Sustainable (also sustainability)
This adjective is used in diverse ways in the heritage sector and beyond, and sometimes with insufficient attention to the actual intended meaning. Its more elaborate use draws from the environmental science field originally. It goes beyond the concept of viability and living within the limits to also embrace the idea of interconnections among economy, society, and environment and the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Its more narrow use indicates the ability to last or continue for a long time, with the words ‘maintainable’ and ‘tenable’ constituting reliable synonyms for ‘sustainable’. In this context ‘sustainability’ is often used in relation to the enduring nature of systems and processes.