Sustainability Reflection Cards

A deck of cards and cards flying through the air.

A deck of cards and one of the reflection cards

Sustainability Reflection Cards were designed to help you and your research team to reflect how your research responds to questions of sustainability. By unpacking sustainability and understanding sustainability holistically, the cards help inform responsible research.

Explore the cards

Browse the 5 suits of cards and their 7 questions, each with 4 subquestions.

View use cases

The cards can be used in a variety of ways. Get inspired and find out how others have used them.

Get your cards

Order a boxed set, download the cards to print yourself, or use them in online collaboration spaces.

Learn more

Read about the theoretical background and literature that went into the design of the cards.

Ecology

Explore the ways your research may impact ecosystems and the environment.

More-than-human actors, like plants and animals may be affected by your research in counter-intuitive ways. Use these cards to consider all angles of your ecological impact.

Explore Domain

Ecology

Explore the domain

Explore the ways your research may impact global ecological systems in the natural world.

Back to Domains

01.

How sustainably do we use energy and materials in our research?

How well does it contribute to the use of renewable energy?

How well does it contribute to a reduction of energy use?

How well does our research support the sustainable use of raw materials, such as minerals and metals?

How clear are we about our impact on the use of energy and materials?

Economics

01.

How does our research contribute to our local economy?

How much of the primary resources we use in our research are sourced locally?

Does our research generate local jobs?

How well does it support the spread of community design and craft expertise?

How clear are we about our economic practices?

Explore the domain

Explore the ways your research may impact your local economy and other economic actors.

Back to Domains

Politics

Explore the domain

Explore the ways your research may impact politics and civic life.

Back to Domains

01.

How does our research contribute to effective and transparent governance?

How does our research support informed and capable leadership?

Does it improve the effectiveness of administration?

Does it support fair distribution of power and authority?

How clear are we about our impact on organisation and governance?

Culture

01.

How well does our research support cultural diversity and belonging?

Does our research invite and benefit a diverse group of people?

Does it foster cultural tolerance and respect for others?

How well does it support personal networks and sense of home and place?

How clear are we about our impact on diversity and belonging?

Explore the domain

Explore the ways your research may impact cultural practices and community life.

Back to Domains

Technology

Explore the domain

Explore the ways your research may impact technologies and infrastructures.

Back to Domains

01.

How appropriate are the technologies we make?

To what extent do the technologies we make respond to local needs and assets?

To what extent does our research consider differences and inequalities in digital literacy?

Do we build and use as little technology as possible?

How clear are we about the appropriateness of our technologies?

Get your cards

The cards are available, for free, as PDF or PNG files. Use PDF to print and create your own physical card deck. PNGs allow you to use the cards in online collaboration spaces, like Miro.

Download PDF

Download PNG