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    • Growth
      • Illusions about Growth

        They do exist, the 'limits to growth'. Everyone is familiar with the key words nowadays: climate change, overexploited oceans and high oil prices. If you ask companies and politicians about this, they quickly start talking about competitiveness. Without growth, individual companies as well as entire economies would quickly be out of business. Ecologists counter that continual growth will also lead to collapse – it will just take longer. Both of them are right. By Bert Beyers, translated from the German by Theresa Lupek, Alina Junk and Larissa Katja Burkart

      • How we treat Growth
      • When Sustainability Grows

        Growth and a sustainable economy, how does this go together? It works particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises that are usually not associated with sustainability at first glance: craft enterprises. Examples show that this is exactly where limits to growth imply more sustainability. By Christine Ax, translated from the German by Christine Kuhn and Luzie Schmitt

      • Gunter Pauli and Blue Economy

        Better quality for better prices is the objective of Blue Economy. Its inventor, Gunter Pauli, is an entrepreneur, advisor, author, travelling speaker and an educator. He wants to meet everybody's basic needs with his Blue Economics by using what is available regionally. By Bert Beyers, translated from the German by Christine Kuhn, Luzie Schmitt and Alina Junk

      • The Right Growth at the Right Time

        Growth at any cost – these times are over. Companies that apply principles of sustainability have other important objectives. Hence, natural limits of growth emerge – or there are simply no limits, because there is still a lot of room left for the green and blue growth of a sustainable economy; considerable room exists for companies striving to grow, to stimulate growth, to subdivide or to not growth. By Ralf Bindel, translated from the German by Larissa Burkart, Christine Kühn and Theresa Lupek

    • Participation
      • Possess to Participate

        Some terms are like scalpels: cold, sharp, precise. Then there are terms like large handbags: you can put a lot of stuff into them. The terms ‘partaking’ and ‘taking part’ seem to resemble a Black Forest Cake: rich in tradition, complex and nutritious. This is to be considered when analysing the term. By Bernd Draser, translated from German by Stefan Helwig and Simon Varga

      • When Citizens participate

        Civic participation, dialogue forums and referendums have been widely discussed, at least since Stuttgart 21 (a public opposition movement against the redevelopment of the Stuttgart central station) and since the mayor of Duisburg was voted out of office. Under public pressure, parties, associations, and enterprises are more and more frequently involving citizens, neighbours or affected persons in decision-making processes. However, most politicians and businessmen still consider this form of participation an incalculable risk. Only few of them see it as an opportunity. By Simon Wiggen. Translated from the German by Christin Brauer, Nadja Gröner and Lea Schiefen

      • Using Shares to Survive the Crisis

        In the days of a globalized economy and the euro crisis, investments are a nightmare for many people. Just recently, the German Institute for Economic Research insisted that the national Riester supplementary retirement plan should be abolished, as it made sense only for those who lived beyond the age of 90. Where is it possible today to invest reasonably and safely? By Christine Ax. Translated from the German by Eunike Bawarska and Katarzyna Piaseka

    • Do-it-yourself
      • From the handaxe to desktop fabrication

        Do-it-yourself is a new, yet old trend. DIY stores, ATMs, ticket machines, Ikea, and Wikipedia are part of our everyday life. In a world in which businesses transfer part of their production to the customer, the latter develops more and more ideas for home production.
        By Ralf Bindel
        Translated by Stefanie Scheu, Antje Boldt, Caroline Hutter

      • Standing on One’s Own Feet

        Do-it-yourself (DIY) does not stand for the division of labour, but for the preservation of resources.
        A modern subsistence economy cannot exist without it.
        By Gerhard Scherhorn
        Translated by Lea Schiefen, Karina Janowska, Christin Brauer

      • Should you really DIY?

