural Step Framework has evolved over 20 years of experience, successes and challenges, with the influence of many different concepts and lines of thought. Putting the Framework into practice involves:

• Following a strategic process, such as the ABCD approach, or another similar graphical representation or metaphor that allows usage of the Framework without getting lost in theory or vocabulary.
• Realizing that change is about creating and maintaining momentum in dynamic human structures (not machines and spare parts). Each TNS practitioner has their own preferred methods, but we do share a few engagement attitudes and perspectives on change.

In our practice, we see more and more organizations that have already completed many actions toward sustainability and are unsure about the value of committing to a sustainability framework. We increasingly answer that question with the following questions of our own:

• Does your organization have a definition of sustainability?
• What is, with reference to this definition, your gap to sustainability?
• What are you doing, at the strategic level of the organization, to bridge that gap?

An ability to answer these questions demonstrates that an organization is taking a strategic approach to sustainability.