Hållbar

Hållbar is an adjective in Swedish meaning durable, lasting, or sustainable. It can describe physical objects that are sturdy and reliable, as well as processes, practices, or systems that are viable over the long term. The related noun hållbarhet denotes sustainability or durability, and the term is used across various contexts to indicate resilience and longevity.

In everyday use, hållbar is common in fields such as construction, product design, energy, agriculture, and environmental policy. It appears frequently in compound phrases like hållbara produkter (sustainable products) and hållbara lösningar (sustainable solutions). The most widely known expression is hållbar utveckling, or sustainable development, a concept popularized internationally by the 1987 Brundtland Report. Depending on context, hållbar can emphasize environmental impact, economic viability, or social aspects, and it is often invoked to highlight long-term considerations rather than short-term gains.

The term is closely associated with hållbarhet, the broader notion of sustainability, including environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and social equity. Its usage can range from concrete durability of materials to abstract assessments of a system’s resilience and future viability. A contrasting form is ohållbar, meaning unsustainable, used to identify practices or conditions that fail to meet long-term viability. Overall, hållbar serves as a versatile concept in Swedish discourse on responsible design, policy, and development.