Sustainable craft in practice: From practice to theory

Concerns regarding the presence and future of craft in a sustainability context increase the need to define the concept of ‘sustainable craft’. Based on interviews with sixteen craft practitioners in Finland, this qualitative study describes and analyses craft practitioners’ conceptions of their craft practices and products through the lens of sustainability as implemented in their actions. Using Grounded Theory, the analysis of interview data reveals a holistic system of sustainable craft, comprising three elements: sustainable practice, product and immaterial craft. Through their interaction, these intertwined elements were found to motivate and affect the practitioners and their products. The findings offer a novel perspective on the concept of sustainable craft and a systemic model of sustainability for use by practitioners.