1. Scope
1.1 Sustainability has three types of general principles: environmental, economic, and social. This guide covers the fundamental concepts for each of the general principles of sustainability. 1.2 This guide distinguishes between ideal sustainability and applied sustainability. Ideally, human activities would not require making trade-offs among environmental, economic, and social goals. However, this guide recognizes that, in applying sustainability principles, decision makers must often balance opportunities and challenges associated with each of the general principles. 1.3 This guide identifies general methodologies associated with the decision-making process used in pursuing sustainability. 1.4 This guide does not provide direction as to the specific implementation of the general principles; nor does it provide direction as to the specific weighting of principles necessary for achieving balance. 1.5 Applying the principles in this guide will require professional judgment. Such judgment should be informed by experience with environmental, economic, and social issues.
There is a need to establish guiding principles as a basis for the work of ASTM E60 and, more generally, as a reference for consideration within other general sustainability efforts on a whole.
Keywords
biodiversity; life-cycle assessment; sustainable development; sustainability
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Citing ASTM Standards
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