Co-designing an organizational sustainability framework for embedding sustainable practices and initiatives within operations, while delivering economic prosperity.
Jan - July 2020 with Meld Studios
Project team: Sabina Popin (Service Designer) and myself.
Client
The Port Authority of New South Wales, is a corporation owned by the Government of New South Wales, Australia. It acts as harbourmaster at the state's six commercial seaports, managing shipping movements, safety, security and emergency response.
Design challenge
Ports and shipping are vital to the Australian and NSW economies, carrying 99.5% of Australia’s trade by volume. Although shipping represents the most sustainable means of transporting goods long distances, Port Authority recognises that there are associated impacts, including on local communities, and opportunities for improved outcomes.
As momentum gains in support of net zero targets, history will show this decade as the time for commitment and action. The NSW Government has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Although shipping represents the most sustainable means of transporting goods long distances, Port Authority recognises that there are associated impacts, including on local communities, and opportunities for improved outcomes.
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Sea clean up initiative
Project approach
This project involved taking an entire organisation on a co-design process intended to shift the sustainability dial to help deliver better social, environmental, economic outcomes. The resulting Port Authority’s Sustainability Plan is the product of this new collaborative approach, acknowledging the important role that staff and stakeholders play in designing and implementing a strategic plan that incorporates contemporary thinking in organisational dynamics, design, and sustainable development.
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Port Authority of NSW Sustainability Journey
We led the research, synthesis, validation, development, and delivery phases of the Sustainability Plan. Engagement was widespread across the organisation to ensure the plan was inclusive and future focusing. Almost 30% of the 360 staff (representing a diversity of roles, experience, and seniority), and key external stakeholders actively participated in the co-creation of the plan.
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Project outcomes and outputs
An open and collaborative approach was an innovative way of working for the Port Authority and for sustainability planning in general. For many organisations, sustainability planning results in a document describing high level goals with initiatives and targets, but does not delve into the organisational change required to embed sustainability and shift mindsets and behaviours.
This new way of working inspired staff to act because they were involved in creating the plan and helped to demonstrate the open and accountable culture the Port Authority wishes to embed.
Video showcasing the Sustainability Plan co-design process.
Project team: Sabina Popin (Service Designer) and myself.
Client
Port Authority of NSW (PANSW)
The Port Authority of New South Wales, is a corporation owned by the Government of New South Wales, Australia. It acts as harbourmaster at the state's six commercial seaports, managing shipping movements, safety, security and emergency response.
Design challenge
Ports and shipping are vital to the Australian and NSW economies, carrying 99.5% of Australia’s trade by volume. Although shipping represents the most sustainable means of transporting goods long distances, Port Authority recognises that there are associated impacts, including on local communities, and opportunities for improved outcomes.
As momentum gains in support of net zero targets, history will show this decade as the time for commitment and action. The NSW Government has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Although shipping represents the most sustainable means of transporting goods long distances, Port Authority recognises that there are associated impacts, including on local communities, and opportunities for improved outcomes.
Sea clean up initiative Project approach
This project involved taking an entire organisation on a co-design process intended to shift the sustainability dial to help deliver better social, environmental, economic outcomes. The resulting Port Authority’s Sustainability Plan is the product of this new collaborative approach, acknowledging the important role that staff and stakeholders play in designing and implementing a strategic plan that incorporates contemporary thinking in organisational dynamics, design, and sustainable development.
Port Authority of NSW Sustainability Journey
We led the research, synthesis, validation, development, and delivery phases of the Sustainability Plan. Engagement was widespread across the organisation to ensure the plan was inclusive and future focusing. Almost 30% of the 360 staff (representing a diversity of roles, experience, and seniority), and key external stakeholders actively participated in the co-creation of the plan.
Project outcomes and outputs
An open and collaborative approach was an innovative way of working for the Port Authority and for sustainability planning in general. For many organisations, sustainability planning results in a document describing high level goals with initiatives and targets, but does not delve into the organisational change required to embed sustainability and shift mindsets and behaviours.
This new way of working inspired staff to act because they were involved in creating the plan and helped to demonstrate the open and accountable culture the Port Authority wishes to embed.
Video showcasing the Sustainability Plan co-design process.
The sustainability plan encompasses:
- Over 40 social, environmental, economic, and organisational initiatives prioritised by staff across the organisation.
- A stakeholder engagement framework to help staff continue to co-design and deliver initiatives together with communities and partners.
- An operating model for continuous planning, monitoring, and transparent public reporting.
- A roadmap for embedding sustainable practices and decision-making into the organisation.
You can view the full sustainability plan here
Co-creating a prioritized roadmap of initiatives with staff