Many discussions over the past three days here at Greengaged have questioned the validity of the word ’sustainability’. What does it really mean today? Do designers have differing perspectives of its definition and meaning? And possibly more importantly, do the public listen and how do they react when they hear such terminologies: green, eco, sustainable and so forth? Is the title sustainable, creating a market niche that offers only a ‘for’ or ‘against’ decision?
“I’d like to change the word sustainability. If you were to ask someone about their marriage and they say ‘its sustainable’, what would you think?!”- Sophie Thomas, thomas.matthews
If sustainability is to be embedded into all aspects of everyday living, why create a niche? Why have “eco” events at The London Design Festival if the future success of the entire creative sector is dependant on its recognition for good practice? As the Design Council recently pitched in The Good Design Plan, sustainability should be inherently built into our understanding of good design.
“We need to get away from the language that isn’t working for us?” - Sarah Johnson, [re]design
Is it therefore time for a revised umbrella of terms or descriptions? We’d like to hear how you introduce sustainability to your clients and how they react?
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