JSR

Background: The transition to a more sustainable society is, by its very nature, a normative process that involves contested understandings of sustainability and the values associated with it. It is thus important to explore and understand the normative dimensions of sustainability in order to navigate normative tensions that represent fundamental differences in what is considered desirable in a sustainable future. While theoretical work exists on sustainability conceptions, there is limited empirical research exploring the normative visions of sustainability professionals in the public and not-for-profit sectors, and more specifically those using recently emerged operational frameworks like Doughnut Economics. This article examines the normative visions and values of sustainability professionals in three organisations in the non-profit and public sectors in Switzerland and explores an in-depth case study of sustainability professionals using the Doughnut Economics framework. Methods: This article combines data from semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and a focus group discussion. Thematic and content analyses were used to explore participants sustainability visions, values, and conceptual frameworks. Finally, an interdisciplinary reflection with an environmental humanities expert explores the normative and practical implication of strong sustainability and Doughnut Economics. Results: This research highlights that the values underpinning strong sustainability and the Doughnut Economics framework, specifically the value afforded to nature, are interpreted differently amongst practitioners. The case study suggests that the Doughnut Economics framework can be considered as an operational framework for strong sustainability and functions as a "moral compass" for professionals. Conclusions: Drawing on key notions from ecological ethics and the work of J. Baird Callicott, we shed light on the significant normative and practical implications of integrating the intrinsic value of nature into the Doughnut Economics framework, notably the shift in the burden of proof.

environmental ethics; nature; intrinsic value; strong sustainability; sustainability; doughnut economics