Questtonó report outlines guidelines for sustainable well-being

A new report titled ‘Sustainable Well-being: 6 Innovation Guidelines’ suggests that sustainability should focus on how products are used rather than just how they are discarded. The study, involving the innovation and design consultancy Questtonó and the QNCO creative ecosystem, argues that current approaches often fail by either placing the entire burden of change on individuals or relying solely on industrial shifts like clean energy.

Barão Di Sarno, a partner at Questtonó, notes that well-being and sustainability are often treated as separate agendas, leading to a cycle where well-being is sought through infinite consumption while sustainability is marketed as a form of deprivation. The report highlights that redesigning existing products can reduce their environmental impact by 30% to 50%.

One key concept mentioned is the principle from Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen: focusing on the desired outcome—such as a hole in a wall—rather than the tool itself, like a drill. This perspective encourages consumers to consider whether a service or a different solution might better meet their needs without excessive ownership.