        About restrictions and creativity.
        There are many arguments against DIY, including our lack of professionalism and that we put a lot of time and resources into DIY. We are already doing too much ourselves and now we feel the need to re-invent ourselves on top of that.
        By Birger P. Priddat
        Translated by Alina Junk

      • The Aesthetics of Do-It-Yourself
    • Separating
      • The art of separation

        Nowadays, people who separate either separate their waste, or break up with someone. Both things are difficult for us, which is why we like to postpone them. To separate waste or other things is referred to by grammar books as transitive, to separate yourself from something is reflexive. This reflexive dimension is what is most important for sustainable ways of living and for the success of all sustainability strategies—it is about shaping ourselves, not about us acting upon things. As the German philosopher Heidegger would say—it is about Dasein, not about stuff. By Bernd Draser, translated from the German by Stefan Helwig and Simon Varga

      • More Gold in Waste than in Mines

        Although we are good at separating waste, we could be better at recycling. Dr Christian Hagelüken is Director EU Government Affairs at Umicore AG. The enterprise operates a high-tech facility close to Antwerp where electronic scrap, accumulators and other technical waste are recycled. An interview by Bert Beyers, translated from the German by Nadja Gröner, Lea Schiefen, Christin Brauer

      • Let’s Break Away from Determined Breaking Points

        Many everyday products could have a longer lifecycle if they were designed accordingly. At the Folkwang University of the Arts, designers create new ideas for this purpose: about separating material, separate modules and separable joints. By Anke Bernotat and Judith Schanz,translated from the German by Nadja Gröner, Lea Schiefen, Christin Brauer

      • Analysing Separately – Thinking and Acting Together!

        We isolate the three dimensions of sustainability too much. In fact, they are directly and interactively connected with each other in space and time. Instead of separating, there needs to be more integrated thinking and acting. A standpoint of Prof Angelika Zahrnt, translated from the German by Kerstin Lisewski, Eunike Bawarska, Katarzyna Piasecka

    • Be(a)ware
      • What If...?

        Predicting the future by using a crystal ball, reading coffee grounds or other methods rarely yields results. In certain scenarios, however, it is possible to manipulate factors in order to develop a more realistic idea of possible outcomes – and thus gain a better understanding of our present time. By Klaus Dosch, translated from the German by Larissa Burkart and Merle Kolmorgen

      • It Works! In Theory at Least ...

        In a few years time, one in two new cars in Germany will be a heavy off-road vehicle such as a SUV, although 80 percent of the population live in cities. Obviously, sustainable development is only possible if people are willing to change. However, sustainable development does not call for another New Man but for people who tend to look at traditions, both those which are tried and tested as well as at those that have been refuted, with an inquisitive eye. By Bernd Draser, translated from the German by Christine Kühn, Alina Junk and Theresa Lupek

      • Columbus’ Egg

        Stardate 2013. We are on the journey towards sustainable development. The transition to alternative energy has created the right climate for innovation; there is a sense of pioneer spirit. Excellent concepts have been developed that are so simple that it makes us wonder why no one thought of them before. By Bert Beyers, translated by Alina Junk, Lara Nettekoven and Luzie Schmitt.

      • Growing Older 101

        We are growing older, becoming more colourful and fewer. Many people associate the demographic change with shortages of skilled labour, shortages of nursing staff, and stress. Albeit, now is the time to actively design the future world of employment. By Manfred Nedler, translated from the German by Christine Kühn, Theresa Lupek, Lara Nettekoven und Luzie Lotta Schmitt

    • Trans-form
      • The Disappearance of Products

        Worldwide, we use too much material and energy for our increasingly resource-consuming lifestyles. A transformation to increase sustainability via transformative products is no longer an option, but a necessity. However, there are different opinions concerning the design and effect of these products. We asked a panel of three experts for their opinion: Peter Wippermann, trend researcher, Ortwin Renn, technology assessor, and Harald Welzer, transformation designer. By Ralf Bindel
        (Translated from the German by Inga Festersen)

