sdg 12: responsible consumption and production...sustainable consumption and production1. the...
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StockholmEnvironmentInstitute
SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 1
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SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction
Areviewofresearchneeds
AnnextotheFormasreportForskningförAgenda2030:Översiktavforskningsbehovochvägarframåt
November2018
StefanieChan,NinaWeitz,ÅsaPersson,CasparTrimmer
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Citethisannexas:Chan,S.,Weitz,N.,Persson,Å.andTrimmer,C.(2018).SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction.AReviewofResearchNeeds.TechnicalannextotheFormasreportForskningförAgenda2030:Översiktavforskningsbehovochvägarframåt.StockholmEnvironmentInsitute,Stockholm.
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TableofcontentsSummary...................................................................................................................................4
1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................8
1.1 Methodandapproach...........................................................................................................10
2 ThestateofresearchonSDG12.....................................................................................12
3 Theme1:Cross-cuttingissues.........................................................................................14
3.1 Systemperspectives..............................................................................................................14
3.2 Consumptionpatternsandconsumerbehaviour..................................................................15
3.3 Monitoringandindicators.....................................................................................................18
4 Keytheme2:Naturalresourcemanagement.................................................................19
4.1 Globalmaterialuseandefficiency........................................................................................19
4.2 Theroleofconsumptioninnaturalresourcemanagement..................................................19
4.3 Linkingresearchwithpolicyandpracticalneeds..................................................................20
5 Keytheme3:Foodwasteandloss..................................................................................20
5.1 Foodloss................................................................................................................................21
5.2 Consumerfoodwaste............................................................................................................22
5.3 Betterdataonfoodsystems.................................................................................................22
5.4 Researchonanintegratedsupplychainapproach...............................................................22
6 Conclusions....................................................................................................................23
References..............................................................................................................................23
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SummarySustainableDevelopmentGoal(SDG)12callsforresponsibleconsumptionandproduction,essentiallydecouplingeconomicgrowthfromunsustainableresourceuseandemissionsandimprovingthemanagementofhazardoussubstancesandwaste.Inparticularitcallsforimplementationofthe10-YearFrameworkofProgrammesonSustainableConsumptionandProduction(SCP),forefficientuseofnaturalresources,forcuttingfoodandotherwaste,forresponsiblemanagementofchemicals,forsustainablepublicprocurementandforcompaniestoadoptmoresustainablepractices.
ThisstudydemonstratestheuseofamethodologycombiningliteraturereviewwithanexploratoryexpertworkshoptoidentifyresearchneedsrelatedtoSDGgoalsandtargets,inthiscaseaselectionoftargetsunderSDG12andarelatedtargetfromSDG8(seetable1).ThetargetswereselectedastheypointedmostclearlytoresearchquestionsthatcouldcontributeinimportantwaystotheachievementoftheSDGs.
Basedontheselectedtargets,weidentifiedthreekeythemes:(i)issuescuttingacrosseffortstoadvanceSCP;(ii)sustainablenaturalresourcemanagement;and(iii)reducingfoodwasteandloss.AlthoughthefocuswasontheSwedishcontext,theliteraturereviewinparticularsoughttoidentifyresearchneedsinbothdevelopinganddevelopedcountrycontexts.
GiventhebroadscopeofSDG12andthefieldofSCP,thisstudyshouldbeseenmoreasaproofofconceptratherthanasacomprehensivelistofresearchneedsrelatedtoSDG12.
FindingsSomegeneralchallengeswereidentified,alongwithspecificresearchneedsrelatedtoSDG12undereachofthreethemes.Belowisaselectionofthese.
Generalchallenges
• ThequalitativeratherthanquantitativenatureofSDG12makesitdifficultforcountriestomeasuretheirachievements
• Theglobaltotalandpercapitamaterialfootprintofconsumptioncontinuestoincrease,althoughmanyregionshavebeensuccessfulinreducingdomesticmaterialconsumption.Politicaleffortsneedtoshiftfromincreasingefficiencytodecreasingoverallconsumption,andfromidentifyingproblemstofindingsolutions
• UpscalingofgoodSCPexampleshasbeendifficult,andmoreresearchisneededonhow
• Consumers,businessesandpublic-sectordecision-makerslackknowledgeaboutSCP,andthereisneedtobridgedifferentactors’knowledgeaswellastobetterbridgescienceandconcreteapplications.
Theme1:Cross-cuttingissues
Systemicissues
• Integratingknowledgeaboutthewholesupplychain,fromproductiontoconsumption
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SDG12targets,andthosecoveredinthisstudy(bold)
SDG12:Ensuresustainableconsumptionandproductionpatterns
12.1 Implementthe10-yearframeworkofprogrammesonsustainableconsumptionandproduction,allcountriestakingaction,withdevelopedcountriestakingthelead,takingintoaccountthedevelopmentandcapabilitiesofdevelopingcountries
12.2 By2030,achievethesustainablemanagementandefficientuseofnaturalresources
12.3 12.3By2030,halvepercapitaglobalfoodwasteattheretailandconsumerlevelsandreducefoodlossesalongproductionandsupplychains,includingpost-harvestlosses
12.4 By2020,achievetheenvironmentallysoundmanagementofchemicalsandallwastesthroughouttheirlifecycle,inaccordancewithagreedinternationalframeworks,andsignificantlyreducetheirreleasetoair,waterandsoilinordertominimizetheiradverseimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment
12.5 By2030,substantiallyreducewastegenerationthroughprevention,reduction,recyclingandreuse
12.6 Encouragecompanies,especiallylargeandtransnationalcompanies,toadoptsustainablepracticesandtointegratesustainabilityinformationintotheirreportingcycle
12.7 Promotepublicprocurementpracticesthataresustainable,inaccordancewithnationalpoliciesandpriorities
12.8 By2030,ensurethatpeopleeverywherehavetherelevantinformationandawarenessforsustainabledevelopmentandlifestylesinharmonywithnature
12.a Supportdevelopingcountriestostrengthentheirscientificandtechnologicalcapacitytomovetowardsmoresustainablepatternsofconsumptionandproduction
12.b Developandimplementtoolstomonitorsustainabledevelopmentimpactsforsustainabletourismthatcreatesjobsandpromoteslocalcultureandproducts
12.c Rationalizeinefficientfossil-fuelsubsidiesthatencouragewastefulconsumptionbyremovingmarketdistortions,inaccordancewithnationalcircumstances,includingbyrestructuringtaxationandphasingoutthoseharmfulsubsidies,wheretheyexist,toreflecttheirenvironmentalimpacts,takingfullyintoaccountthespecificneedsandconditionsofdevelopingcountriesandminimizingthepossibleadverseimpactsontheirdevelopmentinamannerthatprotectsthepoorandtheaffectedcommunities
SDG8:Promotesustained,inclusiveandsustainableeconomicgrowth,fullandproductiveemploymentanddecentworkforall
8.4 Improveprogressively,through2030,globalresourceefficiencyinconsumptionandproductionandendeavourtodecoupleeconomicgrowthfromenvironmentaldegradation,inaccordancewiththe10-yearframeworkofprogrammesonsustainableconsumptionandproduction,withdevelopedcountriestakingthelead
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• Limitationsimposedbytheeconomicsystemonsustainabilityefforts,includingbytheprivatesector
• Moresustainablebusinessmodelssuitedtocirculareconomy.
