How do we engineer sustainable products and systems?

What does sustainability mean to you? Hundreds of definitions and assessment frameworks have created a ‘sustainability fog’ for businesses seeking to design more sustainable products and systems, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

In my research on sustainable engineering design at the University of Strathclyde, I developed a modelling and assessment approach that provides a pathway for businesses seeking to improve the sustainability of their operations and offerings.

Taking a systems perspective, the S-Cycle approach centres on modelling behaviour to identify leverage points and achieve holistic impacts on technical products and the wider systems they are embedded within.