Progress in Industrial Ecology – An International Journal, Vol. 2, Nos. 3/4, 2005 303 Copyright © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. How to approach the sustainable information society? Criteria and indicators as useful tools Sirkka Heinonen, Olli Hietanen*, Jari Lyytimäki and Ulla Rosenström Turku School of Economics and Business Administration Finland Futures Research Centre Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, FI-20500 Turku, Finland Fax: +358 2 481 4630 E-mail: sirkka.heinonen@vtt.fi E-mail: Olli.Hietanen@tukkk.fi E-mail: jari.lyytimaki@ymparisto.fi E-mail: ulla.rosenstrom@ymparisto.fi *Corresponding author Abstract: The development of an information society has been considered to be one route on the road to reaching sustainable development. However, the concept of a Sustainable Information Society (SIS) remains vague for many actors. To address this problem this article will highlight the central concepts of SIS, present results that consider the current use of sustainable development indicators in Finland and the policy makers’ needs and views on SIS, and discuss the criteria for SIS. In addition, it will suggest two indicator sets as tools for operationalising and monitoring the development of an SIS. There are clear needs that require the development of cross-sectored indicators in order to conceptualise SIS better and to provide decision-making processes with new and better indicators. The adequacy and nature of the suggested indicator sets is also discussed and further recommendations have been made accordingly. Keywords: sustainable information society; ICT; sustainable development; eco-efficiency; dematerialisation; immaterialisation; amaterialisation; digital balance; indicators. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Heinonen, S., Hietanen, O., Lyytimäki, J. and Rosenström, U. (2005) ‘How to approach the sustainable information society? Criteria and indicators as useful tools’, Progress in Industrial Ecology – An International Journal, Vol. 2, Nos. 3/4, pp.303–328. Biographical notes: Dr. Sirkka Heinonen works at VTT as Chief Research Scientist. She has also been acting as Docent in Futures Studies at Finland Futures Research Centre since 2002. Olli Hietanen works as Regional Manager at the Finland Futures Research Centre. Jari Lyytimäki works as External Researcher and Consultant at the Finnish Environment Institute. Ulla Rosenström (Lic.Phil., biology) works as Senior Scientist for the Research Programme for Environmental Policy at the Finnish Environment Institute.