Consumptionandconsumerbehaviour
• Makingiteasierforconsumerstomakemoresustainablechoices• Possibleimpactsofashiftinconsumptionawayfromgoodsandtowardsservices• Pathwaysforeffectivenormdiffusion• Linkagesbetweenconsumptionpatternsandhealthissues,e.g.mentalhealth,diet-
relateddisease• Thosepolicyinstrumentsandlegalframeworksthataremostconduciveto(andmost
inimicalto)asustainableconsumptiontransformation• Newmarketingpracticesandthechangingmedialandscapesforculturalandsocial
normchange.
Monitoringandindicators
• ImprovinginstitutionalandtechnicalcapacitytomonitorSCP• Moreassessmentandbenchmarking• Moreconvergenceofreportingsystemstoreducereportingburdenandalignglobal
andnationalindicators.
Theme2:Naturalresourcesmanagement
• Currenttrendsandfutureprospectsforglobalresourceuseandsustainableresourcemanagement
• Interactionsbetweenclimatechangemitigationandsustainableresourcemanagement• Thesocioeconomicimplicationsoftransitioningtomoreresourceefficienteconomies
andsocieties• Linksbetweensustainableresourcemanagement,conflict,securityandmigration• Consumptionasthemaindriverofincreasedmaterialuse• Howtoactonopportunitiesandchallengesforresilienceasanobjectiveofnatural
resourcemanagementindevelopingcountries• Bridgingbetweennaturalresourcemanagementresearch,policyandpracticalneeds.
Theme3:Foodwasteandloss
• Takingintoaccountthediversityofstakeholdersandanintegratedwhole-supply-chainapproach
• Howtosupportactioninproducercountriesthroughenhancingscientificandtechnologicalcapacity
• Focusonresearchforreducingpost-harvestlossesindevelopingcountries• Opportunitiesforproductive,profitable,sustainableuseoffoodandcropwasteand
residues• Capturingthepotentialofbigdata• Keepingagriculturalresearchuptodatewiththeglobal,regionalandlocalimpactsof
climatechange,watershortagesandothershocks
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• Researchintoresistantcropvarieties,pestcontrol,betterpackingandtransport,andlow-coststoragetechnologies
• Strategiesfortacklingconsumptionwaste• Consumerbehaviour–makingreductionoffoodwasteappealing• Enablingfactorsforfoodre-distribution• Improvingdataonfoodwastage.
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1 IntroductionThisstudyformspartoftheprojectFormasAgenda2030,whichaimedtoidentifyresearchneedsrelatedtothe17SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andtoexploreoptionsformakingstructuralchangesinresearchpolicyandfundinginordertofosterfurtherprogresstowardstheSDGs.TheprojectinvolvedliteraturereviewsandexploratoryworkshopsfocusingonthreeSDGsasexamples:SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction,SDG14:LifeBelowWaterandSDG17:PartnershipsfortheGoals.
Basedonaliteraturereviewandworkshopdiscussions,thisstudyidentifiesresearchneedsrelatedtofourtargetsunderSDG12,alongwithatargetfromSDG8thatiscloselyrelated(seetable1).Thereasonsforselectingthesetargetsaresetoutbelow.Thestudyfocusesonneedsrelatedtothreethemes,whicharebasedonthestudiedtargetsandrelevanttotheSwedishcontext:cross-cuttingissuesforSDG12,naturalresourcemanagement,andfoodwasteandloss.
Theresearchneedsidentifiedarerelatedtotwofunctions:characterisingthechallengesofmeetingthetargets,andprovidingsolutions.Thesearetwoofthethreerolesforscience,technologyandinnovationinimplementingtheSDGsdefinedbyNilsson(2016).Researchneedsrelatingtothethirdproposedrole,strengtheningpublicinstitutionsandsociety,arediscussedinmoredepthinthemainreport(Perssonetal.2018,inSwedish).
SDG12callsfor“responsibleconsumptionandproduction”.Itaimsatdecouplingeconomicgrowthfromenvironmentaldamageandnaturalresourceexploitation.Itseighttargetsincludeimplementationofthe10-YearFrameworkofProgrammesonSCP,efficientmanagementanduseofnaturalresources,cuttingvarioustypesofwaste,andresponsiblemanagementofwastesandchemicals.Italsocallsforadoptionofsustainablepracticesincompaniesandinpublicprocurement.
Consumptionandproductionareessentialtotheglobaleconomy.Anthropogenicharmtotheenvironmentandhumanhealthisalmostentirelytheresultofproductionandconsumptionactivities.Atthesametime,foodsecurity,povertyalleviation,medicine,infrastructure,welfareandservicesalldependonproductiveactivitiesandthewealththeygenerate.Thusmost,ifnotall,oftheSDGsarethusintricatelylinkedwithSDG12.
Thetotalandpercapitamaterialfootprintofhumanitycontinuedtoincreasebetween2000and2010.Thisfootprintisunequallydistributed,beingmuchhigherinOECDcountries(UN,2017),whiletheenvironmentalandresourceimpactsrelatedtoproducingthegoodsandservicesconsumedmaybedistributedallovertheworld,dependingontradelinks.Thus,addressingunsustainableconsumptionandproductionpatternsrequiresasystemsapproachsupportedbycooperationbetweensupplychainactors,awareness-raisingandeducation(Reischetal.2016,p.6).
Asustainableconsumptionpolicyagendahasemergedgraduallyattheinternationalleveltosupportnationalandregionalactivities,throughAgenda21(fromthe1992RioSummit),theUNEP-ledMarrakechprocess(2003)andthe10-YearFrameworkofProgrammeson
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SustainableConsumptionandProduction1.TheSwedishpolicyagendaaroundSCPisdescribedinBox1below.
Table1.SDG12targets,andthosecoveredinthisstudy(bold)
SDG12:Ensuresustainableconsumptionandproductionpatterns12.1 Implementthe10-yearframeworkofprogrammesonsustainableconsumption
andproduction,allcountriestakingaction,withdevelopedcountriestakingthelead,takingintoaccountthedevelopmentandcapabilitiesofdevelopingcountries
12.2 By2030,achievethesustainablemanagementandefficientuseofnaturalresources
12.3 12.3By2030,halvepercapitaglobalfoodwasteattheretailandconsumerlevelsandreducefoodlossesalongproductionandsupplychains,includingpost-harvestlosses
12.4 By2020,achievetheenvironmentallysoundmanagementofchemicalsandallwastesthroughouttheirlifecycle,inaccordancewithagreedinternationalframeworks,andsignificantlyreducetheirreleasetoair,waterandsoilinordertominimizetheiradverseimpactsonhumanhealthandtheenvironment
12.5 By2030,substantiallyreducewastegenerationthroughprevention,reduction,recyclingandreuse
12.6 Encouragecompanies,especiallylargeandtransnationalcompanies,toadoptsustainablepracticesandtointegratesustainabilityinformationintotheirreportingcycle
12.7 Promotepublicprocurementpracticesthataresustainable,inaccordancewithnationalpoliciesandpriorities
12.8 By2030,ensurethatpeopleeverywherehavetherelevantinformationandawarenessforsustainabledevelopmentandlifestylesinharmonywithnature
12.a Supportdevelopingcountriestostrengthentheirscientificandtechnologicalcapacitytomovetowardsmoresustainablepatternsofconsumptionandproduction
12.b Developandimplementtoolstomonitorsustainabledevelopmentimpactsforsustainabletourismthatcreatesjobsandpromoteslocalcultureandproducts
12.c Rationalizeinefficientfossil-fuelsubsidiesthatencouragewastefulconsumptionbyremovingmarketdistortions,inaccordancewithnationalcircumstances,includingbyrestructuringtaxationandphasingoutthoseharmfulsubsidies,wheretheyexist,toreflecttheirenvironmentalimpacts,takingfullyintoaccountthespecificneedsandconditionsofdevelopingcountriesandminimizingthepossibleadverseimpactsontheirdevelopmentinamannerthatprotectsthepoorandtheaffectedcommunities
SDG8:Promotesustained,inclusiveandsustainableeconomicgrowth,fullandproductiveemploymentanddecentworkforall
8.4 Improveprogressively,through2030,globalresourceefficiencyinconsumptionandproductionandendeavourtodecoupleeconomicgrowthfromenvironmentaldegradation,inaccordancewiththe10-yearframeworkofprogrammesonsustainableconsumptionandproduction,withdevelopedcountriestakingthelead
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ThegrowingimportanceofSCPattheinternationalpolicylevelisevident.ThefactthatSCPhasitsownSDGisalreadysignificant,asisthefactthattheUN10-YearFrameworkofProgrammesonSustainableConsumptionandProduction(10YFP)isexpresslymentionedinSDGtargets8.4and 12.1. Another example is the most recent UNCTAD Global Guidelines for ConsumerProtection, which cite sustainable consumption as an express objective and recogniseconsumers’right“topromotejust,equitableandsustainableeconomicandsocialdevelopmentandenvironmentalprotection”(UNCTAD2016,p.6).
1.1 MethodandapproachThisstudyshouldbeseenasatestoftheconceptofandmethodforidentifyingresearchneedsrelatedtoSDGgoalsandtargets.Thescopeofthestudydidnotallowforanexhaustiveorin-depthassessmentofthestateofknowledge.
Themethodusedinvolvedthreesteps.ThefirststepwastoidentifyimportantthemesamongthetargetsunderSDG12,inordertoreducethenumberoftargetsandtofindbroaderknowledgeareasorthemesthatrelatetoseveraltargets.Thecriteriaandapproachforselectingthesekeythemesaredescribedbelow.
Thesecondstepwastoconductaliteraturereview,seekingresearchneedsalreadyexplicitlyorimplicitlyidentifiedintheliterature.Togetanoverviewoftheresearchbasedandrecenttrendsforeachtopic,wefirstconsultedsynthesisreportsandgeneralassessmentssuchasInternationalResourcePanelreportsfornaturalresourcemanagement(UNEP2016;UNEP2017);FAOandWorldResourcesInstituteforfoodwaste(Lipinskietal.2013;FAO2015).Morein-depthknowledgeandanalysiswasgatheredthroughdatabasesearchesformorefocusedmaterials,particularlypeer-reviewedjournalarticles.
Thethirdstepwastoorganiseanexpertworkshopwithexpertsfromthefieldsofscience,policyandpracticeinordertoidentifyhigh-priorityresearchneedsandhowtomeetthem.Theworkshopwasheldon8May2018inStockholm.
Thediscussionsintheworkshopwereinformedby,butnotlimitedto,thepreliminaryfindingsoftheliteraturereview.Thefirstpartoftheworkshopcomprisedsmallgroupdiscussionstoidentifyknowledgegapsrelatedtothetargets.ThesecondwasabrainstormingsessiontoelicitinputonhowSwedish(andEU)researchandinnovationpolicycouldcontributetoAgenda2030.Inthisreport,weareconcernedwiththeoutputsofthefirstpartoftheworkshop.Ithaschieflybeenincorporatedintothediscussiononcross-cuttingissues.
1.1.1 Challengesandlimitations
SDG12hasaverybroadscope,makinganexhaustivereviewofthepotentiallyrelevantliteratureinherentlydifficult.Thesteppedprocessinthereview–startingwithsynthesesandgeneralassessmentsandthenmovingtomorespecificliterature–wasintendedtoreducethisdifficulty.
TheSDGtargetsaretheresultofinternationalnegotiations,andassuchmaynotreflectlocalornationalsustainabledevelopmentpriorities.Thus,areviewsuchasthismightmissresearchneedsthatfallwithinthebroadareaofagoalatthenationalorlocallevel.
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Finally,twokeylimitationsshouldbekeptinmindwhenconsideringtheresultspresentedhere.Thefirstisthatwewereonlyabletoreviewapartoftherelevantliterature.Itispossiblethatothersourceswouldhaverevealedotherormoreimportantresearchneeds,orcouldhelptofillsomeoftheneedsweidentify.Thesecondisthatareviewofthisnaturecanonlyidentify“knownunknowns”inrelationtoSDG12;theremaywellbe“unknownunknown”researchneedsthatwillonlyberevealedwithtime.
1.1.2 Criteriaforselectingtargetsandidentifyingkeythemes
Allthreeofthegoal-focusedreviewsunderthisprojectappliedthesamecriteriaforselectingthetargetsandthemestofocuson:• Targetsshouldbethosewherelackofknowledgeorresearchisacriticalbarrierto
success;thismeantthat,forexample,targetsonimplementinganinternationalpoliticalagreementwereexcluded
• Targetsthataddresssimilarissuesandshareaknowledgedomainwereclusteredtogether
• Thenumberofselectedtargetsshouldbemanageablewithinthelimitedscopeandresourcesofthestudy
• Thethemescouldinterpretorexpandonthecontentsofthetargetsthemselves,toi)adaptthemtoaSwedishcontext,andii)lookatthemoregeneralsustainabilityissuesimpliedbythegoalbutnotnecessarilyreflectedbythetargets.
ForthereviewofSDG12,wefocusonthemesemergingfromfourtargetsunderSDG12,alongwithacloselyrelatedtargetthatsitsunderSDG8(seetable1).Thefirstthemeiscross-cuttingissuesrelevanttomostSDG12targetsandresearchonSCP,butnotcurrentlyaddressedbyanyonetarget.Forexample,wenotethatnotargetunderSDG12addresseseconomic,socialandculturalaspectsdeterminingconsumptionandconsumerbehaviour.IntheSwedishcontext,thereisactiveresearchandextensivepolicydebateonsustainableconsumptionandconsumerbehaviour,andthusweaddthisthemedespiteitnotfiguringstronglyunderSDG12.
