12 Responsible Consumption and Production

This goal seeks to promote sustainable use, from an economical and environmental perspective, of all natural and energy resources in all their stages of production, transport and consumption of all types of products, including packaging, storage and processing of waste. It also includes the necessity to guarantee decent working conditions for all members of the production chain, especially the most vulnerable ones (e.g. manufacturers, especially in impoverished countries).

This consumption must be thus focused on alleviating poverty and helping to give all people a chance to maintain a decent life through their work. This can be done by the commercialisation of the products they breed and cultivate.

On the other hand, we need to also keep in mind the reduction of the use of resources, deterioration and contamination, needed to achieve a better quality of life. This includes also building consumer awareness by showing them a global connection which exists between things we consume and the life quality of people who produce them and bring them to our homes. It is assumed that this way, all people will become aware of the enormous power of a customer. Consumption is an act that we all perform several times a day and which moves billions of Euros all around the world. We are choosing a model of the world we want to construct with every purchase choice we make. We decide how we want the environment and the people to be treated. For this reason, it is important to aim for ways which are the most sustainable and fair for all the people.

Targets ▼

12. 1 Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.
12. 2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
12. 3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
12. 4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimise their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
12. 5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
12, 6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
12. 7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.
12. 8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
12. A Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
12. B Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
12. C Rationalise inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimising the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

Action Area

Dealing with waste (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

Every act of consumption carries with it an act of waste. There is always a small or large part of any product that needs to be thrown away when we use it (packaging or container, leftovers or even the entire product in a way “use it and throw away”). We should reflect here about the quantity of waste we produce daily and identify the amount which we could eliminate. We need to identify the least sustainable methods (more harmful to the environment and people) and reduce them as much as possible. We also need to mention reuse - change of purpose or a way of the use of a product, as a way to reduce waste. Lastly, carry out a correct separation of waste to facilitate its recycling, but only in cases when it is not possible to use or reuse the product anymore.
Sustainable production and consumption

There are different models of production for all kinds of products (industrial, handcrafting, serial manufacturing, large or small scale, big companies, small enterprises, extensive or intensive models, etc.). All of them have advantages and disadvantages. It is convenient to identify them and see that in most of the cases the only reason to choose one model over others is the economy. This leaves behind environmental and social consequences. It is also necessary to explore other alternative models such as organic production, zero-mile cars or Fair Trade, and analyse them to see that their profitability is much higher in all areas, including economical. It is important to promote a long-term global vision about permanent consequences that certain acts and models have on its surroundings.
Conscious consumption

The aim is to raise awareness about the power all people have as consumers. This is an act we all perform several times a day. It supports companies, world economies, and billions of families all around the world. The objective is to analyse what criteria we follow at the moment of purchase. What we look at and what makes us decide to choose one product over another: price, quality, country of origin, brand, fashion, a basic necessity, impulses, etc. The other part of this objective is to find out to what extent we know the things we buy. Do we know where they were manufactured? And how? Do we read labels? Do we know all possibilities of its use? These reflections can be applied to the simplest areas of domestic use (food, footwear, clothing) but also in the areas of leisure, tourism, transport, energy, etc. This invites us to reflect on the fact that we consume much more than we think we do.

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Learning Objectives ▼

Cognitive ▼

The learner understands how individual lifestyle choices influence social, economic and environmental development.
The learner understands production and consumption patterns and value chains and the interrelatedness of production and consumption (supply and demand, toxics, CO2 emissions, waste generation, health, working conditions, poverty, etc. ).
The learner knows roles, rights and duties of different actors in production and consumption (media and advertising, enterprises, municipalities, legislation, consumers, etc. ).
The learner knows about strategies and practices of sustainable production and consumption.
The learner understands dilemmas/trade-offs related to and system changes necessary for achieving sustainable consumption and production.

Socio-emotional ▼

The learner is able to communicate the need for sustainable practices in production and consumption.
The learner is able to encourage others to engage in sustainable practices in consumption and production.
The learner is able to differentiate between needs and wants and to reflect on their own individual consumer behaviour in light of the needs of the natural world, other people, cultures and countries, and future generations.
The learner is able to envision sustainable lifestyles.
The learner is able to feel responsible for the environmental and social impacts of their own individual behaviour as a producer or consumer.

Behavioural ▼

The learner is able to plan, implement and evaluate consumption-related activities using existing sustainability criteria.
The learner is able to evaluate, participate in and influence decision-making processes about acquisitions in the public sector.
The learner is able to promote sustainable production patterns.
The learner is able to take on critically on their role as an active stakeholder in the market.
The learner is able to challenge cultural and societal orientations in consumption and production.

Organisational Perspective ▼

We invite you to study consumption also from an organisational perspective. It is advised to develop a list of guidelines for purchases if the organisation doesn’t have one yet, including not only criteria which are considered truly important but also social and environmental criteria. These have a great impact on society, as we have seen above.

Supply of all products and services can be assessed, from energy and communication technologies, stationery, food and hygiene, but also the hiring process.

The criteria that are considered during the process of choosing a provider tell a lot about the work of the organisation and the model which it wants to defend. So these criteria are as important as products and services which the organisation produces.

It is important to understand that the current trade is completely global. The most vulnerable people and groups are affected by this situation the most, being forced to follow unfair rules without a possibility to change them or comment on them. The prices of much of the raw material are set by the financial markets, very distant from the reality of those who produce and manufacture them. Therefore, it is essential to include ethical criteria of responsibility and sustainability in all our purchases. We need to evaluate all aspects behind each product and service in our daily lives.

It is equally important to evaluate the use of goods we already own. How we treat them and if we utilise them to the fullest from the point of social and technical efficiency, but also during the process of disposal. You can try this simple exercise for example: How much plastic waste do we produce in a week? And one month? What is its effect on the environment? Can we reduce this quantity in some way? How about paper?

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Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Targets ▼

Action Area

Learning Objectives ▼

Cognitive ▼

Socio-emotional ▼

Behavioural ▼

Organisational Perspective ▼

Find out more

United Nations - SDG Knowledge - SDG12

United Nations - Facts & Figures - SDG12

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Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Action Area

Dealing with waste (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

Sustainable production and consumption

Conscious consumption

Organisational Perspective ▼