A state in which society does not systematically undermine natural or social systems within the biosphere. Achieving sustainability would happen when the four system conditions of The Natural Step are met. The conditions are stated in the negative to create the constraints within which creativity can flourish. They are:
In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing:
- Concentrations of substances extracted from the earth’s crust
- Concentrations of substances produced by society
- Degradation by physical means
- and people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs
