What is Sustainable Development Goal 12?

Responsible production and consumption are the premises of this Sustainable Development Goal 12 that we will explain in depth today

The production of goods and services for consumption by the population is one of the foundations of our society, something that guarantees the well-being of people and allows their development and progress. However, this reality, which emerged after the industrial revolution, hides a downside where the lack of responsibility in both production and consumption causes a profound environmental impact on our surroundings. This trend is depleting our planet’s resources, while the world population continues to grow and demands even more consumer goods, putting the future of current and future generations at risk. This is the pretext behind the development of SDG 12 by the United Nations. Do you want to know more about this Sustainable Development Goal? Let’s get to it.

This goal is defined as “Sustainable Development Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” To reduce our current impact on the environment, we must change various habits in both consumption and production. This requires the replacement of energy supply systems used in production with more sustainable ones, such as those from renewable energies. Additionally, large manufacturers must adopt circular economy systems, including the design of durable, repairable, and recyclable products, as well as incorporating practices such as reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of consumer goods to minimize waste and resource depletion.

To achieve this, companies must have a deeper understanding of the direct impact their activities generate on the environment and society, analyzing the life cycles of their products, as well as their impact on people’s lifestyles.

What are the targets of SDG 12?

To understand Sustainable Development Goal 12 in depth, we need to look at its main targets. According to the UN itself, this SDG 12 aims to:

• 12.1 Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, with all countries taking action and developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.
• 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• 12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
• 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
• 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.
• 12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
• 12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production.
• 12.b Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
• 12.c Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities.

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