Sustainability and the Natural Step Framework:
Win-Win-Win for Business, Our Community, and the Earth

Registration, Presenter, Why Attend?, Natural Step in Practice, Background of the Natural Step
presented by and cost-effective approach for becoming environmentally and socially responsible based on consensus and systems thinking. Its purpose is to present a common framework comprised of easily-understood, scientifically-based principles that can serve as a compass to guide society toward a just and sustainable future.

2 Parts: Thursdays Oct 30 & Nov 6, 6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
5:00 pm – Registration and Optional Organic, Plant-Based Dinner (RSVP Required)

Edina Community Lutheran Church
4113 West 54th St, Edina
952-926-3808 www.eclc.org

Registration:

RSVP Requested and Advanced Registration Discount: $95 ($75 for contributing members of Alliance and other sponsors) if payment received by Thursday, October 23. $10 additional after and $20 additional at the door if space is available. A limited number of scholarships are available. If you can’t come to the second session, you can come another time. Fee includes all resource materials.
Contact: Alliance for Sustainability, 612-331-1099, info@afors.org; www.afors.org

Presenter:

Terry Gips is an economist, ecologist, Adjunct Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, author (Breaking the Pesticide Habit and The Humane Consumer and Producer Guide), President of the Alliance for Sustainability and head of Sustainability Associates, a Minneapolis sustainability consulting firm. Terry is one of the first US NSF trainers (independent) and has served as a White House and Congressional aide, co-founder of the Sacramento Community Garden Program, Cargill economist, and Aveda Sustainability Director. He worked with St. Joan of Arc Church on their award-winning $2.7 million green building renovation.

Why attend?

Through a fun, positive, interactive and inspiring format led by a nationally recognized sustainability leader, you’ll learn what sustainability is, the innovative, proven and cost-effective Natural Step Framework (NSF), and how to apply it. The NSF is used by small and large businesses, communities, government agencies, architectural firms, academic and religious institutions, hospitals, farmers, nonprofits and individuals. They build safer, healthier environments, save money, reduce waste, improve performance, encourage innovative thinking, attract and retain employees, create jobs, obtain funding, gain strategic position, meet ISO 14000, eliminate regulatory burdens, and build teams. They create positive, shared solutions, while becoming environmentally and socially responsible.

You’ll also explore the revolutionary work of Manfred Max-Neef that shows how we can meet the fundamental needs of every person, help address our consumption addiction or "affluenza," and transform our lives and planet. You will never see things the same. Open to a whole new world beyond the “pollution prevention and recycling” approach, one that will strategically reposition your life and organization. Discover a sense of hope, new possibilities and the know-how to make it happen.

The Natural Step Framework in Practice

In only 19 years, the Natural Step framework has been utilized in numerous countries by:
· Hundreds of businesses, including Starbucks, Home Depot, Nike, Bank of America, CH2M Hill Engineers, Cuningham Group Architecture, Tennant Company, White Bear Racquet & Swim, Baltix Furniture, Lakewinds Natural Foods, the world’s largest manufacturers of appliances (Electrolux), furniture (IKEA) and commercial floor coverings (Interface), Sweden’s largest hotel and supermarket chains, biggest oil company, and McDonald’s.
· Government agencies such as the State of Oregon, US Army and Navy, more than 70 municipalities (both rural towns and cities like Stockholm, Santa Monica, Madison and Whistler), hospitals (Ridgeview Medical Center), and schools such as the University of Texas, Houston.n.
· Religious institutions, such as the Basilica of St. Mary and St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis.
· More than 500,000 young people through the Swedish Youth Parliament for Sustainability.
· Thousands of organic and conventional farmers whose NSF consensus process helped shift toward a sustainable agriculture, saving money and reducing pesticide use 75%.

Background of the Natural Step

As a scientist at Sweden’s leading cancer research institute, physician Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert was concerned that increasing cancer rates, especially among young children like those he was treating, were tied to environmental factors. He was frustrated by the lack of agreement among scientists about the cause or what to do, so he began a consensus process which resulted in 50 leading Swedish scientists agreeing on the underlying principles needed for sustainability.

This information was then shared with major corporations who recognized the need for action. They supported the sending of an audiocassette and brochure to every home and school in Sweden--4.3 million. Leading artists, musicians and scientists produced a national TV special in 1989 to launch an educational campaign. The Natural Step became a nonprofit backed by the King of Sweden.

Anything is possible. I appreciated the community of learning, as well as the diving to the depths of environmental impacts and the rise to the transformation necessary for change.
-Laura Rauwerda, Senior Environmental Quality Analyst, MI Department of Environmental Quality