The root causes for triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are unsustainable patterns of consumption and production patterns which have threaten human well-being and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. To turn the consumption and production patterns into sustainable way, governments, private sector and all citizens should work hand in hand to improve resource efficiency while reducing the generation of waste and pollution.
Sustainable consumption and production aims at “doing more and better with less,” increasing net welfare gains from economic activities by reducing resource use, degradation and pollution along the whole lifecycle, while increasing quality of life.
Principles of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP):
1. Conserve natural resources – so there’s enough for the future
2. Promote a shift in consumption towards products with lower energy and material intensity
3. Reduce waste from extraction, production, consumption and disposal
4. Apply life cycle thinking – in design, production, consumption and disposal
5. Guard against the rebound effect, where efficiency gains are cancelled out by increased consumption
SCP is a comprehensive approach to improve the sustainability of economic growth, from a life-cycle perspective. The life cycle of a product simply refers to a product’s circle of life, from the day of its creation till the end of its useful life. The circle comprises: the extraction of resources; production, the delivery of services and the market place; the use phase; and end-of-life (i.e. waste management). Life cycle thinking encourages people at every stage of a product’s life cycle to take environmental aspects into consideration. For example, consumers decide whether to buy a green product or whether to reuse or recycle a product. Manufacturers decide how a product is made. They decide whether a product can be dismantled or whether it can be recycled.
Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is a concept that promotes economic growth without compromising the environment. It aims to disconnect the rate of resource use and the rate of economic growth. SCP advances resource efficiency of consumption and production, reduces pressure on scarce resources and increases sustainable use of renewable resources. Ultimately, these efforts aim at resource decoupling which means breaking the link between resource use and economic growth reducing the rate of use of resources per unit of economic activity.
SCP advances resource efficiency of consumption and production, reduces pressure on scarce resources and increases sustainable use of renewable resources. SCP aims at doing more with less. It aims to disconnect the rate of resource use and the rate of economic growth.
The tools and technologies needed to implement SCP practices are already available today.
Cleaner Production
Cleaner Production is an integrated preventive environmental strategy to increase overall efficiency of products and services and to reduce risks to humans and the environment. Cleaner Production can be applied to the processes used in any industry, to goods themselves, and to various services provided in society.
Design for Sustainability
Design for Sustainability (DfS) is a design strategy process to minimize impacts of products. By introducing a full life cycle approach to assessing product impacts into the design process, DfS minimizes products’ footprints, while improving performance for consumers.
Eco-Labelling
Eco-labelling is a voluntary method of environmental performance certification and labelling that is practiced by producers or retailers. Eco-labels help to ensure that labelled services and products meet certain specified criteria.
Sustainable Procurement
Sustainable Procurement means purchasing materials, goods, utilities and services that cause minimal adverse environmental impacts. It incorporates human health and environmental concerns into the purchase for high quality products and services at competitive prices.
Green Reporting
A sustainability report is published by a company or organization and covers the economic, environmental and social impacts caused by the company’s activities. CSR reporting enables companies or organizations to consider their ecological, economic and social impacts enabling them to be more transparent about the risks and opportunities they face.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) involves development and enforcement of sustainability standards, such as suppliers’ codes of conduct. By implementing such instruments in their supply chains end product manufacturers manage the flow of goods and services in terms of for example environmental, risk, and waste costs.
Raising Consumer Awareness
Sustainable consumption means motivating consumers to switch to greener products and services, and it means encouraging less polluting and resource-intense purchase patterns. Ultimately, sustainable consumption leads towards a sustainable world of low-carbon economy with zero waste.