Theothertwothemesaremoreexplicitlylinkedtotheselectedtargets:naturalresourcemanagement(NRM),mostcloselylinkedtotarget12.2,andfoodwasteandloss,mostcloselylinkedtotargets12.3and8.4.
Thisapproachoffocusingonthemesemergingfromthetargets,ratherthandirectlyonthetargetsthemselves,reflectstheneedfortargetedresearchacrossarangeoftopics,aswellastheincreasingimportanceofcoveringSCPinan“integratedandsystemicmanner”(Bloketal.2015,p.4).Thereviewidentifiesresearchneedswithinbothdevelopinganddevelopedcountrycontexts.
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2 ThestateofresearchonSDG12Sustainableconsumptionandproductionisarelativelynewresearchfield,that“isnotyetverywellstructured,and...itsboundariesarestillfluid”(Vergragtetal.2014,p.8).InitsFifthAssessmentReport(2014)theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)statedthatgreenhousegasemissionscanbesubstantiallyreducedthroughchangesinconsumptionpatterns.Atthesametime,thereportalsostatedthattheevidencebaseandlevelofagreementwithinthescientificcommunityonthisstatementwaslowerthanfortherestofthereport.Thismadeaclearcalltotheresearchcommunitytostrengthentheevidencebase.Today,SCPhasgrownintoamultidisciplinaryfield.Itattractsnaturalscientists,environmentaleconomistsandpsychologists,aswellassociologists,philosophers,innovationresearchers,politicalscientists,historiansandotherresearchersinthehumanities,whoallcontributediverseperspectives.
InrecentyearsSCPhascometoincludethenotionofsustainablelifestyles,addingthetopicofindividualbehaviortostudyofthecomponentsofourproductionandconsumptionsystems.
BOX1.SWEDEN’SSCPPOLICYIn2016,theSwedishgovernmentpresentedastrategyforSCPfocusedonwhatthestatecandoincollaborationwithmunicipalities,businessandcivilsocietyandtohelpconsumersconsumemoresustainably(MinistryofFinanceSweden2016).Thestrategyfocusesonthefollowingareas:enhancedknowledgeanddeepenedcollaboration;promotionofsustainableconsumptionpatterns;streamliningresourceuse;improvinginformationoncompanies’sustainabilityefforts;phasingoutharmfulchemicals;consumersprotection;andfood,transportandhousing.
Measuresdescribedinthestrategyinclude:establishingaforumbringingtogetheractorswhocancontributetomoreeco-smartconsumptionandlifestyles(nowestablished–https://www.forummiljosmart.se/);supportingeducationonconsumptionimpactsinschools;promotingand“nudging”eco-smartbehaviour;mappingoutandpromotingthesharingeconomy;improvingeco-labelling;keepinggoodsinuselonger,e.g.throughtaxbreaksforandinformationaboutrepairservices,andintroducingsustainabilityrequirementsformorecategoriesofgood;promotingcirculareconomy,includingbyanalysingeffectivepolicyinstruments;revisingthenationalwastemanagementplan;requiringbetterreportingbybusinessesonsustainability,penalizingfalse“green”claimsinmarketing;anactionplanontoxin-freeeverydayenvironment;stepstocombatover-indebtedness;afoodstrategy;effortsonenergyuseinhousing;investmentsinpublictransportandcycling;andaproposedtaxonairtravel(MinistryofFinanceSweden2016).ThefocusandmeasuresproposedinthestrategyareinlinewiththetargetsunderSDG12.
TheconsumerhasnottraditionallybeenconsideredamajoractorinstrategiestoachievetheEQOs.In2012theSwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(SEPA;Naturvårdsverket)identifiedchangestopatternsofconsumption–inordertoreduceimpactsfromproducing,transportingandstoryinggoodsandservicesconsumedinSweden–asimportantareatoachievetheGenerationalGoalandtheEQOs,butin2015theexperienceandcapacityto
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analysetheroleofconsumptioninthefollow-upoftheobjectivesremainedlimited(SEPA2015).
TheSEPAfurtherstatedthatitagreedwithresearchconcludingthatpoliticalactionisneededtohelpconsumersandmarketforcesmovetowardsmoresustainableconsumptionpatterns.Inlinewiththis,anotherreportcommissionedbytheSEPAconcludedthatthefieldofsustainableconsumptionischaracterisedbyaplethoraofideasandstrategiesbutfewpolicyinstrumentshavebeenintroducedthathavehadatangibleeffectonconsumptionpatterns(Perssonetal.2015).
TheSEPAreportpresentedareviewofpolicyinstrumentsforsustainableconsumptionimplementedinSweden.ACO2-differentiatedvehicletax,a“greencar”rebate,andcongestionchargesinGothenburgandStockholmwerefoundtohavesignificanteffectsonconsumptionbehavior.Moregenerally,thereportconcludesthatpolicytools(economicorregulatory)thatonlyfocusonreducingconsumptionshouldbecoupledwithpolicytoolsforresearchanddevelopmenttostimulatetechnologicaldevelopmentofmoresustainablealternativegoodsandservices(SEPA2015)
TheSEPAhasstressedtheneedforalternativewaysofmeasuringwelfareandexploringtheroleofthetax,educationandtradesystemsinmakingashifttosustainableconsumption(SEPA2015).Itfurtheridentifiedanumberofresearchneedsformoreenergy-efficientconsumptionpatternsincludingresearchonthelinksbetweenenergyusage,behaviourandfeedbackmechanismsthatchangebehaviour;researchonautomaticadjustmentofenergyconsumption;andresearchontheconsequencesofhavinganincreasednumberofactiveenergyconsumersandco-producers.
Theresearchconductedhasmanytimesbeenneeds-drivenandsearchedformethodsandtoolsthatenablestakeholderstounderstandhowconsumptioncanbemademoresustainable(Algehed2015).ItisoftenarguedthatsystemsthinkingandcollaborationamongstakeholdersalongsupplychainsisnecessarytofurtherourunderstandingofSCP.
Duringtheworkshop,participantscollectivelyidentifiedasetofstakeholders/sectorsthatshouldideallybeincludedintransdisciplinarydiscussionsonSCPresearchagendas.Whilenotanexhaustivelist,theseinclude:industryandbusinessplayers(e.g.strategydepartments,marketingandsocialmedia);entrepreneurs;production-sideplayers;artsandhumanities(e.g.design,sociology,history);scientists,mathematiciansandeconomists;publichealthactors;internationaltrade;policy-makers;andyouth.
InSwedenresearchonSCPhasfocusedontheimpactofconsumptionandproductionprocessesonhumansandnature;onidentifyingasustainablelevelofconsumptionandproduction;onconsumptionbehavioursofindividualconsumers;onthedesignandproductionofmoresustainablegoods;onmarketingandpromotionofsustainableconsumptionandlifestyles;andonhowpolicytoolscanpromotesustainableconsumptionandproduction(Algehed2015).
IthasbeenarguedthatSDG12anditstargetsare“tooambitioustobefulfilled”andthatthelackofquantitativetargetsmakesitdifficultforstatestomeasuretheirachievements(ICSU
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andISSC2015,p.59).TheneedformonitoringmethodsandindicatorsfortheSDG12targetsisdiscussedunderTheme1below.
TheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsReport2017(UNDESA2017)notesthattotalandpercapitamaterialfootprintscontinuetogrow,althoughmanyregionshavebeensuccessfulinreducingtheir“domesticmaterialconsumption”(theamountofmaterialusedperunitofproduction).
Ithasbeenobservedthatcurrentpoliticaleffortstendtofocusonincreasingtheefficiencyofexistingtechnologiesandprocesses,andreducingthenegativeeffectsofindividualproducts.However,somearguethatthisapproachdoesnotconsiderthefundamentalissueofdecreasingaggregateconsumptionofscarceorpollutingresources(Reischetal.2016,p.7),partlybecausegovernmentsarenotusuallywillingtointroduceheavyconsumerregulation(Bloketal.2015,p.3;Vergragtetal.2014,p.11).Thereisthusneedtoshiftpoliticaleffortsfromincreasingefficiencytodecreasingaggregateconsumption.
AnotherchallengeistakinggoodSCPexamplestoscale.IthasbeenarguedthatwhileitisimportanttoadvanceSCPknowledgeandpractice,itisalsokeytolookintotheissueofupscalingandspreadingsuccessfulexamplesglobally(Bloketal.2015,p.8).Keyquestionsforresearchhereincludehowtobestdisseminatebestpracticesamongindividuals,organisationsandcountries;aswellasfindingoutthekeyfacilitatingfactorsforsuccessfulupscalingandexpansion(Bloketal.2015,p.10).
Finally,ithasbeenarguedthatinternationalpolicy-makersneed“stronger,moreunambiguousandmorecoordinatedevidencefromsocialscienceresearch”tohelptheminpolicy-making,andmorefundingisrequiredforsuchresearch.However,inordertoincreasetheamountofsuchfunding,behaviouralscientistsshouldalsoworktomaketheirresearchmorerelevantandaccessibletothesepolicy-makers(Reischetal.2016,p.7).
3 Theme1:Cross-cuttingissuesThefirstthemeencompassedanumberofcommonissuesthatshouldbegivenattentioninSCPresearch:whole-systemperspectives,consumptionpatternsandconsumerbehaviour,andhowtomeasureandmonitorprogresstowardssustainableconsumption.Belowwepresentinsightsfromtheliteraturereviewandtheexpertworkshopontheseissues.
3.1 SystemperspectivesAgenda2030emphasisestheneedforcoherentpoliciesandunderstandingofhowdifferentgoals,anddifferentprocesses,interact.Theoftenlongandcomplexsupplychainsthatcharacterisecontemporaryglobaltrademeanthatthesystemsthatlinkconsumptionandproductioncanspanthousandsofmiles,andthoselinkscanbeveryhardtodiscern.Hencethesustainableconsumptionandsustainableproductionagendasareoftenisolatedfromeachother.
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Theseproduction-to-consumptionsystemsareinfluencedbyawiderangeofactorsandprocesses,whomaynevercommunicateorbeawareoftheirinterdependencies.Asaresult,thereisamovetowardsmoreinterdisciplinaryandtransdisciplinary(i.e.involvingbothacademicandnon-academicstakeholders)researchinthefieldofSCP.
WorkshopparticipantsnotedacriticalgapinsynthesisingandcommunicatingSCPresearch,particularlywhenitcomestowhole-systemapproaches.Theyalsocalledformoresharingofpractices,bothNorth–SouthandSouth–North.WhiletheNorthmayhavemoreknowledgeintheareasofefficiencyandsafety,peopleincountrieswithlowerincomeshaveoftendevelopedhavemoresustainablewaystoconsumethattheNorthcouldlearnfrom.
3.1.1 Economicsystems
Researchtopicssuggestedintheworkshopincludedhoweconomicandfinancesystemsinfluenceandconstraincompanies’behaviour,andhowtheyneedtochangeinordertofostermoresustainablebusinesspractices.Participantssuggestedstudyof:thebarrierstomoresustainableinvestmentbycompaniesandpensionfunds;howtoimplementashiftintaxationfromlabourtoresources;andhowtointegrateeconomyandenvironmentinthenormsregulatingfinanceandeconomy.
Itwasalsosuggestedthatresearchlookathowcurrenteconomicsystemshindersustainableconsumption,productionandlifestyles.Particularresearchtopicssuggestedincluded:thelimitationsofvoluntaryprivatesector-ledinitiatives;possiblereboundeffectsofchangesaimedatmakingtheeconomicsystemmoresustainable;andnewmetricsofvaluethattakeintoaccountvalueforsociety,notjusteconomicvalue.
3.1.2 Businessmodels
Participantsalsocalledforcloserlinksbetweenthescientificandbusinesscommunities.Someoftheirsuggestedresearchquestionsincluded:howfirmscansetscience-basedgoals;howtheycanfindmodelstoreducetheirenvironmentalimpacts;waysforcompaniestoreducewasteandalsoearnincomefromexcessgoodsandprocessresidues;howtoboosttransparencyandtraceabilityinsupplychains;howtodemonstratethatsustainabilitycanbeprofitable.
3.2 Consumptionpatternsandconsumerbehaviour3.2.1 Consumerbehaviourandsustainablelifestyles
Theworkshopparticipantssuggestedthatastrongfocusisneededonresearchtobetterunderstandconsumptionandconsumers.Onthelevelofindividualconsumers,theyarguedthatforaccuratelytargetedandeffectivepolicies,itisimportanttohaveagoodideaofthedifferentconsumergroups;forexample,gender,age,lifestyle.
Anotherpotentialresearchquestionwasaboutwhathindersandwhatfacilitatesorencouragesmoresustainableconsumptionchoices.Howcanconsumersbeencouragedtomovetowardscollaborativeconsumption(sharing,borrowing,exchangingproducts),particularlyofresource-intensiveproductssuchascarsandtools–andwhatcanbedonetoshiftperceptionsthatsharingandrentingareoverlycomplicatedcomparedtopurchasing
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goodsdirectly?Whenshouldsustainableconsumptionpolicyfocusonchangingconsumerbehaviourratherthanonmakingsuremoresustainableproductsareavailableandmainstreamed?
Theparticipantsagreedontheneedformoreproducer-focusedresearch.ThisincludedinitiativessuchasTrase,wheretransparencyontheenvironmentalandsocialimpactsofproduction,andhowtheyarelinkedtoconsumption,increasespressureonproducersandbusinessestoadoptmoresustainablepractices.Theyalsocalledformoreresearchontheroleoftransparencyandinformationindrivingsustainableproductionandconsumption.Theyalsonotedtheimportantroleschoolscanplayineducationforsustainabledevelopment,andcalledformoreresearchoncontinuouslearningonsustainablelifestylesandconsumption.TheparticipantscalledformoreresearchintotheeffectivenessofcurrentSCPpolicyconsumermeasures.Forexample,theycalledformappingofinterventions,andassessmentofhowfartheygenuinelysupportSCPinreallife.Doestheshiftfromconsumptionofgoodstoconsumptionofservices(e.g.collaborativeconsumption)liveuptoitspromiseofreducingconsumptionimpacts–coulditevenbehavinganegativeimpact?
