cradle-to-cradle (C2C): Throughout the thesis, this term refers to the concept of cyclical design of human systems. It is seperate from any specific strategy to arrive at that goal.

Sustainability: the capacity to create, test and maintain adaptive capacity (Holling, 2004)

Development: the process of creating, testing and maintaining opportunity (Holling, 2004)

Sustainable Development: refers to the goal of fostering adaptive capabilities while simultaneously creating opportunities (Holling, 2004)

Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD): A framework

5 level framework: A generic 5 level framework (system, success, strategy, actions and tools) for planning in complex systems

Sustainability Principles: Consensus-based scientific principles providing a complete and systematic conditions for sustainability (Robert, 2000)

Backcasting:As opposed to forecasting methods of predicting the future, backcasting is about working backwards: setting the desired future state and working to define which steps are needed to attain it. The main difference between the two is that the first focuses on designing how desirable futures can be attained and the latter works on figuring out futures that are likely to happen {see John Robinson: Futures under Glass 1990}.

Eco-effectiveness: the concept of eco-effectiveness proposes the transformation of products and their associated material flows such that they form a supportive relationship with ecological systems and future economic growth. (Braungart et al. 2007)

Eco-efficiency:

Biological metabolism:

Technical metabolism:

Upcycling:

Teleology: the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.