      • Historically effective: How innovation and technology transform

        The London underground is 150 years old. In the beginning, nobody was really in favour of this innovation in mobility that drove through the tunnels with steam and open carriages. An essay on the history of technology from creative destruction through innovation to transformation by the Internet of things. By Bert Beyers. (Translated from the German by Eva Maria Flucke and Anna-Lena Vohl)

      • The Transformative Power of Science

        Science often only observes processes of social change. Alternatively, it provides technological knowledge but does not get further involved. This is not enough to implement a transformation towards sustainable development. Science needs to become ‘transformative science’. It has to intervene actively in the process of social change. This influences scientific approaches and methods. The point of view of Uwe Schneidewind. (Translated from the German by Kerstin Haep, Chantal Gruber, Olympia Klassen, Christoph Ulbert, Eva Maria Flucke and Maciej Maj)

    • Value-ation

      Value-ation is the factory-magazine to Values, Valuation and Social Appreciation

      • Worth and Values

        The assessment of value that predominates today is an economic one: the price determines the value. However, the actual meaning of a value lies in its use, in its quality. A shift from valuation to appreciation could change our view of things. By Joachim Spangenberg. Translated from the German by Jan Maintz, Dorothée Schmidt, Lara Nettekoven and Susanne Mollen.

      • Learning to value the value of goods

        A different kind of appreciation of products, of the invested labour and resources is a way out of the resource-devouring consumption trap. We reward ourselves and others, both economically and aesthetically, with truly appreciative, material-loving consumer behaviour. A plea by Christine Ax. Translated from the German by Lara Nettekoven, Theresa Lupek, Susanne Mollen, Ruthild Gärtner, Bianca Gerards and Miriam Eckers.

      • Worth more than money

        Bartering brings more profit than money and it keeps societies together. The respect of the barter partner in association with the appreciation of the object of bartering are social and cultural facts that form at the same time the basis for social relations. The ethnologist Prof. Dr. Hans Peter Hahn considers bartering clubs suitable for changing the conceived conditions of the economy. Ralf Bindel spoke to him. Translated from the German by Christine Gubo and Lars Zankl.

      • Appreciation – more please!

        Nowadays, employees and clients associate corporate culture with different moral concepts. Not only economic success is relevant but also social appreciation. The following examples will show that social appreciation also ensures an increase in value. By Elita Wiegand. Translated from the German by Miriam Eckers, Sina Brauch, Ruthild Gärtner, Susanne Mollen and Theresa Lupek.

    • Wish-for-Happiness
      • Not only, but also

        He who does not worry about happiness is the happiest, Seneca once said and wrote a comprehensive book on this topic. Nowadays, book after book is published on the subject. The desire for happiness is more present than ever, its fulfilment an important driving force of the economy. But in order to recognise it, one has to be able to differentiate. By Wilhelm Schmid, translated from the German by Christoph Ulbert, LaToya Vaughn, Viktorija Tapai, Maciej Maj and Margarita Müller

      • Resilient for Life

        You can learn how to be happy. It is even a subject in some schools in Germany nowadays. You will not learn how to develop a successful career or how to find the love of your life. But you can learn to go through life with confidence and satisfaction. By Nicole Walter, translated from the German by Viktorija Tapai and Ruthild Gärtner

      • The right ingredients

        Culinary delight can make you happy. But a bite of delight cannot be bought – either in a delicatessen or in a fine restaurant. The keys to culinary pleasure lie in the mind and the senses, as is the case with curly kale or chocolate. By Klaus Dahlbeck, translated from the German by Olympia Klassen, Chantal Gruber and Kerstin Haep

      • Initiative instead of frustration

        According to traditional business economics, many companies should not even exist. However, a completely different way of economical success could develop, in contrast to the theory,
        if happiness played the lead instead of money. By Annette Jensen, translated from the German by Chantal Gruber, Yvette Gossel and Ruthild Garner

