sustuse

Sustuse is a term used in some environmental and policy discussions to denote the concept of sustainable use of natural resources. It is a portmanteau of sustainable and use, emphasizing that resource consumption should occur at a rate that allows renewal and maintains ecosystem services over time. While not tied to a single formal definition, sustuse is often conceived as balancing social and economic needs with ecological limits, incorporating efficiency, precaution, and equity.

Origins and usage of the term vary by context. In grassroots sustainability discourse and some policy briefings, sustuse is used as a concise descriptor for practices that aim to ensure resources are not depleted faster than they can regenerate and that environmental costs are internalized in decision-making. It is typically contrasted with approaches that rely on nonrenewable intensification or short-term gains.

Definitions and scope: In practice, sustuse may be applied across sectors such as forestry, fisheries, water management, energy, and land use. Key elements include prioritizing renewable options, reducing waste, tracking resource stock levels, and applying lifecycle thinking to products and services. It often implies governance mechanisms, monitoring, and transparent reporting to verify that use remains within ecological and social boundaries.

Applications: Examples include harvest quotas aligned with regeneration rates, pricing that reflects true resource scarcity, and product design that enables reuse, repair, and recyclability, all aimed at extending the usable life of resources and minimizing environmental impact.

Criticism: Some critics argue that sustuse lacks a precise, universally accepted definition and may be used ambiguously. Others caution that it can be co-opted for greenwashing without robust metrics, governance, and accountability.

See also: Sustainable development, sustainable use, conservation, circular economy, responsible consumption.