StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 1

1

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction

Areviewofresearchneeds

AnnextotheFormasreportForskningförAgenda2030:Översiktavforskningsbehovochvägarframåt

November2018

StefanieChan,NinaWeitz,ÅsaPersson,CasparTrimmer

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 2

2

Citethisannexas:Chan,S.,Weitz,N.,Persson,Å.andTrimmer,C.(2018).SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction.AReviewofResearchNeeds.TechnicalannextotheFormasreportForskningförAgenda2030:Översiktavforskningsbehovochvägarframåt.StockholmEnvironmentInsitute,Stockholm.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 3

3

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 4

4

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 5

5

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 6

6

• 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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 7

7

• Researchintoresistantcropvarieties,pestcontrol,betterpackingandtransport,andlow-coststoragetechnologies

• Strategiesfortacklingconsumptionwaste• Consumerbehaviour–makingreductionoffoodwasteappealing• Enablingfactorsforfoodre-distribution• Improvingdataonfoodwastage.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 8

8

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 9

9

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 10

10

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 11

11

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 12

12

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 13

13

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 14

14

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 15

15

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 16

16

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 17

17

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 18

18

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/.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 19

19

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 20

20

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.

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 21

21

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

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 22

22

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).

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 23

23

Individualsupplychainactorswouldnotnecessarilybewillingtoinvestinresearchon,andcollaborationwith,otherpartsofthesupplychain;thusinvestmentincollaborativeeffortswillprobablyhavetocomegovernments,foundations,developmentagenciesandmultilateralinstitutions

6 ConclusionsTheresultspresentedheredemonstratethevalueofthenovelapproachtoassessingresearchneedsinrelationtoSDGgoalsandtargetsappliedhere.Exploratoryexpertworkshopscomplementedthefindingsoftheliteraturereview,addingknowledgeofongoingresearchanddebate,aswellaspracticalneeds.Althoughthemethodologyislimitedtothe“knownunknowns”intermsofresearchneeds,itdoesproviderichinformation.

ReferencesAlgehed,J.(2015).SustainableConsumption:AKnowledgeBase.Mistra.http://mistra-research.se/publikationer/forstudier/sustainable-consumption---a-knowledge-base.html

Blok,V.,Long,T.B.,Gaziulusoy,A.I.,Ciliz,N.,Lozano,R.,Huisingh,D.,Csutora,M.andBoks,C.(2015).Frombestpracticestobridgesforamoresustainablefuture:advancesandchallengesinthetransitiontoglobalsustainableproductionandconsumption.JournalofCleanerProduction,108.19–30.DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.119

Clark,W.C.,Tomich,T.P.,vanNoordwijk,M.,Guston,D.,Catacutan,D.,Dickson,N.M.andMcNie,E.(2016).Boundaryworkforsustainabledevelopment:NaturalresourcemanagementattheConsultativeGrouponInternationalAgriculturalResearch(CGIAR).ProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,113(17).4615–22.DOI:10.1073/pnas.0900231108

FAO(2015).Foodlossandwastefacts.FAO.Org,22July2015.http://www.fao.org/resources/infographics/infographics-details/en/c/317265/

Godfray,C.andJahn,M.(2014).PriorityResearchTopicsThatAddressFoodSystemKnowledgeGapstoImprovetheLivesoftheWorld’sPoor.ReporttotheCGIARMid-TermReview(MTR)Panel.CGIARResearchProgramonClimateChange,AgricultureandFoodSecurity.http://bit.ly/1t2QygH

Hanson,C.,Lipinski,B.,Robertson,K.,Dias,D.,Gavilan,I.,etal.(2016).FoodLossandWasteAccountingandReportingStandard.FoodLossandWasteProtocol.https://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/REP_FLW_Standard.pdf

IAEG-SDGs(2016).TierClassificationforGlobalSDGIndicators.ReportoftheInteragencyandExpertGrouponSDGIndicators.UnitedNationsStatisticsDivision,NewYork.https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/iaeg-sdgs/

ICSUandISSC(2015).ReviewofTargetsfortheSustainableDevelopmentGoals:TheSciencePerspective.InternationalCouncilforScience(ICSU),Paris

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 24

24

Kibaara,B.(2015).Awareness:AKeytoReducingPost-HarvestLossinAfrica.TheRockefellerFoundation,13February2015.https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/blog/awareness-key-reducing-post-harvest/

Kyte,R.(2016).FinalReportfromtheMid-TermReviewPaneloftheCGIARReform(English).WorldBankGroup,Washington,D.C.http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/924981467998765166/Final-report-from-the-mid-term-review-panel-of-the-CGIAR-reform

Lipinski,B.,Clowes,A.,Goodwin,L.andHanson,C.(2017).SDGTarget12.3onFoodLossandWaste:2017ProgressReport.Champions12.3.https://assets.rockefellerfoundation.org/app/uploads/20170920151205/SDG-Target-12.3-on-Food-Loss-and-Waste_2017-Progress-Report.pdf

Lipinski,B.,Hanson,C.,Lomax,J.,Kitinoja,L.,Waite,R.andSearchinger,T.(2013).ReducingFoodLossandWaste:Installment2ofCreatingaSustainableFoodFuture.Workingpaper.WorldResourcesInstitute,Washington,DC.http://www.worldresourcesreport.org

