Media  Fact  Sheet  

 

 
 
 
 
Sustainable  Consumption  and  Production  
 
 

 
Key  Messages  
 
• Globally,   we   are   extracting   more   resources   to   produce   goods   and   services   than   our   planet   can  
replenish.  
 
• The  result  is  that  economic  growth  and  social  development  cannot  be  sustained  with  our  current  
consumption  and  production  patterns.    
 
• One  of  the  greatest  challenges  facing  humanity  today  is  to  maintain  healthy  growth  rates  to  lift  the  
world’s  one  billion  out  of  absolute  poverty  and  carefully  manage  the  natural  resources  required  to  
sustain   the   expanding   human   population   that   will   reach   nine   billion   by   2050   –   all   while   keeping  
environmental  impacts  within  acceptable  limits  and  sustaining  life’s  natural  support  system.  
 
• To  meet  this  challenge  we  need  to  transition  to  more  efficient  and  sustainable  consumption  and  
production  (SCP)  patterns.    
 
• SCP  is  a  pattern  of  behaviors  that  aims  to  reduce  negative  environmental  impacts  and  help  meet  
human  needs  by  producing  more  and  better  with  less  resources  and  fewer  negative  impacts.    
 
• The  most  promising  strategy  for  achieving  SCP  is  to  “decouple”  economic  growth  from  the  rising  
rates  of  natural  resource  use  and  the  environmental  impacts  that  occur  in  both  consumption  and  
production  stages  of  product  life  cycles.  
 
• There  are  concerted  international  efforts  to  achieve  decoupling.  In  2012,  at  the  UN  Conference  on  
Sustainable   Development   (Rio   +20),   countries   formally   adopted   the   10-­‐year   framework   of  
programmes  on  sustainable  consumption  and  production  patterns  (10YFP),  which  aims  to  enhance  
international   cooperation   to   accelerate   the   shift   towards   SCP   patterns   in   both   developed   and  
developing  countries.  
 
 
 
 

 
  
       
         

 
Headline  problems    
 
If  current  population  and  consumption  trends  continue,  humanity  will  need  the  equivalent  of  two  Earths  
to  support  itself  by  2030.  
 
Our  global  consumption  is  already  exceeding  the  Earth’s  carrying  capacity  by  around  50  per  cent.    
 
As   a   result,   we   are   already   running   out   of   cheap   and   high-­‐quality   sources   of   some   essential   materials  
such  as  oil,  copper  and  gold,  the  supplies  of  which,  in  turn,  require  ever-­‐rising  volumes  of  fossil  fuels  and  
freshwater  to  produce.  
 
Demands   on   these   rapidly   depleting   resources   will   only   increase   in   the   coming   years   given   that   the  
world’s   population   is   forecast   to   reach   9   billion   by   2050;   with   one   billion   people   currently   needing   to   be  
lifted  out  of  absolute  poverty;  and  an  additional  1  to  3  billion  middle  class  consumers  joining  the  global  
economy  by  2030.    
 
Wasteful  use  of  resources  –  be  it  water,  land,  biomass,  energy  or  materials  –  undermines  the  ability  of  
societies  worldwide  to  meet  these  growing  demands  and  reduce  the  poverty  gap.    
 
According  to  the  UN  Development  Programme,  if  production  and  consumption  patterns  continue  in  the  
current   mode,   the   global   Human   Development   Index   will   plummet   by   8   per   cent   in   the   best   case  
scenario  and  15  per  cent  in  the  worst  case  scenario  by  the  year  2050,  with  much  higher  losses  for  the  
poorest  regions.  

The  issue  of  food  loss  and  waste  is  probably  the  most  striking  example  of  our  dysfunctional  production  
and  consumption  patterns,  which  hampers  efforts  to  reduce  the  poverty  gap.    
 
Worldwide,   about   one-­‐third   of   all   food   produced,   worth   around   USD   1   trillion,   is   lost   or   wasted   in  
producing  or  consuming  food.    
 
In   industrialized   regions,   almost   half   of   the   total   food   wasted,   around   300   million   tonnes   annually,  
occurs   because   producers,   retailers   and   consumers   discard   food   that   is   still   fit   for   consumption.   This  
wasted  food  would  be  sufficient  to  feed  the  estimated  842  million  undernourished  people  in  the  world  
today.    
 
If   we   are   to   meet   the   demands   of   current   and   future   generations,   a   shift   towards   more   sustainable  
patterns  of  consumption  and  production  will  have  to  be  realized.    
 
