Sustainability Challenge

Take the Challenge

What does it mean to switch from a consumer orientation to a sustainability orientation? How does your view on resources, time, and materials change?

 

 

 

(Moving from a…)

Consumption
Orientation

(To a…)

Sustainability
Orientation

Resource Orientation

Straight line consumption; use things up; Earth a “bottomless well”

 

Renewal; make things last; Earth a “one-time endowment”

Social
Orientation

Self/clan

Status

Entitlement

Short-term advantage

 

Community

Common ground

Relationship

Long-term benefit

Time Focus

Linear; Speed

Predictability/convenience

Unfolding; Pace

Change/evolution

 

Material Orientation

Consuming and accumulating

 

Conserving and sharing

Psychological Realities

Conformity

Entitlement

Insecurity

Present-oriented

Transition

Community

Future-oriented

Past-reflective

Evolutionary Outlook

Human-centered

Ownership/stewardship

Earth-oriented

Differentiation/

pluralism

Earth citizenship

 

Orientation to
the World

Pursuit of novelty

Appreciation

Outcome Focus

Control

Opportunity

Ralph Copleman, 1999-2006