12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
In society, people engage in various production and consumption activities. People produce and consume mainly for their livelihood. In some cases, production and consumption are done for hobby, entertainment, play, learning, gambling or disputes.
Production activities consume energy. Production is done by processing, assembling, and heating some materials. Exhaust heat, exhaust gas, waste liquid, waste, etc. may be generated during production.
Consuming activities also require energy. Consumption often generates large amounts of waste. The generation of waste, such as unsold products, packaging materials, and packaging, can also become a social problem.
Both consumption and production have a negative impact on the environment. In some cases, there may be some consumption activities that place a heavy burden on the environment and cannot be considered sustainable.
Companies are required to reduce the negative impact on the environment so that their production activities are sustainable, and to conduct educational activities and devise ways to prevent the consumers who use their products from deteriorating the environment.
The United Nations has set 11 specific targets for "responsible production and consumption." Let's take a look at these targets and think about them in order to actually achieve the goals of "responsible production and consumption."
12.1 Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
Here is written about the implementation of 10YFP. 10YFP stands for "Ten-Year Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production" and was adopted in Rio, Brazil in 2012. This framework consists of six programs. The first is consumer information that allows consumers to make sustainable choices. The second is sustainable public procurement. The third is sustainable tourism and ecotourism, the fourth is sustainable building and construction, the fifth is sustainable food systems, and the sixth is sustainable lifestyles and education.
Companies may be required to cooperate in the implementation of the 10YFP's six programs in promoting their business, and to participate in support activities for developing countries to take measures when expanding into developing countries.
12.1 Draft Course of Action
・"We will cooperate in the implementation of the six programs of 10YFP in advancing the project, and will participate in support activities for developing countries to take measures when expanding into developing countries."
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
It is about the management and utilization of natural resources. Natural resources are substances found in nature that are useful to humans. Examples include water, minerals, forests, seafood and wildlife.
As a company, we will work on sustainable management and efficient use of the natural resources that we consume in our business activities, and participate in support activities for developing countries to take measures when expanding into developing countries.
12.2 Draft Course of Action
・"We will work on sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources consumed in our business activities, and participate in support activities for developing countries to take measures when expanding into developing countries."
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
It is about reducing food waste at the retail and consumer level and reducing food loss in the production and supply chain.
As a company, it may be necessary to continue to work on reducing food loss in promoting food-related businesses, and to work on reducing food waste at company cafeterias and rest areas.
12.3 Draft Course of Action
・"We will continue to work on reducing food loss in promoting food-related businesses, and we will also work on reducing food waste at our cafeterias and rest areas."
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 in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
It is about the proper management of chemicals and wastes and the drastic reduction of their emissions.
As a company, when handling chemical substances and waste in the course of business, it is required to formulate and implement concrete plans for their management and emission reduction.
12.4 Draft Course of Action
・"If we handle chemical substances or waste in the course of our business, we will formulate and implement concrete plans for their management and emission reduction."
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
Here we are talking about a significant reduction in waste.
Here too, companies will be required to formulate and implement plans to reduce waste by preventing, reducing, recycling, and promoting reuse of waste.
12.5 Draft Course of Action
・"We will formulate and implement a plan to reduce waste by preventing, reducing, recycling, and promoting reuse of waste."
12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
It is about encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices.
In the future, not only large and international companies, but also general companies will be required to introduce sustainable initiatives and incorporate information on sustainability into their regular reports.
12.6 Draft Course of Action
・"Introduce sustainable practices and incorporate sustainability information into regular reporting"
12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
You can read about sustainable public procurement here. Sustainable public procurement means selecting and procuring things that can be used continuously in the future, not things that are used temporarily in public procurement.
What we can do as a company is to aim to increase orders for public procurement while conducting surveys, responses and proposals for sustainable public procurement.
12.7 Draft Course of Action
・"We aim to increase orders for public procurement while conducting surveys, responses and proposals for sustainable public procurement."
12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
It is about sharing information and awareness about sustainable development and a lifestyle in harmony with nature.
As a company, one of the initiatives is to promote information sharing and enlightenment activities within the company, enlightenment activities outside the company, dissemination of information on initiatives, and joint study sessions.
12.8 Draft Course of Action
・"Promote information sharing and enlightenment activities within the company, enlightenment activities outside the company, dissemination of information on initiatives, joint study sessions, etc."
12.a Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
It is about scientific and technological assistance to developing countries to move towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns.
As a company, when expanding into developing countries, we can think of ways to contribute to the SDGs, such as participating in support activities for developing countries to move toward more sustainable consumption and production patterns.
12.a Draft Course of Action
・"When expanding into developing countries, we will participate in support activities for developing countries to move toward more sustainable consumption and production patterns."
12.b Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
It is about developing and implementing measures to measure how tourism is affected by sustainable development.
As a company, it may become important to consider the impact on the tourism industry when proceeding with development projects, and to make efforts to sustainably develop the tourism industry.
12.b Draft Course of Action
・"We will consider the impact on the tourism industry when proceeding with development projects, and make efforts to sustainably develop the tourism industry."
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
It is about rationalizing inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels that encourage wasteful consumption. Subsidies to revitalize the economy can result in promoting wasteful spending and contributing to environmental degradation. However, if they were to be abolished all at once, the poor and others would be hit hard. It is about rationalizing while making a plan.
As a company, it will be necessary to keep an eye on national policy trends, such as the rationalization of subsidies for fossil fuels, and incorporate them into business plans.
12.c Draft Course of Action
・"While keeping an eye on national policy trends regarding the rationalization of subsidies for fossil fuels, we will incorporate such measures into our business plans."
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