Solutions  
 
Sustainable  consumption    
 
Sustainable  consumption  requires  decoupling  economic  growth  from  environmental  degradation    
 
Research   by   the   UN   Environment   Programme   (UNEP)   indicates   that   globally   and   by   2050,   humanity  
could   devour   an   estimated   140   billion   tonnes   of   minerals,   ores,   fossil   fuels   and   biomass   per   year   -­‐   three  

 
  
       
         

times   its   current   appetite   -­‐   unless   the   economic   growth   rate   is   "decoupled"   from   the   rate   of   natural  
resource  consumption.  
 
One  of  SCP’s  main  goals  is  to  ‘decouple’  economic  growth  and  environmental  degradation.  
 
This   means   increasing   the   efficiency   of   resource   use   in   the   production,   distribution   and   use   of   products,  
aiming   to   keep   the   energy,   material   and   pollution   intensity   of   all   production   and   consumption   functions  
within  the  carrying  capacities  of  natural  ecosystems.  
 
A   decoupled   economic   system   will   not   necessarily   require   less   consumption;   but   it   will   require   better  
and  smarter  choices  for  consumption  –  i.e.  more  resource  efficient  products  and  services,  with  less  risk  
to  our  health  and  environment,  produced  under  better  working  conditions.    
 
Sustainable   consumption   can   be   promoted   through   a   mix   of   policy,   economic   and   voluntary  
instruments,  including  formal  and  informal  education.    

There   are   some   large-­‐scale   global   initiatives   aimed   at   improving   and   spreading   the   use   of   energy-­‐
efficient  appliances  and  on  promoting  access  to  cleaner,  affordable  forms  of  energy  and  related  energy  
services   (e.g.   Sustainable   Energy   for   All)   or   reducing   food   loss   and   waste   (e.g.   Think.Eat.Save:   Reduce  
Your  Foodprint  campaign  and  the  SAVE  FOOD  Initiative).    

There  is  great  potential  for  these  initiatives,  combined  with  smarter  investment  to  change  the  way  we  all  
produce  and  consume,  so  as  to  do  more  and  better  with  less.  
 
There   is   growing   investment   in   the   renewable   energy   sector.   Globally,   renewables   -­‐   excluding   large  
hydro  -­‐  accounted  for  43.6  per  cent  of  newly  installed  generating  capacity  in  2013.    
 
Were   it   not   for   renewables,   world   energy-­‐related   CO2   emissions   would   have   been   an   estimated   1.2  
gigatonnes  higher  in  2013.    

In   addition   to   promoting   access   to   cleaner,   affordable   forms   of   energy,   a   transition   to   sustainable  

consumption   will   require   work   on   education   and   awareness-­‐raising   among   consumers,   civil   society,  
private  sector  and  policymakers.    

Ensuring   the   behavioral   change   required   for   a   transition   to   sustainable   consumption   will   involve  
engaging   the   world’s   population   and   especially   future   generations   of   consumers,   in   efforts   to   reduce  
wasteful  consumption  patterns.    

It   will   also   require   interventions   and   incentives   from   the   public   and   private   sectors   to   put   in   place  
“enabling   conditions”   for   sustainable   choices   and   lifestyles   such   as:   more   accurate   market   prices,   supply  
of   affordable   sustainable   products,   adequate   infrastructure   (recycling   bins,   public   transport,   urban  
planning  etc).    

Through  UNEP's  initiatives  in  the  area  of  education  for  sustainable  consumption,  individuals  learn  how  
to   adopt   more   sustainable   lifestyle   choices,   consume   better   and   more   responsibly,   seek   and   apply  
creative,  new  solutions  and  engage  in  policy  debates.    

This   may,   for   example,   include   initiatives   to   mainstream   education   for   sustainable   consumption   and  
lifestyles  in  formal  education  curricula  as  well  as  in  informal  education  at  the  national  and  local  levels.  

 
  
       
         

In   addition   to   raising   the   awareness   of   consumers,   people   need   accurate   information   about   the  
environmental  and  social  impacts  of  products  to  help  them  make  informed  consumption  choices.    

Responsible   advertising   and   green   marketing   are   also   key   tools   to   help   consumers   make   informed  
choices  on  products  and  services.    
 
Tailor-­‐made  and  efficient  messages  in  public  and  corporate  campaigns  can  lead  to  the  adoption  of  new  
attitudes  and  purchasing  habits  with  less  impact  on  the  environment.  
 
Sustainable  production  
 
UNEP  research  shows  that  in  many  countries,  economic  growth  and  development  has  been  hampered  
by   the   rising   economic   and   environmental   costs   of   resource   depletion   and   negative   environmental  
impacts.    
 
