How the Design of Socio-Technical Experiments Can Enable Radical Changes for Sustainability

摘要: IntroductionIt is commonly accepted that the dominant socio-economic development models in industrialised contexts are unsustainable. The pressure of human beings on environment has fact profoundly modified natural systems, and today planet reaching its limits capacity assimilating environmental effects caused by anthropic activities (Rockstrom et al., 2009).In last five decades reaction humankind to sustainability problems produced a series approaches gone from end-of-pipe solutions cleaner production product eco-design strategies (Simons, Slob, Holswilder, & Tukker, 2001). However, although these kinds interventions fundamental necessary, they not sufficient lead drastic reduction resources consumption required achieve conditions. Several studies indicate we can only consider sustainable those socio-technical systems whose use at least 90% less than what currently done mature industrial (Bolund, Johansson, Steen, 1998; Factor 10 Club, 1994; Schmidt-Bleek, 1996). Although it true adoption improve performance products processes, also improvements often negatively counterbalanced continuous population growth increasing levels (Binswanger, 2001; Brookes, 2000; 1996).For reasons, processes artefacts (products, services infrastructure), must be coupled with new patterns (Manzini, 1999). This means if want effectively tackle sustainability, there need move focus only, towards wider approach focused producing structural changes way organised. In other words radical innovations.Some concepts theoretically practically represent promising steer our Product-Service System (PSS) social innovation ones.PSSs specific types value proposition shift business selling offering combination jointly capable final user satisfaction (Goedkoop, van Halen, te Riele, Rommes, 1999; Mont, 2002). PSS oriented satisfy users through delivering functions (e.g., mobility, having clean clothes, thermal comfort, etc.) rather cars, washing machines powder, boilers methane, etc.). If properly conceived, this kind offer an economic competitive incentive for stakeholders involved continuously seek resource management (Heiskanen Jalas, Stahel, UNEP, 2002; White, Stoughton, Feng, It model reward system because producers providers paid per unit delivered sold. Such potentially delink traditional connection profit.Social process change whereby emerge inventiveness creativity variety actors directly solving daily life problems: ordinary people, communities, grass roots technicians entrepreneurs, local institutions civic society organizations. Some emerged (examples are: self-managed care children elderly; forms exchange mutual help; alternative mobility systems; socialising initiatives bring cities life; networks linking consumers producers, present interesting potentialities generating diffusing more ways living (Jegou Manzini, 2008; Meroni, 2007). …