WORK IN PROGRESS DEFINITION
HOLISTIC DEFINITION FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Conservation has a uniquely positive and powerful role to play in shaping a sustainable future: it preserves cultural heritage for current and future generations and supports economic and societal stability. Climate change and its destructive impacts endangers cultural heritage, so a vital part of cultural heritage conservation is assessing and adapting professional practices to help combat these foremost agents of change. Embedded within this sustainability context green conservation prioritizes the environment, human health and wellbeing, through holistic decision-making. Aligned with conservation ethics and values it allows for future developments and considers the entirety of consequences within investigative, interventive and preventive practice. It involves a considered balancing of the impacts, before, during and after any decision or approach. Cultural heritage professionals should actively adopt a green conservation approach, with institutional support in accordance with the Economic, Social and Environmental pillars of sustainability.
GREEN CONSERVATION
Green conservation is an aspirational, consultative process and always comparative in practice. A green conservation approach is minimally harmful to the environment and humans. Aligning with the circular economy, green conservation aims to be decarbonizing, zero-waste, accessible, and available. We strive for green conservation through decision-making and evolving practice, which takes all these aspects into consideration in balance with professional guidelines, and current and continuing research. Green conservation practices encompass the decisions made within the context of collection management and storage, any investigative, preventive or interventive measure, their documentation, the materials used, the frequency of treatment and long-term impacts. Green conservation reinforces and furthers the positive role of conservation in the sustainability of our culture.
GREEN PARAMETERS
Factors for green conservation grouped into four impact areas
Being fully green is an ideal. Green is comparative and some decisions and approaches will be greener in some aspects and less green in others. The parameters are for guidance in decision-making, where balance is needed according to professional requirements. Whilst some of the parameters are generally more impactful, for instance G3 indoor climate control, such weighting is not specified here. This is to ensure cohesive consideration since the greenest choice must be fitted to the individual context. In further work measurable data - where that exists - can ultimately be assigned to certain parameters following recognized frameworks. Other impacts rely on qualitative assessments by stakeholders. These parameters can eventually be implemented with the help of resources and tools such as the GoGreen Digital Support App.
Hazard impacts on human and environment
- G1 Toxicity and hazard metrics for environment
Based on information and data relating to the toxicity and chemical hazards/risks of a particular material/product for the environment when used within the specific approach/treatment, as well as the toxicity and hazards for the environment considering the entire life cycle of the material/product.
- G2 Toxicity and hazard metrics for human
Based on information and data relating to the toxicity and chemical hazards/risks of a particular material/product for the human user within the specific approach/treatment, as well as the toxicity and hazards for humans when considering the entire life cycle of the material/product.
Impacts on climate change
- G3 Energy – Indoor climate control impacts
- G4 Energy – Consumption in approach/application for treatment
- G5 Energy – Conservation approach/treatment-associated materials/products to be used
Impacts on resources
- G6 Availability – water use & resource depletion
- G7 Availability – biodiversity impacts
- G8 Waste
- G9 Material/product selection and application method
- G10 Number of applications/consumption/quantities of materials/products used
- G11 Longevity of result
- G12 Accessibility – availability of used materials/products and transport
- G13 Accessibility – Ease of use and time
- G14 Quality/value impacts of result in meeting preservation goals
OUR APPROACH
HOW ARE WE DEFINING GREEN/ER CONSERVATION?
‘Green conservation’ is informed by the larger context of sustainability and defined by the parameters (or key factors) considered most relevant to conservation. The definition aims to outline environmental impacts alongside professional responsibilities and requirements within conservation decisions and practice, hereby considering the pertinent socio-economic aspects. The parameters are linked with the strategic impact areas as illustrated in figure 1. This definition focuses solely on conservation. The broader environmental impacts, social aspects and implicit value of cultural heritage itself are not directly included herein.
Figure 1. Strategic impact areas identified within the United Nations* 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The model diagram is based upon the approach from the World Green Building Council.
Our research strategy has included:
- compiling a database of policies, pertinent tools, datasets and relevant conservation literature to examine the definitions and usages of green-related terms within and -out our field;
- adopting a sustainability perspective and identifying our key impacts (inspired by strategies used within other industries) (Figure 1);
- incorporating the principles of sustainable green chemistry, LCA and EHS approaches;
- acknowledging the complexity of our decisions and applications;
- ensuring legible, transparent presentation of the parameters for applying in practice.
Additionally, a connected process of research and feedback (Figure 2) has ensured consultation with experts and the broader conservation community throughout. Input from others via workshops, focus groups meetings and surveys (Figure 3) has been unmissable and invaluable in developing and disseminating our work in progress definitions and parameters.
Figure 2. Connecting research and Feedback. Strategy of connected processes for defining Green in Conservation.
DEFINING GREEN/ER CONSERVATION
Watch this three minute video to see how we are defining green conservation
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YOUR FEEDBACK - SURVEY
Do you agree with the definition of green conservation? Is it easy to read? Is it relevant to your work? In this brief survey, you have the opportunity to make suggestions or comments.
As part of our research strategy of connecting research with continuous feedback, we would be happy to hear from you.
We thank you very much for your time!