There  is  therefore  a  need  for  a  policy  response  that  commits  both  governments  and  industries  to  reduce  
the   amount   of   resources   used   for   each   unit   of   production   and   reduce   negative   impacts   on   the  
environment  (i.e.  increase  “decoupling”).  
 
Sustainable  Production  is  about  a  continuous  application  of  an  integrated  and  preventive  environmental  
strategy   to   produce   goods   and   services   more   efficiently   with   lower   risks   to   humans   and   the  
environment.  Using  scarce  resources  more  efficiently  is  also  a  key  building  block  in  meeting  the  needs  of  
a  growing  and  increasingly  urban  world  population.    
 
UNEP  defines  resource  efficiency  as  a  reduction  in  the  total  environmental  impact  of  the  production  and  
consumption  of  goods  and  services  -­‐  from  raw  material  extraction  to  final  use  and  disposal.    
 
Resource  efficiency  can  help  us  meet  human  needs  while  respecting  the  ecological  carrying  capacity  of  
the  earth.  It  can  also  directly  benefit  businesses  seeking  to  lower  production  costs.  
 
Since   resource   inputs   represent   an   important   cost   of   production   for   industries,   efficiency   improvements  
can   be   a   significant   lever   for   competitive   advantage.   Investments   in   improving   resource   efficiency   and  
recycling   reduce   the   demand   for   energy,   water   and   virgin   resources,   thus   reducing   the   need   to   invest  
billions  on  new  energy  and  water  supply  infrastructure.  
 
The  International  Energy  Agency  (IEA)  estimates  that,  if  countries  focused  on  boosting  energy  efficiency,  
they   could   not   only   provide   a   10   per   cent   reduction   in   global   energy   demand   by   2030   but   also   save   USD  
560  billion.  
 
The   global   waste   market,   from   collection   to   recycling,   is   estimated   at   USD   410   billion   a   year,   not  
including  the  informal  segment  in  developing  countries.    
 
Recycling  is  likely  to  grow  steadily  and  form  a  vital  component  of  greener  waste  management  systems,  
which  can  also  provide  decent  employment.    
 
While   currently   only   25   per   cent   of   waste   is   recovered   or   recycled,   under   the   green   investment   scenario  
modelled   in   the   Green   Economy   Report,   the   amount   of   waste   destined   for   landfills   would   be  
considerably  reduced,  implying  the  development  and  expansion  of  new  market  opportunities.  
 

 
  
       
         

In   this   respect,   a   transition   to   SCP   patterns   will   not   necessarily   mean   a   ‘limiting   of   horizons’   -­‐   rather  
broadening  of  alternatives,  which  in  many  cases  offer  economic  gains  in  addition  to  environmental  ones.    
 
Transitioning   to   a   Green   Economy   and   sustainable   consumption   and   production   can   strengthen  
economic  growth  in  countries,  especially  in  developing  countries  as  it  provides  an  opportunity  for  them  
to  “leapfrog”  to  more  resource-­‐efficient,  environmentally  sound  and  competitive  technologies,  allowing  
them  to  bypass  inefficient  and  polluting  phases  of  development.  
 
The  Green  Economy  is  more  than  just  a  viable  alternative  to  our  current  system.  UNEP  research  suggests  
that   an   investment   scenario   of   allocating   2   per   cent   of   global   GDP   to   greening   economic   sectors   will  
produce  a  higher  global  GDP  within  10  years,  compared  to  a  business-­‐as-­‐usual  scenario.  
 
Where  do  we  stand  in  making  the  transition  to  SCP?  
 
Some  progress  has  been  made  in  achieving  a  transition  to  sustainable  consumption  and  production.    
 
Over  the  past  century,  pollution  controls  and  other  measures  have  reduced  the  environmental  impacts  
of   economic   growth.   And,   thanks   to   innovations   in   manufacturing,   product   design   and   energy   use   -­‐  
aided   by   the   rising   number   of   people   living   more   efficient   lifestyles   in   cities   -­‐   the   global   economy   has  
grown  faster  than  resource  consumption.  
 
Still,   those   improvements   have   only   been   relative.   In   absolute   terms   -­‐   with   population   growth,  
continuing  high  levels  of  consumption  in  the  industrialized  countries,  and  increased  demand  for  material  
goods,  particularly  in  China,  India,  Brazil  and  other  quickly  emerging  economies  -­‐  total  resource  use  per  
capita  grew  eight-­‐fold,  from  6  billion  tonnes  in  1900  to  49  billion  tonnes  in  2000.  It  is  now  estimated  at  
up  to  59  billion  tonnes.  
 
