Consumption and Business

If everyone in the world consumed at the average rate we do in the UK, we would require three planets. Globally we are already �living beyond our means� to the tune of around 20%, despite the fact that a significant proportion of the world receive significantly less than their fair share.

To tackle this inequity and level of resource depletion, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) was made a key commitment at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Accelerating the shift towards SCP is also a priority for EU and UK governments.

But understanding what SCP means in practice can be challenging. Put simply, it�s about reducing the negative social and environmental impacts of the products we consume, and how business and governments can work together to achieve that shift.

Business in the Triangle of Change

A critical mass of citizens and businesses want to act to reduce the impact of their consumption and production, but they need the confidence that they will not be acting alone. The triangle of change: illustrates below where business, government and people share the responsibility to work together to shift us onto more sustainable path.

Our Sustainable Consumption and Business team works to ensure that our advice to government is informed by our connection with business and, where appropriate, challenges businesses to play their part in both delivering change and in working with government to find solutions to some of the intractable issues that sustainability presents.

� Business: What you can do

Sustainable Consumption

The SDC has recommended that government focus on the areas of consumption with the biggest impact on the environment and society; buildings, food and transport. Follow the links below to see how the SDC is taking forward these recommendations:

� The way we run our homes
� The food we eat
� How we get around
� Redefining Prosperity

Our current areas of work

� You are what you sell. Product Roadmapping: Driving Sustainability - including the "Can shopping change the world" videos.

� Sustainable Retail
� I will if you will: Towards Sustainable Consumption
The SDC is also supporting the work of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Business Taskforce.

Our Team

The Commissioners involved in sustainable consumption and business are Stewart Davies, Business Commissioner and Alan Knight, Products and Retail Commissioner

If you have any questions about the work of the SDC in this area, please contact Poppy Maltby (Policy Analyst) or Sue Dibb (Team Leader).