Ludwig,C.,Schweiz,PaulScherrerInstitutandHerausgeber(2015).NaturalResources:SustainableTargets,Technologies,LifestylesandGovernance

MinistryofFinanceSweden(2016).Strategyforsustainableconsumption.,October2016.http://www.government.se/articles/2016/10/strategy-for-sustainable-consumption/

Nilsson,M.(2016).ForskningensRollFörAttFörverkligaDenNyaHållbarhetsagendan.VetenskapligaRådetförHållbarUtveckling(VRHU).https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-2016-Paper-MansNilsson-ForskningensRoll-VetenskapligaRadet-20160304.pdf

Persson,Å.,Bell,L.,Weitz,N.,Chan,S.,Sturesson,A.andSundin,A.(2018).ForskningFörAgenda2030[ResearchforAgenda2030].R4:2018.ForskningsrådetFormas,Stockholm.http://www.formas.se/Om-Formas/Formas-Publikationer/Rapporter/Forskning-for-Agenda-2030/

Persson,L.,Persson,Å.andNykvist,B.(2015).StyrmedelOchAndraInsatserFörAttMinskaSvenskKonsumtionsPåverkanPåHälsaOchMiljöiAndraLänder.SEIWorkingPaper.StockholmEnvironmentInstituteandSwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Stockholm

Petrokofsky,G.,Brown,N.D.,Hemery,G.E.,Woodward,S.,Wilson,E.,etal.(2010).Aparticipatoryprocessforidentifyingandprioritizingpolicy-relevantresearchquestionsinnaturalresourcemanagement:acasestudyfromtheUKforestrysector.Forestry,83(4).357–67.DOI:10.1093/forestry/cpq018

Reisch,L.A.,Cohen,M.J.,Thøgersen,J.B.,Tukker,A.andKrause,K.(2016).SustainableConsumption:ResearchChallenges.Mistra

SCB(2017a).StatisticalFollow-uponthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment:ExecutiveSummary.StatisticsSweden,Stockholm.https://www.scb.se/contentassets/cc84f7debf404250a146e1204ea589b0/mi1303_2017a01_br_x41br1701eng.pdf

SCB(2017b).StatistiskUppföljningAvAgenda2030[StatisticalFollow-upofAgenda2030].StatisticsSweden,Stockholm.https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-

StockholmEnvironmentInstitute

SDG12:ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction–AReviewofResearchNeeds 25

25

amne/miljo/miljoekonomi-och-hallbar-utveckling/indikatorer-for-hallbar-utveckling/pong/publikationer/statistisk-uppfoljning-av-agenda-2030/

SEPA(2015).OmställningtillHållbaraKonsumtionsmönster[TransitiontoSustainableConsumptionPatterns].Rapport6663.SwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Stockholm

Steinbach,N.,Palm,V.,Cederberg,C.,Finnveden,G.,Persson,L.,etal.(2018).MiljöpåverkanFrånSvenskKonsumtion:NyaIndikatorerFörUppföljning[EnvironmentalImpactsfromSwedishConsumption:NewIndicatorsforFollow-Up].FinalreportoftheresearchprojectPRINCE.Rapport6842.SwedishEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(Naturvårdsverket),Stockholm.www.naturvardsverket.se/978-91-620-6842-4

Steinbach,N.,Palm,V.,Constantino,S.andPizzaro,R.(2016).MonitoringtheShifttoSustainableConsumptionandProductionPatternsintheContextoftheSDGs.StatisticsSweden,ChileanMinistryofEnvironmentandUnitedNations.https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=2298&menu=1515

SwedishGovernment(2017).Swedenandthe2030Agenda:ReporttotheUNHighLevelPoliticalForum2017onSustainableDevelopment.https://www.government.se/49f428/contentassets/400a118a14b94750a61e42b620a9def9/sweden-and-the-2030-agenda--report-to-the-un-high-level-political-forum-2017-on-sustainable-development.pdf

UNCTAD(2016).UnitedNationsGuideslinesforConsumerProtection.,2016.http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditccplpmisc2016d1_en.pdf

UNDESA(2017).SustainableDevelopmentGoalsReport2017.UNDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs.https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2017/

UNEP(2016).GlobalMaterialFlowsandResourceProductivity.AnAssessmentReportoftheUNEPInternationalResourcePanel.UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,Paris

UNEP(2017).TheInternationalResourcePanel:BriefingNotetotheCommitteeofPermanentRepresentatives.UNEnvironment,Nairobi.https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/21997/The%20International%20Resource%20Panel%20-%20Briefing%20note%20to%20the%20Committee%20of%20Permanent%20Representatives.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Vergragt,P.,Akenji,L.andDewick,P.(2014).Sustainableproduction,consumption,andlivelihoods:globalandregionalresearchperspectives.JournalofCleanerProduction,63.1–12.DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.028

YieldWise(n.d.).YieldWiseFoodLoss.TheRockefellerFoundation.https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/our-work/initiatives/yieldwise/[Accessed12February,2018.]