Refuture
Refuture is an ongoing series of exploratory projects with a singular purpose: making sustainability mainstream. Over the years, its initiatives have taken many forms including mobile apps, large-scale events, and street art.
Sustainability has been a lifelong devotion of mine. It is the greatest challenge of our time that transcends all human boundaries.
The need for policy and technological solutions is undeniable—we must vote with both our ballots and our wallets. The uncomfortable truth, however, is that true progress also demands a shift in how we live. The power of individuals to drive meaningful change is vastly underestimated—the real challenge is how to unlock that potential on a larger scale and make sustainable living the easier, more accessible choice for everyone.
Unfortunately, our relentless pursuit of limitless growth has distorted sustainability to superficial actions like recycling and choosing organic foods. This misdirection leaves the average person confused on what makes a real difference. Unfortunately, this disempowerment is intentional, designed to preserve the status quo and keep ‘business as usual’ intact.
A mobile app based on the idea: what if every person in the world had a personal assistant that helped them live more sustainably? As a tool that aggregated IoT lifestyle consumption data, users could be nudged towards better decisions and track progress.
Engaging the average citizen requires meeting them where they are. As part of our urban sustainability initiative, we launched a three-part event series aimed at the general public. One highlight was an open street art event, where over 100 passersby participated in creating a 10-meter-long collaborative artwork.
Hosting events that unite like-minded individuals is essential for driving change. In one such workshop, we hosted 250 children, ages 8 to 14, on a school campus festival for the Global Issues Network. The participants worked on topics related to the UN Millennium Development Goals, fostering awareness and problem-solving around global challenges.
Each month, we convened sustainability leaders to collaborate on overcoming the challenges hindering their progress to accelerate the sustainability movement. Our attendees included a diverse range of individuals, from CEOs featured on TED and Fast Company to leading chemistry academics and multi-generational farmers.
Alberto Contardo-Sfeir — Professor, Fudan University
