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Discover sustainable pathways across a complex industrial landscape

This site works to find and uncover sustainable routes through a sprawling, dense industrial landscape.

There is no doubt that the rapid growth of the modern industrial economy has put severe pressure on the natural environment. But what is less obvious is how its increasing size and complexity has added to the challenge of turning to sustainable economic models. The effect of which has been to create a vicious cycle of unsustainable industrial growth leading to diminishing sustainability options.

trapped in a vicious cycle of unsustainable industrial growth making it harder to deliver sustainability.

For decades, great minds have been grappling with the underlying problem - how to embed sustainability principles in an age of mass production and consumption. And although they have succeeded in creating a raft of new disciplines, theories and methods, they have had little impact on how the industrial economy operates fundamentally.

In the absence of guiding clarity, well-intentioned governments and organisations have resorted to trendy solutions usually involving "green" energy and carbon initiatives. Whilst hopes that the all-powerful invisible hand of the free market will organically generate a "green economy" have yet to materialise.

Even where more sustainable alternatives exist, the adoption process can be arduous and usually requires accepting painful trade-offs and costs. The task of obtaining information can be problematic. Sources are often outdated, inconsistent and either overly simplistic or overly technical.

Given the obstacles, it is easy to see the situation as hopeless - a world locked into the heavy industrial model based on resource-intensive, fossil fuel derived technologies and infrastructure that is too big to change. And yet against the odds, progress has occurred, mainly as a result of a combination of technical innovation and the adoption of sustainability policies (however imperfect).

it is easy to see the situation as hopeless - a world locked into a heavy industrial model

This glimmer of hope suggests that there is real potential to build on what has already been achieved, particularly in the areas of industrial complexity and sustainability information. In the case of the former, there is scope for reframing and demystifying industry by identifying commonalities between sectors, their processes, systems and technologies.

The provision of sustainability information could also be better structured, standardised and delivered to provide greater accountability for all involved in an industrial eco-system. Whilst digital tools and techniques could be used to manage information as a continuous, dynamic process rather than the linear, one-dimensional reporting that seems the current norm.

sustainability information could be better structured, standardised and delivered to provide greater accountability for all involved in an industrial eco-system

There's no question that industrialisation has enriched many lives and it would be futile trying to turn back the clock. But its growth and resource-intensive nature has depleted and degraded natural resources and the environment to the point of catastrophe.

Quelling the appetite of the industrial world is a substantial task that requires a whole economy approach and full engagement of all participants. This will only be achieved with the provision of practical information relating to sustainable alternatives.

requires a whole economy approach and full engagement of all participants

This site will approach this task by developing practical ways to navigate and plot a sustainable path through the complexities of the industrial economy and its technologies, processes and impacts.

Explore sustainable pathways through the industrial landscape