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A number of networks worldwide are debating how to achieve sustainable development when remediating or regenerating damaged sites or land area. These include established national initiatives such as SURF in the USA, SuRF-UK, SuRF-NL, SuRF-ANZ and SURF-Canada as well as newer initiatives in other countries, e.g. Italy, Brazil and China. The two major European stakeholder networks, NICOLE and COMMON FORUM, are also active in this field. There is a remarkable degree of consensus across these initiatives about what a vision “sustainable remediation” might be. In broad terms concepts of sustainable remediation are based on the achievement of a net benefit overall across a range of environmental, economic and social concerns that are judged to be representative of sustainability.