Speaking the Same Sustainability Language: How a Standard Helps PROBONO Connect Cities, Communities and Innovation
Sustainability is a shared goal across many research and innovation projects. Yet organisations, cities and stakeholders often use different definitions, priorities and indicators when discussing sustainable development. This can make collaboration, comparison and knowledge transfer challenging, particularly in large international projects involving multiple disciplines and local contexts.
The PROBONO project brings together partners from across Europe with the common ambition of supporting climate-neutral and smart communities through the development of Green Building Neighbourhoods (GBNs). With six Living Labs located in different cities and countries, the project addresses a wide range of local challenges and opportunities. While this diversity is one of PROBONO’s greatest strengths, it also highlights the importance of having a common framework for discussing sustainability and measuring progress.
A Common Framework for Sustainability
To support this objective, PROBONO uses ISO 37101, an international standard that provides a management framework for sustainable development in communities. Rather than prescribing specific solutions, ISO 37101 offers a common structure for understanding sustainability from both a societal and a service perspective. The framework combines six sustainability purposes, including resilience, responsible resource use, social cohesion and well-being, with twelve city service areas such as governance, education, mobility, health and smart infrastructure.
Within PROBONO, this framework has been used to establish a common reference point for Green Building Neighbourhoods. By aligning neighbourhood visions, activities and project objectives with the ISO 37101 structure, the project can better understand how different initiatives contribute to broader sustainability goals. This helps create a more integrated view of sustainability that goes beyond individual technologies, sectors or local priorities.
From Framework to Practice
A practical example of this approach can be found in the PlaceMaking Maptivity platform. By linking sustainability objectives, neighbourhood priorities and project activities to a common framework, the platform helps stakeholders visualise relationships between different sustainability themes and encourages more informed discussions. This makes it easier for project partners, cities and local communities to work towards shared goals while acknowledging their different perspectives and priorities.
Beyond supporting dialogue and planning, the ISO 37101 framework has also enabled PROBONO to analyse project activities in a structured way. Building on the standard, the project mapped Living Lab visions and activities against the sustainability goals and service areas defined in the framework. An AI-supported approach was used to classify approximately 400 project activities, helping to identify connections, opportunities and potential gaps across different domains. This supports a more holistic understanding of urban sustainability and helps reveal links that might otherwise remain hidden.
Using a common sustainability language creates benefits that extend beyond the project itself. It allows stakeholders from different backgrounds to communicate more effectively, supports evidence-based decision-making and facilitates the comparison of activities across different locations. Most importantly, it helps ensure that sustainability is considered holistically, taking into account environmental, social and governance-related aspects rather than focusing on individual topics in isolation.
For PROBONO, ISO 37101 provides more than a reference standard. It serves as a shared framework that connects innovation, Living Lab activities and long-term sustainability objectives. By creating a common understanding of sustainability across all project partners, the framework supports collaboration, strengthens the consistency of project results and contributes to the development of Green Building Neighbourhoods that can generate lasting value for communities across Europe.
Comments