Sustainable consumption and production

Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is at the core of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically addressed by SDG 12. This goal aims to "ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns," acting as a cross-cutting theme that feeds into other SDGs such as those related to climate change, poverty, health, and sustainable cities.

SCP involves using services and products in a way that minimizes environmental damage, preserves natural resources, and promotes social equity. The purpose is to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, which means pursuing economic development in a way that can be sustained by the planet over the long term. SCP requires changes at all levels of society, from individuals to businesses to governments.

At the individual level, SCP implies making lifestyle choices that reduce environmental impact. This might include reducing, reusing, and recycling waste, choosing products with less packaging, and opting for more sustainable forms of transport like cycling or public transport.

For businesses, SCP entails adopting sustainable business models and practices. This could include improving resource efficiency, investing in renewable energy, designing products that are durable and recyclable, and ensuring fair labor practices.

At the government level, SCP involves implementing policies that support sustainable business practices and incentivize sustainable consumer behavior. This might involve regulations to reduce pollution, subsidies for renewable energy, and campaigns to raise awareness about sustainable consumption.

SCP also plays a role in several other SDGs. For example, sustainable production practices can help mitigate climate change (SDG 13) by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, by reducing the pressure on natural resources, SCP supports the goals related to life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15).

While progress has been made in certain areas, challenges remain in achieving the shift towards SCP. These include existing patterns of overconsumption, limited awareness about the impacts of consumption, and the need for technological innovation to enable more sustainable production.

World Food Day 2024: Promoting Global Food Security and Sustainability

Elsevier,

Water Treatment Using Engineered Carbon Nanotubes, Micro and Nano Technologies series, 2024, Pages 63-96

Aligns with Goals 12 and 13 by describing the role of carbon-based materials in water treatment, the challenges to progress, and the future of these carbon-based materials in this field.
Image of a microscope in a laboratory

Recognising our customers' exceptional work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Lene Bjorn Serpa, Director, Head of Corporate Sustainability & ESG, A.P. Moller - Maersk. They discuss how her work at Maersk aligns with the United Nations sustainable development goals and how companies can contribute to a positive change by engaging with sustainability from a corporate standpoint.
In this special edition of "The World We Want," Márcia Balisciano interviews Diana Mbogo, the Founder and Managing Director of Millennium Engineers in Tanzania. Diana, an award-winning entrepreneur, focuses on renewable energy solutions and is currently implementing the Sardine Fishing Industry Business Project. The project aims to transition the traditional, environmentally harmful methods of the sardine fishing industry toward more sustainable practices using solar drying facilities. Diana emphasises the critical connection between access to energy, particularly for women, and the broader goal of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the discussion, Diana shares her journey, challenges, and the transformative impact of her work on communities, highlighting the positive changes brought about by her innovative approach to the sardine industry.
This chapter aligns with Goals 9, 11, 12 by emphasizing the responsible disposal of toxic building materials and providing guidance on selecting materials that have a positive effect on the health of occupants and the environment.
Elsevier,

Mxene-Based Hybrid Nano-Architectures for Environmental Remediation and Sensor Applications: From Design to Applications, Micro and Nano Technologies series, 2024, Pages 113-127

This chapter aligns with Goals 12 and 13 by highlighting the importance of various MXene-based hybrid nanomaterial types in the elimination of heavy metals from wastewater.
Elsevier,

Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Third Edition, 2024, pp 152-166

This chapter advances the UN SDG goals 11 and 12 by reviewing the economic importance of biodiversity and the services that it provides to the rest of the economy, then considering the policy options available for better conservation of biodiversity.
Elsevier,

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology -Part A : Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Volume 284, October 2023

This article advances SDG # 14 by investigating the impact aerobic swimming exercise in fish has on improving robustness of some species and the importance of establishing suitable rearing conditions to improve the welfare of cultured fish.
This chapter advances the UN SDG goals 9 and 15 by reviewing how industry and infrastructure development can infringe on snow leopard habitat and how sustainable business drivers can encourage companies to engage in biodiversity conservation efforts.

Pages