      • A nice day

        Streets filled with people instead of cars, happy faces, no rushing. Events such as the ‘Car-Free Sunday’ and the ‘Tag des guten Lebens’, a day celebrating the good life, made people’s genuine wishes come true, beyond their usual consumption habits. By Davide Brocchi, translated from the German by Inga Festersen, Eva Flucke, Ruthild Gärtner and Viktorija Tapai

    • Gender
      • It is about equality

        Real sustainability is always connected to gender equality. The energy transition and the transformation to a sustainable society would be more advanced if the gender perspective were taken into more consideration, says Ulrike Röhr, a gender and sustainability expert, in an interview with Ralf Bindel. Translated from the German by Dorothea Schwarz

      • Toothpaste for Princesses and Soup for Pirates

        Toy industries and food and clothing sectors specifically address children with gender-specific colours and contents. So-called gender-marketing strongly boosts consumption and often forces parents to involuntarily buy products which they themselves do not really like. By Astrid Herbold. Translated from the German by Marina Nikic, Katharina Lopes Duarte

      • Men Have Not Stopped Giving the Advantage to Women – So Far

        The rather technically oriented field of environmental management was predominantly a men’s business. In contrast, the complex issue of sustainability requires skills that are more commonly associated with women. Therefore more and more female managers are becoming responsible for CSR and sustainability. However, as long as men do not take these issues seriously, women will continue to have few career prospects. If sustainability becomes part of the core business, this could change and women could again be ousted from their positions. Editorial by Heike Leitschuh. Translated from the German by Chantal Gruber and Bianca Gerards.

      • Resource-light shopping

        Women are an influential target group. Supposedly, they influence 80 per cent of overall consumption. If they chose less resource-intensive products and services, entire markets would perform more sustainably. Is it possible to focus more on the ethical and ecological issues in terms of female consumer choices? Moreover, is eco-friendliness a reason to buy at all? By Jasmin Andresh. Translated from the German by Margarita Müller

    • Sisyphus

      Frustration and Failure in sight of the present development and how to engage and motivate yourself for Sustainable Economics are the Topics of the factory-Magazine Sisyphus.

      • “It Is Not Impossible at All.“

        In the face of the fracking euphoria, a European Union without concrete goals and fruitless UN climate negotiations, many dedicated people have given up the hope that political instruments may help form a more sustainable world. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker is a politician and scientist and still values the ability to guide. An interview with Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker by Ralf Bindel. Translated from the German by Anna-Lena Vohl, Konstantina Perdikoulia, La Toya Vaughn and Karen Leicht.

      • The Comforting Beauty of Failure

        In terms of sustainable development, not every dream can blossom. This fact should not frustrate but encourage. On the aesthetics and necessity of failure. By Bernd Draser, translated from the German by Vanessa Kammerer.

      • With Common Property Against Political Failure

        As the frustration over the dominant economic system increases, new ideas and alternatives arise as well. As general welfare is worth more than money, a counterculture finds new solutions to lead a good life. Decentralized and well-networked, these islands could become a continent. By Annette Jensen and Ute Scheub. Translated from the German by Yvette Gossel, Vanessa Kammerer, Zarina Brückner.

      • So Let Us Seize Power Then!

        International policy could be a strong engine of transformation to put a limit on climate change. But policy is already failing because of its own conditions. Beyond those disappointments, there still remains enough space for uncoordinated yet effective forces.
        By Hans-Jochen Luhmann. Translated from the German by: Bianca Gerards, Olympia Klassen, Annika Marie Wagener and Franziska Friedrich.

      • So Let Us Seize Power Then!

        International policy could be a strong engine of transformation to put a limit on climate change. But policy is already failing because of its own conditions. Beyond those disappointments, there still remains enough space for uncoordinated yet effective forces.
        By Hans-Jochen Luhmann. Translated from the German by: Bianca Gerards, Olympia Klassen, Annika Marie Wagener and Franziska Friedrich.