Theyalsowantedtoseemoreresearchintohowtoincreasetheroleofcitizensinmeasuringandsharinginformationontheirconsumption,andhowtoencouragemoreinnovativeideasonsustainablelifestylesandconsumption.TheywonderedhowitispossibletolinktheSCPagendawithhealthagendas,suchasdiet-relateddiseasesandmentalhealth.
Finally,theparticipantssoughtmoreclarityonthelimitationsofsustainableconsumptionmeasures:whatgoods,servicesandconsumptionpatternscannotbebroughtintocirculareconomyorotherwisemademoresustainable?Whatlifestylechoicesarecompatiblewithcirculareconomy?Whattypesofconsumptioncannotbedematerialised?
3.2.2 Governance,lawandpolicyinstruments
Workshopsparticipantsalsosuggestedthatmoreresearchisneededintotherole–bothpositiveandnegative–policyandlegalframeworksandsocietalstructurescanplayinshiftingtowardsSCP.
Forexample,theycalledformoreresearchintohowpolicymeasurescouldinfluenceeconomicactivityinmoresustainabledirectionsandevenbringaboutasustainabilitytransformation.Theynotedaneedtounderstandformalandinformalincentivestructuresandtheroleofdifferenteconomicactors.Theyalsocalledforresearchintoobstaclessuchasinertiaandunsustainablesocialstructuresthatpreventchange;reboundeffectsandperverseincentives,alongwithhowtounderstand,measureandreformfossilfuelsubsidies.
Participantssuggestedresearchonthedriversofincreasingdemandforgoodsandserviceswithhighenvironmentalimpacts(e.g.airtransport),andwhatpolicymeasurescanhelptobettermanageorreducethisdemand.
Consideringthepublicsectorasaconsumer,participantscalledforresearchonbarrierstomoresustainablepublicprocurement,andhowtobreakdownthesebarriersandestablishbetter,moresustainablepublicprocurementsystems.
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Onthetopicofcirculareconomy,participantsproposedthatresearchisneededintowhichpolicyinstrumentsaremosteffectiveinkeepingtoxinsoutofresourceandwasteflows.Theycalledforareviewofreviewofexistingcircularsystems,andresearchintohowtoreshaperegulatoryframeworkstosupportcirculareconomy,giventhattheytendnowtobeadaptedtoamorelinearmodel.
Theyalsosuggestedresearchintohowtouselegalandregulatoryframeworksforbusinessestoencouragemoresustainablebusinesspractices;forexample,settingsustainabilitycriteriaforstockmarketlisting.Forthemedia,itwassuggestedthatstricterrulesarerequired,forexampleonmarketingtochildren,aswellasclearermarkingofadvertisingcopytodistinguishitfromeditorialcopy.
Oninstitutionalstructures,participantsnotedthatgiventheintersectoralnatureofSCP,researchwasneededintothebestmodelsforcollaboration,withingovernment,betweendifferentgovernancelevelsandwithnon-governmentstakeholders–andwhicharebestsuitedtoparticularcontextsandconditions.TheyalsocalledforresearchintohowwellmeasurestakenbySwedishmunicipalitiestoinfluencecitizens’consumptionpatternscorrespondtothefactorsthatactuallyaffectconsumerbehaviouridentifiedinscientificresearch.Theyalsosuggestedresearchintohowtointegratesupply-anddemand-sidepoliciesmostefficiently.
Finally,theycalledforresearchintotheoptimalSDGindicatorsformeasuringprogressonSCPandincentivisingaction.Whatnewindicatorswouldbeneeded?
3.2.3 Culturalandsocialnormsandbehaviours
Onesuggestedtopicofstudywashowculturalandsocialfactorsarelinkedtoconsumption.Inparticular,researchcouldlookat:theroleofmedia,marketingandothercommunications;howtomakethesustainabilitytransitionbothfeasibleandattractivetosocietyat large;andthepotential roleof socialnetworks (includingvia socialmedia) inanalysingnormchangesandpromotingsustainableconsumption.
Otherresearchareassuggestedincludedtherisksofbacklashtomeasuresintendedtopromotemoresustainablelifestyles;howtocompetewithmessagesencouragingexcessiveconsumption;howtochangeconsumptionpatternswithoutrelyingsolelyoneconomicincentives;therelationshipsbetweenconsumptionandhealth(mentalandphysical),well-beingandhappiness(linkingSDG12toSDG3,7,13,14and15);andhowtospreadmessagingaboutsustainableconsumptionandlifestylesbeyondthemiddleclassglobally,tofilterintonorms,culturesandlifeaspirations.
Genderwasalsoraisedasatopic,inparticularaneedformoreresearchonthedifferencesinconsumptionpatternsbetweengenders.Thiscouldhelpensureequityandleadtomoresoastoinformotherassociatedtopics,e.g.marketing.
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3.3 MonitoringandindicatorsMonitoringprogressonSDG12iscriticalforlearningthatcancatalyseatransitiontoSCP(Bloketal.2015,p.2),andisthusaclearresearchneed.However,astudybyStatisticsSwedenandtheChileanMinistryofEnvironmentpointedoutthatmanycountrieshavedifficultyconstructingandproducingindicators(Steinbachetal.2016,p.3).
Inarecentassessmentofavailablestatisticsforfollowingupprogressonthe2030Agenda(SCB2017b),StatisticsSwedenfoundthatonlytwooftheglobalindicatorssuggestedbytheInteragencyandExpertGrouponSDGIndicators(IAEG-SDGs2016)forSDG12couldbeappliedatthenationallevelasformulated,andanotheronecouldbemeasuredinpartusingtheglobalindicatorsorwithanationalindicator.Additionally,thestudyfoundthatfivenon-statisticalindicators(e.g.policyassessments)couldbeusedtomeasureSDG12progressinSweden.
Thestudyproposedtwoalternativeindicatorsfornationalmonitoring,oneusingdomesticandinternationalemissionsduetoSwedish,theotherusingtheintensityofemissionsperunitofGDP(SCB2017b).
Steinbachetal.(2016)alsoarguethattoavoidanunfeasiblereportingburden,itisimportantthatcurrentinternationalreportingsystemsconverge.Forexample,theysuggestusingtheexistingSystemofEnvironmental-EconomicAccounting(SEEA)forreportingonSCP-relatedtargets(bothunderSDG12andthroughouttheSDGs).
TheSwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)hasidentifiedchangestopatternsofconsumptionandtheunderlyingproductionofgoodsandservicesashighlyrelevanttoSweden’sEnvironmentalQualityObjectivesandtheoverarchinggoalofSwedishenvironmentalpolicy,theGenerationalGoal.2However,in2015itreportedthattheexperienceandcapacitytoanalyseconsumptioninthefollow-upoftheobjectivesremainedlimited(SEPA2015).OneresearchinitiativeaddressingthisneedistheEPA-fundedresearchprogrammePRINCE,whichexploredpossiblenewindicatorsfortheenvironmentalimpactsofSwedishconsumption(seehttp://prince-project.seandSteinbachetal.2018).
