Everyone talks about "sustainable development," but the reality appears illusory. The work of Swedish oncologist, Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, however, may provide a road map.

Head of the leading cancer research institute in Sweden, Robert saw the results of toxic exposure and started "daydreaming" about a solution. From his perspective, conditions of life in cells are "non-negotiable," so scientific debate on the level of "acceptable risks" to those cells from toxic substances was unreal -- like flooding a house by turning on all the faucets and then arguing about whether the water has reached the threshold to the next room.

Robert focused on how to sidestep the complexities to find fundamental areas of agreement. He wrote a draft of such principles, circulated it to scientific colleagues. 21 drafts later, he had a consensus paper.

The principles start with the Second Law of Thermodynamics (all structures run down in time without new input of energy), and the Principle of Conservation of Matter (energy is neither created nor destroyed; nothing goes away). Though all things decay, in nature, sun-driven cyclical processes constantly reorganize and rebuild. These natural cyclical processes, however, have been disrupted by non-cyclical linear processes developed by humans that convert resources into waste faster than nature can absorb them or in forms it can't absorb at all. We are reversing the process of evolution.

Few are able to consider these facts in daily decision-making, so Robert decided a basic checklist of simple non-negotiable guidelines was necessary:

Nature cannot withstand a systematic buildup of dispersed matter mined from the earth's crust (minerals, oil).

Nature cannot withstand a systematic buildup of persistent compounds made by man (chemicals, plastics, etc.).

Nature cannot withstand a systematic decrease of resources and capacity for renewal (harvesting fish faster than they can replenish, covering farmland with asphalt).

Therefore, we must be a) efficient in our use of resources, and b) just. To ignore social justice forces the oppressed to destroy resources in the interest of short-term survival.

Having gotten the backing of the scientific community, Robert's real genius was in selling the principles to all the other necessary players: the King, educators, entertainers, corporate sponsors. The result was 4.3 million educational pamphlets and audiotapes sent to every Swedish school and household, reaching 8.7 million people. In the process, the corporate sponsors became the founding board of The Natural Step (TNS).

Robert convinced corporations, not by talking about the environment, but about "investing for the future," noting that compliance with the four principles cannot be avoided in the long run; businesses ignoring them will eventually go under. He suggests adopting them as a long-term goal rather than immediate compliance. Nor does he prescribe changes, leaving that to CEOs who know their businesses to determine how best to apply the principles.

Ultimately, companies will phase out petroleum products and unrecycled minerals, use only biodegradable compounds, monitor all processes to ensure no net degradation of renewable capacity, make resource conservation and waste minimization a major priority, and pass on those lessons to developing countries.

ICA, a major Swedish supermarket chain was under the gun regarding CFC emissions from their refrigerators. It asked Electrolux, its supplier, to eliminate "hard freons;" Electrolux suggested "soft freons." "Are they biodegradable?" asked ICA. After much hedging, the answer was "no" -- but the system would use less energy. Not good enough -- meets condition four -- efficiency -- but not condition two -- no persistent compounds. Electolux was not happy -- but within two weeks had found an ozone-friendly interim compound and begun work on a biologically harmless substitute. Electrolux joined TNS and started training its employees.

Every company that has heard TNS' two-hour presentation, "Investing in Tomorrow's Market," has taken the training. By 1994, there were 1500 trainers, and the number was increasing. TNS has established 17 networks of over 8000 various professionals "for the Environment," e.g., scientist, doctors, business leaders, etc.

IKEA, one of the world's leading furniture manufacturers now offers a line that meets the four conditions, using sustainable harvested wood, no metal or persistent glues. One couch, designed for those with little space, includes a hidden container for worm compost!

Paper companies have switched almost entirely to chlorine-free production, and Swedish oil companies are lobbying for increased gas taxes to finance research into alternative fuels!

In April, 1995, a TNS office opened in Cambridge, MA, and organizational work began. On February 5, America's first TNS Instructor Training program was held in San Francisco with 20 participants, and in April, 1996, its main office opened in Sausalito, CA, with Paul Hawken as chairman. Hawken is author of The Ecology of Commerce, which promoted the same general principles as TNS. Jeanne Roy, co-founder of the NorthWest Earth Institute in Portland, is one of the Board members.

Goals for TNS in the U.S. within the next five years include building a national organization, training a million people in TNS principles, enlisting and training 500 major companies, and developing a teaching model and materials to widespread distribution.

[Sources: Walt Hays, "The Natural Step," Timeline, Mar./Apr. 1995; Michael Toms, "The Natural Step to a Sustainable Future", New Dimensions, Winter, 1995, 14, POB 410510, San Francisco, CA 94141-0510, $25/yr.; The Natural Step News, Winter, 1996. For more information, write The Natural Step, 4000 Bridgeway, #102, Sausalito, CA 94965, 415-332-9394; fax - 415-332-9395, natstep@2nature.org.]

Hen Cackles

©Wanda Ballentine, 1996