    • Rebound

      The Rebound Effect in many cases reduces the savings of better resourceefficiency. How big it is and how it can be limited the factory magazine Rebound shows.

      • On Rebound, Prebound and Performance Gaps

        Is efficiency a magic weapon for environmental protection? More efficient technologies can also lead to more rather than to less consumption. The rebound effect has entered public debate. In particular, increases in energy efficiency are being criticised. However, in order to be able to assess rebound effects, clear distinctions have to be made. By Reinhard Madlener, translated from the German by Kerstin Haep

      • Rethink rather than rebound: a sufficiency revolution must precede the efficiency revolution

        Commitments to efficiency are no miracle cure to ensure a transformation towards more sustainability. By means of sufficiency policies, however, even rebound effects can be limited.
        By Wolfgang Sachs and Tilman Santarius. Translated from the German by Judith Stenzel

      • Can a donkey be tragic?

        Technological development and its adverse consequences for the environment and for people can hardly be reasonably regulated; there is a way back only after accidents. In order to further understand rebound, another story needs to be told, a philosophical 'aestheticisation 'of the imprecise. By Bernd Draser
        Translated from the German by Vanessa Kammerer

    • Action and Trade

      Trade, Negotiate, Debate, Action, Engagement, Free Trade, Climate Change and individual and social movements are the topics of this factory magazine.

      • From Negotiating to Trading Equitably

        The conference in Paris was not the last one where it was negotiated how to trade in order to stay capable of interacting and trading despite violent climatic changes. But what is actually behind the words ‘negotiation’ and ‘trade’? A look into the semantic rucksack. By Bernd Draser, translated from German by Jennifer Heger, Sarah Michels and Rebecca Noszvai.

      • The prerogative of interpreting the future now lies with the companies involved in climate protection”

        “The prerogative of interpreting the future now lies with the companies involved in climate protection”
        …says Dirk Messner, who chairs the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) along with the climate scientist Hans Joachim Schellnhuber. Ralf Bindel interviewed Messner about the main institutional players for climate protection, as well as about migration and trade agreements. Translated from the German by: Katrin Haßberg, Tamara Reiser, Lisa Rülcker, Kai Schuhmacher, Isabel Schuseil, Jessica Stahl, Rosemarie Prinsloo and Vanessa Tacken.

        • Climate protection is relevant for migration too

          In the interview with Dirk Messner here we go on with the responsibility to the poor countries, the sustainable planning or further urbanisation, the connection between climate change and migration and the integration of climate protection in international free trade agreements.

      • Modern Strategies

        We actually know enough by now to build the bridge from knowledge to action in order to advance the conversion to a sustainable society by using less resources. Nudges, transformational products, disruptive methods and even info apps and self-measuring tools offer a wide range of strategies to foster change. Do they facilitate the transformation through playful approaches or are they nothing but nice gimmicks with rebound effects? Here are the pros and cons as well as several practical tips from Ilona Koglin. Translated from the German by Svenja Thiel, Oradjeha Tanshi, Jennifer Vardaro, Melissa Kaiden, Vanessa Waigum, Nicole Wieden, Kerstin Rosero, Armin Deiri, Fenja Behrmann

      • May the Force Be with Us

        Services from Google, Facebook and others are free of charge and efficient. However, they collect data about us on a large scale and use algorithms to determine our courses of action. Does this mean that we lose our autonomy and our freedom of action? The political aspect of the commercial interest for big data may be quite different. By Andres Friedrichsmeier, translated from the German by: Kathrin Ellwanger, Aneka Faiß, Eliot Reiniger, Mona Lang, Korbinian Feigl, Julia Hevesi, Ella Dering.

