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Sustainable Materials Management: Sustainable Consumption and Production: European Union Policy
On July 16, 2008, the European Commission announced a series of proposals to improve the environmental performance of products and to increase the demand for more sustainable goods and production technologies. The Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan identifies voluntary and required actions to influence consumer behavior and improve the energy and environmental performance of products. This fact sheet describing the Action Plan is not comprehensive; rather, it provides a starting point for readers interested in investigating the topic.
- European Union (EU) Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan
- Examples of SCP and Sustainability Work by Other Organizations
- Some U.S. Sustainability Activities and Additional Resources
European Union (EU) Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan
Summary of the Action Plan
The Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan addresses EU goals for environmental sustainability, economic growth, and public welfare. By improving the overall environmental performance of products throughout their life-cycle and supporting the development of more sustainable products and production technologies, it seeks both to foster resource conservation and resource efficiency and to "decouple" economic growth from environmental degradation.
Describing several important concepts provides useful context for understanding the Action Plan. "Sustainable development" is defined by the World Commission on
Environment and Development in its 1987 report "Our Common Future"
as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The
Oslo Roundtable on Sustainable Production and Consumption
in 1994 proposed a related definition for sustainable consumption: "the use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimizing
the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations." In both cases, a
central question is the degree to which improvements in environmental quality can be achieved through the substitution of more efficient and less polluting goods and services (patterns
of consumption), rather than through reductions in the volumes of goods and services consumed (levels of consumption). In both cases, also, these concepts raise broader social questions
related, e.g., to poverty, human rights, and global trade.
The EU Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industrial Policy Action Plan is an important part of the
EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy,
which
affirms the United Nations’ Marrakech Process on Sustainable Consumption and Production
and
global 10-Year Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework (see UNEP section, below).
The EU SCP Action Plan includes:
- The EU Eco-Design Directive for Energy-Using Products
:
The Ecodesign Directive provides with consistent EU-wide rules for improving the environmental performance of energy related products (ERPs) through ecodesign.
- A proposal to extend mandatory labeling requirements related to the energy performance of products, under the
1992 Energy Labelling Directive
.
Under the proposal, this directive, which requires labeling of household appliances to increase consumer awareness about energy and environmental performance, would be applied to a
wider range of products.
- A proposal to strengthen the voluntary EU Eco-Label
by widening the number of products covered (e.g.,
including food and beverage products) and streamlining the system. The proposal is designed to encourage manufacturers to go beyond mandatory minimum product standards The Action Plan
also proposes that only products attaining a certain level of energy or environmental performance should be procured by EU Member States and institutions and should be eligible for
incentives granted by Member States to consumers for the purchase of eco-friendly products.
- A separate Communication on Green Public Procurement
. This communication identifies priority sectors of the
economy and includes a process to establish common environmental criteria and targets to guide green public procurement by Member States.
-
A proposed revision of the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
to increase the number of companies involved, including
companies outside the EU, and reduce the administrative burden and costs for Small and Mediums Sized Enterprises (SMEs). EMAS are a management tool to help firms evaluate, report and
improve their environmental performance.
Background and Development of the SCP Action Plan
The Action Plan integrates and complements a number of existing EU and Member State actions to foster resource efficiency and the use of eco-friendly products. For example, in addition to the
specific policies and programs identified in the preceding section of this fact sheet, the Action Plan builds on the EU’s Integrated Product Policy,
Thematic Strategy on the
Use of Natural Resources,
and
Thematic Strategy on Waste Prevention and Recycling
. Along with the Action Plan, these initiatives provide strategic direction
for the EU in achieving sustainability goals.
A large number of stakeholders submitted comments during the consultation process conducted between July and September 2007 to allow for public input on the Commission’s proposed approach for promoting sustainable consumption and production and sustainable industrial policy. A stakeholder event also was held in October 2007. The resulting July 2008 Action Plan was amended in several ways. For example, earlier versions would have expanded eco-design requirements for energy-using products to non-energy-using consumer goods, such as footwear and furniture.
Examples of SCP and Sustainability Work by Other Organizations
International
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP undertakes a number of activities, including activities related to cleaner production, waste management and environmental management tools, to further SCP goals. Since 1998, UNEP’s
Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch
has worked to develop comprehensive national programs or action plans
on sustainable consumption and production. The UN is responsible from managing the Marrakech Process and development of the 10-Year Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework through Regional
Marrakech Process Consultations. The goal of the Framework is to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP), thus promoting social and economic development within the
carrying capacity of ecosystems by de-linking economic growth from environmental degradation.
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
OECD’s Environmental Directorate has done extensive work on the environmental impacts of household consumption and the design of environmental policy targeted at households. One current OECD
project is reviewing evidence on the effects of environmental policy on household behavior, with respect to energy use, waste, transport, and water use.
OECD
has undertaken work to identify measures for sustainable
manufacturing production.
Other Countries
United Kingdom (UK)
Sustainable Consumption and Production is one of the four priority
areas identified in the 2005 UK Sustainable Development Strategy. The UK is implementing a series of actions
to support sustainable
consumption and production goals in the public and private sectors.
Norway’s Green in Practice (GRIP)
is a public-private foundation founded by the Norwegian Ministry of the
Environment in 1996 to promote sustainable consumption and production. Norway’s Ministry of Finance
has primary responsibility
to implement the country’s 2007 Strategy for Sustainable Development.
Australia
requires that certain electrical products offered for sale contain
mandatory energy-efficiency labeling to provide consumers with information that helps reduce energy use and green house gas emissions.
Netherlands. Local government in Rotterdam and non-governmental organizations piloted a green loyalty point system called
Nu Spaarpas
between 2002 and 2004. Nu Spaarpas is an incentive system for
sustainable purchasing behavior by consumers, who can earn green points that are redeemable for sustainable products and services
Some U.S. Sustainability Activities and Additional Resources
The U.S. does not have a formal national policy or strategy for sustainable consumption and production or for sustainable development. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsors numerous sustainability programs for the built environment, water, ecosystems and agriculture, energy, and materials and toxics. The Network for Sustainability is a voluntary, collaborative network of Federal agencies in the Western United States focused on fostering and furthering the concept of sustainability within the government. The U.S. Department of State’s Sustainable Development Partnerships web page provides extensive information about the U.S. Government's sustainable development initiatives to help other countries create and implement their own development strategies on a range of social and environmental topics.
Examples of sustainability initiatives at the State and local levels include the California Green Action Team, an interagency group that directs
progress toward reaching goals of the State’s Green Building Order. The Massachusetts State Sustainability Program
sets targets applicable to state facilities with respect to greenhouse gas emission reductions, energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, green buildings, and water conservation. Counties
and municipalities across New York State
have initiated community-wide sustainability strategies. The City of
Austin Sustainable Communities Initiative
combines goals for economic prosperity, social justice, and ecological
health, and the City of Minneapolis’ Sustainability Initiative
includes the use of sustainability indicators and publication of an
annual GreenPrint Report.