Intheworkshop,participantsnotedtheimportanceofresearchthatrevealsthefullimpactsofconsumptionandproduction,alongglobalsupplychains.Thisincludestakingintoaccountless-measuredimpactssuchasemissionsfromtheairlineindustry.Theyhighlightedbothsupplychaintransparency(citingtheTraseinitiative–http://trase.earth–amongothers)andlifecycleanalysis(LCA;citingtheGlobalLCADataAccessNetworkhttps://www.globallcadataaccess.org/).Traceabilitywasalsomentionedasanareaforresearchandonethatcouldsupportmoresustainablebusinessmodels.
2TheGenerationalGoalistohandovertothenextgenerationasocietyinwhichthemajorenvironmentalproblemshavebeensolved,withoutincreasinghealthandenvironmentalproblemsoutsideSweden’sborders.Seehttps://www.miljomal.se/Environmental-Objectives-Portal/.
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Universalaccesstothisdatawasalsomentionedasapriority,forexampletosupportsustainablelifestylechoicesandasawaytostrengthenaccountabilityamonglargecompanieswithgloballydistributedsupplychains.
4 Keytheme2:Naturalresourcemanagement4.1 GlobalmaterialuseandefficiencyAsthe2030Agendamakesclear,sustainablenaturalresourcemanagementisaprerequisiteforsustainabledevelopment(Ludwigetal.2015,p.3).Economictrendsandnaturalresourceusearecloselyrelated,witheconomicgrowthusuallycorrelatedwithincreasingresourceuse.According to the International Resource Panel, launched by UN Environment in 2007,environmental impacts are “disproportionately accelerated” by declines in global materialefficiency(UNEP2016,pp.15,40).Toreducematerialusequicklyandinasustainedway,thePanelarguesthatwemustfindwaystoovercomeinertiainglobalsystems(UNEP2016,p.14).
TheInternationalResourcePanelcompriseseminentscientistsinthefieldofnaturalresourcemanagement,offeringscientificanalysisandpolicyadvice.Its2018–2021strategyproposesafocusonthefollowingareas(UNEP2017,p.2):
• Currenttrendsandfutureprospectsforglobalresourceuseandsustainableresourcemanagement
• Sustainableresourcemanagementwithintheglobalclimatechangeagenda• Socioeconomicimplicationsofthetransitiontomoreresourceefficienteconomiesand
societies• Sustainableresourcemanagementlinkstoconflict,securityandmigration
4.2 TheroleofconsumptioninnaturalresourcemanagementAccordingtotheInternationalResourcePanelreport,inrecentdecadeschangingconsumptionpatternshavebeen themaindriverof increasedmaterialuse,outstrippingevenpopulationgrowth(UNEP2016,p.5).Amaterialfootprintindicatorinthereport(measuringthequantityofnaturalresourcesrequiredtomeetconsumptiondemand)indicatesthatwealthycountrieshave achieved their level of development largely through unsustainable, resource-intensiveconsumptionandproductionpatterns(UNEP2016,p.5)andinmanycasesthroughlarge-scaleimportsofmaterialsfromotherregions(UNEP2016,pp.14–15).
This means that the interests of net raw materials importing countries and net exportingcountries can differ. While net importers want to improve material efficiency in theirproductionprocesses andkeep rawmaterialsprices low inorder to keepdown their costs,exportersbenefitfromhigherexportvolumesand/orprices(UNEP2016,p.15).Bothofthesecanhavenegativeimplicationsforenvironmentalandsocio-economicsustainability.
Twoofthecross-cuttingissuesdiscussedintheprevioussection–consumptionpatternsandconsumerbehaviour,andwhole-systemperspectives(andcooperation)–arerelevanthere.
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4.3 LinkingresearchwithpolicyandpracticalneedsThere is increasing recognition of the importance of framing research to reflect policy andpracticeneeds.Involvingstakeholdersfromvarioussectorsanddisciplinesinsettingresearchpriorities has had demonstrated successes (see e.g. Petrokofsky et al. 2010, p.357). TheInternational Resources Panel also names engaging the private sector as “a key transversalelement”(UNEP2017,p.2).
Amulti-countrycomparativeanalysisofnaturalresourcemanagementprogrammesundertheCGIARpartnershiplookedathowdifferentkindsof“boundarywork”(i.e.definedasengagingwith“newscience,othersourcesofknowledge,andtheworldsofactionandpolicymaking”)contributedtosuccess(Clarketal.2016).Theyfoundthatknowledgeneededtobeperceivedbydecision-makersasbothscientificallycredibleandrelevanttotheirneedsinordertobeusedtosupportdecision-making.Theywarnofthedangersof“insufficientlypermeable”boundaries–wherescientistssimplyguessatwhatisrelevant,anddecision-makersareunawareofrelevantresearch–and“overlypermeable”boundaries,wheresciencebecomespoliticisedor,conversely,politiciansavoidresponsibilityfordecisionswithsocialequityorotherimplicationsby“repackaging”themasmerelytechnicalmatters(Clarketal.2016,p.4617).
5 Keytheme3:FoodwasteandlossEachyear,approximately1.3billiontonnesoffood,orone-thirdofallfoodproducedforhumanconsumption,isneverconsumed(FAO2015).Thisalsomeansthatabout24%ofthecaloricvalueoffoodintendedforhumanconsumptioniswasted(Lipinskietal.2013,p.1).
AccordingtoLipinskietal.(2013,p.1),“economically[foodlossandwaste]representawastedinvestmentthatcanreducefarmers’incomesandincreaseconsumers’expenses.Environmentally,foodlossandwasteinflictahostofimpacts,includingunnecessarygreenhousegasemissionsandinefficientlyusedwaterandland,whichinturncanleadtodiminishednaturalecosystemsandtheservicestheyprovide.”
Ithasbeenarguedthatmoreagriculturalandfoodsystemresearch–includingonhowtoscaleupexistinggoodpractices–isessentialtoachievefood,waterandenergysecurityforthefuture.Thisresearchmustlooknotjustatincreasingfoodproduction,butalsoathowtosteersystemstowardsbettersocialandenvironmentaloutcomes.Reducingunnecessaryfoodwasteinthefoodsystemisonewaytoimprovetheseoutcomes,andconsequentlytoputlesspressureontheenvironment(SwedishGovernment2017,pp.73–74).
Theworkshopparticipantshighlightedthreespecificareasforresearch:(i)knowledgeandstructuresforreducingfoodwaste,inparticularreusingleftoverfoods;(ii)thespecificcaseoftheairlineindustry:reductionoffoodwaste(andrelatedplasticwaste);and(iii)alifecycleanalysisperspectiveonthefoodindustry.