According   to   UNEP   research,   decoupling   is   occurring   but   "at   a   rate   that   is   insufficient   to   meet   the   needs  
of  an  equitable  and  sustainable  society."  
 
There  are  a  number  of  global  initiatives  which  aim  to  kick  start  decoupling.    
 
The  10  Year  Framework  of  Programmes  on  Sustainable  Consumption  and  Production  
 
In   2012,   at   the   UN   Conference   on   Sustainable   Development   (Rio   +20),   countries   adopted   the   10-­‐year  
framework  of  programmes  on  sustainable  consumption  and  production  patterns  (10YFP).  
 
The   10YFP   aims   to   catalyse   international   cooperation   to   accelerate   the   shift   towards   SCP   patterns   in  
both  developed  and  developing  countries.    
 
The   objectives   of   the   10YFP   are   to   support   countries   in   their   journey   towards   more   sustainable  
production   and   consumption   patterns   and,   in   particular,   contribute   to   resource   efficiency   and  
prosperity,  hence  decoupling  economic  growth  from  environmental  degradation  and  resource  use.    
 
The  10YFP  is  helping  to  mainstream  SCP  into  sustainable  development  policies;  support  capacity  building  
and   facilitate   access   to   financial   and   technical   assistance  for   developing   countries;   and,   enable  
information  and  knowledge  sharing  on  SCP  tools,  initiatives  and  best  practices.    
 
Programmes  included  in  the  10YFP  on  SCP  patterns  will  assist  countries  in  a  number  of  areas,  including  

 
  
       
         

but   not   limited   to:   consumer   information;   sustainable   lifestyles   and   education;   sustainable   public  
procurement;   sustainable   buildings   and   construction;   sustainable   tourism,   including   ecotourism;   and  
sustainable  food  systems.    
 
Phasing  Out  Fossil  Fuels  Subsidies    
 
At  the  Rio  +20  Conference,  countries  reaffirmed  their  commitments  to  phase  out  harmful  and  inefficient  
fossil  fuel  subsidies  that  encourage  wasteful  consumption  and  undermine  sustainable  development.  
 
Countries   were   invited   to   consider   rationalizing   inefficient   fossil   fuel   subsidies   by   removing   market  
distortions,   including   restructuring   taxation   and   phasing   out   harmful   subsidies,   where   they   exist,   to  
reflect  their  environmental  impacts.    
 
Partnership  for  Action  on  Green  Economy  
 
The  Partnership  for  Action  on  Green  Economy,  or  PAGE,  supports  30  countries  over  the  next  seven  years  
in   building   national   Green   Economy   strategies   that   will   generate   new   jobs   and   skills,   promote   clean  
technologies,  and  reduce  environmental  risks  and  poverty.      
 
More   specifically,   PAGE   will   help   shift   investment   and   policies   towards   the   creation   of   a   new   generation  
of   assets,   such   as   clean   technologies,   resource   efficient   infrastructure,   well-­‐functioning   ecosystems,  
green  skilled  labour  and  good  governance.  
 
Sustainable  Development  Goals  
 
Many   governments   in   the   Open   Working   Group   on   Sustainable   Development   Goals   (SDGs)   –   charged  
with   preparing   a   proposal   on   the   SDGs   and   developing   a   set   of   measurable   targets   and   indicators   -­‐   have  
recognized  that  SCP  should  be  embedded  in  the  SDGs.  SCP  could  be  reflected  as  a  stand-­‐alone  goal,  or  
cutting  across  other  goals  that  may  be  established  on  food,  health,  economic  growth,  industrialization,  
cities  and  ecosystems,  or  in  both  these  ways.    
 
Whether  SCP  is  a  stand-­‐alone  or  cross-­‐cutting  issue,  UN  Member  States  have  already  -­‐  with  the  adoption  
of  the  10YFP  -­‐  demonstrated  their  commitment  to  accelerate  the  shift  towards  SCP  patterns.    
 
The   emphasis   currently   being   placed   on   SCP   in   ongoing   negotiations   on   the   SDGs   raises   the   prospect  
that  achievement  of  SCP  patterns  could  be  placed  at  the  core  of  the  post-­‐2015  development  agenda.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
For  more  information,  please  contact:    
 
Shereen   Zorba,   Head   of   News   and   Media,   United   Nations   Environment   Programme,  
shereen.zorba@unep.org,  Tel.  +254  788  526  000