    • Divestment

      Divestment, De-Investment, Financing, Investment, Fossile Energy, Renewable Energy

      • Why divestment is going to change the world

        The removal of investments from the fossil fuel energy economy is no longer just a grassroots movement; for many investors it has long since become a matter of economic survival. Even if the amount of money is still relatively low, the trend has been set: the ‘coal bubble’ must shrink, otherwise it will burst. By Verena Kern
        and translated from the German by Isabel Schuseil, Jessica Stahl, Kerstin Rosero, Rosemarie Prinsloo, Vanessa Tacken, Cathleen McNally, Hannah Al-Jamie, Svenja Thiel and Jennifer Vardaro.

      • A Robin Hood tax for climate protection

        Taxes on the environmentally-harmful gas CO2 make investing in the fossil economy less worthwhile. Countries could channel revenues towards sustainable economic structures and their population. CO2 taxes solve social problems and save the climate, but is it too good to be true? By Susanne Götze and translated from the German by Vanessa Waigum, Nicole Wieden, Armin Deiri, Fenja Behrmann, Melinda Kaiden, Anneka Faiß and Eliot Reiniger

      • Where investing is a pleasure

        Turning away from coal and oil towards sustainability. Whether it is infrastructure projects, sustainable funds, regional plans, energy and housing cooperatives, citizen co-operations or microfinance, financial investments of various asset classes can be of direct use in many ways and provide both major and private investors with a return on their investment. Shares are for those who are prepared to take risks and want to see what happens with their money. By Susanne Bergius, translated from the German by: Kathrin Ellwanger, Anneka Faiß, Eliot Reiniger, Ella Dering, Birgit Bernhardt, Kathryn Batchelor, James Knight, Bianca Bauer, Evie Quinlan, Tamara Reiser, Marco Hoffmann, Nadine Feuchter and Katrin Haßberg.

      • The fear of biting the hand that feeds you

        A city changes the way it invests: Münster has become the first German city to stop investing in fossil fuel generation. The divestment movement has been gaining momentum in Germany. However, the resulting decline of the fossil fuel economy also means that the municipalities that were key locations for fossil fuel economy lack funds – a change that has been particularly traumatic for Lusatia. However, with the support of federal and state governments, this does not have to spell disaster for the regional cities and villages. By Susanne Schwarz, translated by Simone Kremeier, Mona Lang, Jennifer Heger, Sarah Michels, Kathryn B., Vanessa Waigum, Ella Dering, Birgit Bernhardt

    • Mobility

      Mobility, traffic, transport transition, mobility transition, digitalization, transformation, automotive industry, automobile, bike, bicycle, alternatives, electric vehicle, ev, climate protection, energy transition

      • Decarbonization by 2030

        Renewable mobility, a combination of e-mobility and energy transition, is considered the crucial key to achieving a real emissions turn, and with that the agreed climate goals. Nevertheless, the turn is affecting major corporations in the automotive, oil and construction industry. The mobility industry is now on the verge of upheaval. But it is not only ambitious climate goals that call for action. It is the economic success of renewable energies worldwide that, in combination with digitalization, is changing the predictions and shifting decarbonization by 2030 into the realm of possibility. This is already shown by current applications. By Christiane Schulzki-Haddouti. Translated by Alexandra Bartelt & Denis Francis

      • Cities Use the Space

        The strategies for changing cities range from a city congestion charge and free local transport to car-free days. Bicycle highways, streetcars and electric busses are also part of the strategy. Municipal administrations and urban economy can do a lot for the attractiveness of this range of options by creating their own transport transition, which is driven by the citizens. By Thorsten Koska and Stephan Rammler. Translated by Julia Baur & Bianca Bauer.

      • The Domino Effect: the Mobility Transition as an Engine for the ‘Great Transformation’

        In a number of ways, the change of today’s car-dependent society is like a domino for a ‘Great Transformation’. There is hardly any field that is as intensively linked to the other key ‘transitions’ to a sustainable society, and there is no other field with such a close connection with the specific functionalities of the current economy. Therefore, ‘future literacy’ in the area of mobility goes far beyond the transport sector. By Uwe Scheidewind. ?Translated by Kevin Bongard & Kevin Beckmann.

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