What does the 1st Natural Step focus on?

The first principle of The Natural Step focuses on the concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth's crust. This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding how natural resources are utilized and how the extraction of raw materials can lead to environmental degradation. It highlights that human-made substances, particularly those derived from non-renewable resources, should be managed in a way that minimizes their accumulation in the environment.

By addressing the extraction of these substances, this principle inspires organizations and individuals to consider the long-term implications of resource use and the potential impact on ecological systems. Emphasizing the need for sustainable practices encourages society to shift towards renewable resources and materials that do not contribute to harmful concentrations in nature.

The other options, while related to sustainability concepts, do not specifically encapsulate the primary focus of the first Natural Step principle as distinctly as the extraction of substances from the Earth's crust.