“When planning user research, we consider ethics from the outset. This means that we conduct research in a safe way for participants, researchers and project teams; and we put in place structures to mitigate potential risks. We must take a similar approach to sustainability. Being sustainable is not something that just happens. It is something that we must plan for. Using ‘how might we’ statements in early engagements with stakeholders can help with this."

"For example: How might we plan research engagements in a way that considers both people and the planet? How might we measure the environmental impact that digital and offline services will have over time? How might we design for many users rather than some? How might we design a service so that it can be efficiently iterated upon in the future?"

"Equally, detail the actionable steps that you will take in the research plan. This could be as small as committing to reducing the number of emails sent to participants to arrange research sessions. Creating sustainable services does not involve reinventing the wheel. By thinking about the impact we have on people and the planet, we are encouraged to design in a more accessible, compliant and user-friendly way.”