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BOX2.EMISSIONSRELATEDTOFOODCONSUMPTIONINSWEDENTerritorialgreenhousegasemissionsinSwedendecreasedbetween2008and2014butemissionsembeddedinimportsweremuchlarger(Steinbachetal.2018).TheSwedishgovernmenthashighlightedconsumptionoffood,alongwithhousingandtransport,asprioritiesforreducingconsumptionimpacts(SwedishGovernment2017,p.34).HouseholdsareresponsibleforalargeproportionoftotalfoodwastageinSweden;in2014anaverageSwedishresidentwastedonaverage98kgoffoodin2014(SCB2017a,p.14;SwedishGovernment2017,p.73).Also,reducingclimateimpactsfrommeatconsumptionhasbeenidentifiedasurgent(SwedishGovernment2017,p.73).
5.1 FoodlossWhilewealthiercountriestendtoseemorefood“leaving”thesystemasfoodwasteattheconsumptionstage,indevelopingcountriesittendstohappenintheformoffoodlossesduringproduction,handlingandstorage(Lipinskietal.2013,p.8).Thisreducesthefoodavailabletoeatorsell,reducingfarmers’controlovertheirincomesandabilitytoholdbackcropsuntilmarketpricesarefavourable(Kibaara2015).
Swedenhasidentifiedtheimportanceoftakingorsupportingactioninproductioncountriesaspartofitssustainableconsumptionstrategy,forexamplethroughhelpingtobuildscientificandtechnologicalcapacity(SwedishGovernment2017,p.73).Thiscouldincludecapacitytoharvest,processandstorefoodcropsmoreefficiently.
CGIARhasidentifiedfoodsystemlossesasoneoffive“majorresearchchallengeswithpotentialforveryhighpayback”intermsofimprovingthelivesofthepoorestinlow-andmiddle-incomecountries(Kyte2016,p.33).Itnotestheneedtoconsiderthewholevaluechain,andtoputresiduesandby-productstomoreproductiveuse–assoilconditioner,fertiliser,orfeedstockforenergygeneration,forexample.Italsostressesthepotentialofbigdataandtheneedtokeeppacewiththeimpactsofclimatechange,watershortagesandothershocks.
A2013workingpaperbytheWorldResourcesInstituterecommendeddoublingglobalinvestmentinreducingpost-harvestlossesindevelopingcountriesinordertospuractiontocutfoodlossandwaste(Lipinskietal.2013).Itsaidthatindevelopingregions,post-harvestlosses(whichhappenduringhandlingandstorage)accountforbetweenone-fifthandone-thirdofallfoodlossandwaste,andmorethan40%offruitsandvegetablesspoilbeforetheyareconsumed(Lipinskietal.2013,p.33).Reducingpost-harvestlossesattractsonly5%ofagriculturalresearchinvestment,comparedto95%onincreasingcropproductiondespiteitscost-effectiveness(Lipinskietal.2013,p.29)–asillustratedbyagovernmentprogrammeinRwanda(Kibaara2015).
Betterpost-harveststoragecouldnotonlycutfoodlossbutalsoreduceeconomiclosses,improvefoodsafety,reducemarketgluts(andassociatedpricedips),andallowagreatershareoftheharvesttomeetfoodsafetystandsforexport.GodfrayandJahn(2014,pp.13–14)callformoreresearchonapplying“moderntechnologies,breedingapproachesandimprovedlogisticsandinfrastructureinfoodsupplynetworks”toreducefoodloss.Potentialareasforresearchincludemoreresistantcropvarieties;betterpackingandtransport;reducingpests
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anddiseasesinstoredfood;andlow-cost,efficientcoolingandrefrigerationfacilitiessuitedtodevelopingcountrycontexts;andproductivereuseofnutrientsorenergyinfoodthatspoils.
Someresearchareasthatrelatetobothboostingcropyieldsandreducingpost-harvestlossare:thevariety,risksandopportunitiesindifferentsmallholderproductionsystems;farmsizedynamics;andgovernancemodelsforsharedresources(GodfrayandJahn2014,p.10).
5.2 ConsumerfoodwasteThereisaneedformoreresearchandinnovationonstrategiesfortacklingconsumerfoodwaste(Lipinskietal.2013,p.33).Thereisalsoaneedtoscaleupconsumerawarenesscampaignsandincreasethenumberofcountriesdoingthem(Lipinskietal.2013,p.25),whichimpliesapossibleneedforresearchintothebestwaystoconvinceconsumerstoreducetheirwaste.
Onepracticalexampleofastrategytoreducefoodwasteisfoodredistribution–givingawayfoodthatwouldotherwisebelostorwasted.Thiscanbedoneattheproduction,manufacturinganddistributionstagesofthefoodsupplychain,butthereareimportantquestionsregarding,forexample,thelogisticsoftransportingthefoodintime,legalconsequencesifthefoodisnolongersafetoeat,andthequestionofwhopaysfortheredistribution(Lipinskietal.2013,p.12).
Onarelatednote,whileitistypicallydevelopedcountrieswhoseefoodwasteontheconsumptionside,developingcountries,similarfoodwastepatternscanalsoemergeindevelopingcountriesasdietschangeandincomesrise(Lipinskietal.2013,p.33).Thus,thisareaofresearchshouldalsobeconsideredindevelopingcountries.
5.3 BetterdataonfoodsystemsIngeneral,estimatesoffoodwastagearepoorandbetterdataisneededtoguidepolicy(GodfrayandJahn2014,pp.13–14).InaprogressreportonTarget12.3,ithasbeennotedthatbaselinefoodlossandwastelevelsneedtobeestablished,withregularfollow-upmonitoring(Lipinskietal.2017,p.17).
Lipinskietal.alsorecommendedthedevelopmentofafoodlossandwastemeasurementprotocol,which“shouldbegloballyapplicabletoenableconsistency,comparability,andtransparencyacrossusers.Itshouldcoverbothfoodlossandwaste,andberelevantforbothcountriesandprivate-sectorentities”(Lipinskietal.2013,p.28).ThishasnowbeendoneinthefirstiterationoftheFoodLossandWasteAccountingandReportingStandard(Hansonetal.2016).Theglobaluptakeofthisstandardaswellasaccompanyinganalysesshouldbeencouragedtoimprovetheconsistencyofdata.
5.4 ResearchonanintegratedsupplychainapproachTechnicalsolutionsoftendependonotherpartsofthefoodsupplychaintofunctionwell;forexample,iffarmerscannotaccessamarkettoselltheirharvestsurplus,improvingstoragefacilitieswillnotreducefoodloss.Thishighlightstheneedforanintegratedwhole-supply-chainapproachtosubstantiallyreducefoodlossandwaste(Lipinskietal.2013,p.11).
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Individualsupplychainactorswouldnotnecessarilybewillingtoinvestinresearchon,andcollaborationwith,otherpartsofthesupplychain;thusinvestmentincollaborativeeffortswillprobablyhavetocomegovernments,foundations,developmentagenciesandmultilateralinstitutions
6 ConclusionsTheresultspresentedheredemonstratethevalueofthenovelapproachtoassessingresearchneedsinrelationtoSDGgoalsandtargetsappliedhere.Exploratoryexpertworkshopscomplementedthefindingsoftheliteraturereview,addingknowledgeofongoingresearchanddebate,aswellaspracticalneeds.Althoughthemethodologyislimitedtothe“knownunknowns”intermsofresearchneeds,itdoesproviderichinformation.
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