Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 1 Measures for collective reduction of material acquisition capacities of affluent countries Dr. Joachim H. Spangenberg Vice Chairman, SERI Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Cologne Professeur invite, C3ED, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Presentation at the Degrowth Conference Paris, April 2008

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 2 Growing towards the limits of the planet

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 3 Material throughput: resources to waste

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 4 Greater efficiency in resourceuse Greater efficiency in resource use Eco-Efficiency = Consumer satisfaction X Services consumed X Services consumed Services generated Services generated X Physical input = Physical inputResources activated Satisfaction efficiency x supply efficiency x production efficiency x provision efficiency

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 5 strategies for extending product:user relationships sharing products creating personal narratives increasing sensorial variety retention of narrative & aesthetic appeal co-designers & co-producers value for money extended durability making social connections performance labels tax relief for extended life shift from products to services (PSS) or shared products reliable, upgradable, maintainable high quality, good design ageing with dignity use-personalisation personalisation customisation overall aesthetic cultural semiotics – status, identity producer/co-producer of narrative producer/co-producer of product memory Collated from: Mugge, Ruth; Jan P L Schoormans and Hendrik N J Schifferstein (2005); Cooper, Tim (2005); Chapman, Jonathan (2005)

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 6 Re-focusing beyond the object

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 7 Thought experiment 1: capping physical growth Assumption: introducing a capping on resource use Results Results No win-win situations due to rebound Competition and innovation are directed towards increasing resource productivity. Although resource productivity is an upper limit to economic growth, due to the high untapped potentials no severe restrictions emerge.

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 8 Thought experiment 2: capping economic growth Assumption: introducing a capping on economic growth Results Competition and innovation are directed towards increasing resource productivity. Restrictions for lenders, difficulties for start-ups. Fierce business competition as the economy becomes a zero sum game.

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 9 Thought experiment 2 cont. Assumption: introducing a capping on economic growth Results Distribution conflicts between corporations and their staff Salary increases limited to labour productivity growth, reduced working hours to safeguard employment. Limited room to increase funding for health and social security aside from tax increases.

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 10 Distribution and welfare Assumption: redistribution of wealth, top-down Reason: no hopes for gains from growth fuel distributional justice demands. Result: No loss of innovation drive, but resistance from those who have to give. Total welfare increasing.

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 11 Dematerialisation and growth

Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 12

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Growth and Sustainable Development Joachim H. Spangenberg, Paris, April 2008 Page 14 Thank you for your attention.  For further information and  to download publications you are invited to visit the Sustainable Europe Research Institute at: Dr. Joachim H. Spangenberg SERI Vice President