Introduction

Developing successful sustainability solutions is challenging because no one has ever had to solve the scale of environmental and social problems we are facing today whether this is climate change or clean oceans. There is also no rule book where we can turn to simply pick a solution off the shelf.

Therefore as individuals and organisations, it’s important to come up with new and innovative ways to address the various environmental and social challenges we face. However, coming up with great ideas to solve these problems can be a challenge. In this post, we’ll explore three of my favourite go-to methods to come up with great sustainability ideas.

Ecosystem Mapping

Ecosystem mapping is a technique that helps you understand the different components of a problem and how they are interconnected. By mapping out the various stakeholders, resources, and systems that are involved in a problem, you can identify key areas where change is needed and come up with new and innovative solutions. In our free mini-course about how to use come up with amazing sustainability ideas I show you how to use ecosystems mapping with an examples associated with dealing with the issue of plastic in the ocean – get access for free now. 

Analogy Thinking

Analogy thinking is a powerful tool that can help you come up with new ideas by comparing and contrasting different situations. For example, if you’re trying to come up with a solution for a declining biodiversity problem, you could look at how other industries have addressed similar challenges, such as eco tourism. By understanding how these industries have approached the problem, you can come up with new and innovative solutions for your own problem.

Design Thinking

Design thinking is a powerful tool that can help you come up with new and innovative solutions to sustainability problems. By using design thinking, you can start by understanding the problem, brainstorming a wide range of possible solutions, and testing and iterating on those solutions until you arrive at the best possible solution. Design thinking encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, which can be essential when trying to find new and effective solutions.

Conclusion

Coming up with great sustainability ideas can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. By using techniques such as ecosystem mapping, analogy thinking, and design thinking, we can better understand the problem, think creatively, and find new and innovative solutions.

In our experience people can make developing innovative solutions a great deal more confusing than it has to be. Ecosystem mapping, analogy thinking, and design thinking are just some of the tools we use to help you take the guesswork out of developing sustainability solutions.  We combine these tool within our framework to break each sustainability challenge down into a simple step by step process supported by evidence so that you can grow your impact faster and more effectively.

Remember that sustainability is an ongoing process, and it’s important to keep an open mind and be willing to experiment with new ideas. By working together, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Need to come up with some ideas to achieve your sustainability or net zero goals? Try our free online mini-course “how to come up with amazing sustainable ideas” to help you get started and become the idea generating machine you were meant to be!