1. www.ieep.eu
@IEEP_eu
Solutions for Sustainable
Production and Consumption
Patrick ten Brink
Head of Green Economy Programme, IEEP
with thanks to
Jean-Pierre Schweitzer, Alison Ratliff and Céline Charveriat
Next steps for a sustainable European future:
Reforming Europe, implementing SDGs
European Economic and Social Committee
Sustainable Development Observatory Conference
Brussels, 7th July 2016

2. Contents: Sustainable Production and Consumption
1. SDG 12 and beyond – Ensuring sustainable consumption &
production (SCP) patterns central to SDGs
2. Decoupling as a lens
3. Limits of linear economy
4. Opportunities in a circular economy
5. Tools – policy instruments to bring circularity
6. Sustainable Consumption – examples
7. Sustainable Production – examples
8. Looking forward to innovation in Europe

3. SDG 12: Ensuring sustainable consumption &
production (SCP) patterns
Goal 12 key targets & indicators:
- Policy – national SCP policies
- Resources – material footprint;
DMC/capita; DMC/GDP
- Food systems – global food loss
index
- Waste – recycling rate;
hazardous waste standards
- Business/CSR – company
sustainability reports
- Public sector – GPP programs
- Education – sustainability
mainstreamed

4. Relevance of SCP for other SDGs
• SCP is central to SDGs, it has cross-cutting relevance and
requires a comprehensive and global response
• Reaching goals for SCP would bring us closer to achieving :
Relevant specific targets include: Targets 8.4 on resource efficiency, 7.2 Renewable Energy, 6.4 Water Efficiency, 14.2
on managing pollution of oceans (marine litter); also an opportunity to develop a fairer society through the inclusion of
wide range of stakeholders (towards gender equality, more jobs created)…

5. Decoupling as a lens
Decoupling and earth systems science can be used as a lens to consider SCP
Source: Fedrigo-Fazio, D.; Schweitzer, J.-P.; ten Brink, P.; Mazza, L.; Ratliff, A.; Watkins, E. Evidence of Absolute Decoupling from Real World
Policy Mixes in Europe. Sustainability 2016, 8, 517. http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/6/517
Relative decoupling of resource use and pollution is welcome and necessary
But absolute decoupling essential to ensure sustainability

6. Decoupling
Effective decoupling looks beyond GDP, respecting absolute resource limits, ecosystem
critical thresholds and planetary boundaries.
An emphasis on increasing well-being & resilience useful to complement economic growth.
Source: Patrick ten Brink in Fedrigo-Fazio, et al

7. Our linear economy
Source: Patrick ten Brink and Paulo Razzini

8. Limits of our linear economy: built in wastefulness
• Waste – significant economic losses,
– average EU citizen 16 tonnes of material consumed, >60% to
landfill/incineration, 95% of material and energy value lost
• Future trends – growing populations and consumption.
– 5 billion global middle class by 2030  increasing
environmental & resource pressures
• Environmental pressure – over exploitation of natural capital
threatens planetary boundaries and the economy
The economy is currently based primarily on linear production and consumption
model. Consequently resource use and wastefulness are inherent. The economy is
closely coupled with environmental degradation and advancing planetary boundaries.
Extraction
Production
processes
Distribution
Consumption/
use
Collection

9. The Circular Economy
Source: Patrick ten Brink and Paulo Razzini

10. Opportunities in a circular economy
• Reducing input – efficiencies, closing the loop, industrial symbiosis,
diversifying streams
• Reducing demand – sharing/collaborative models, repair
• Innovative design – biological waste streams, intelligent/modular
design
• Creating social opportunities – job creation, inclusion of minority
groups and promotion of gender equality in the development of this
economic model
Circular economy approaches can reduce the extraction of raw materials and
reduce the production of waste – hence support decoupling.
This offers benefits for job creation in processes/innovation and in value
retention in otherwise waste or underutilised materials.
This requires changes in both production and consumption systems.
Policy opportunities at the EU level not limited to CE Action Plan  i.e. CAP
reform; Innovation via FP7/Horizon 2020; trade dialogues e.g. TTIP

11. Tools – policy instruments to bring circularity
A number of instruments can support the transition to a circular economy. These can
support sustainable production and consumption systems.
Policy Instrument Type of intervention Example
Regulatory based
Eco-design regulations;
Emissions requirements;
Product bans; Land planning
Micro-bead ban in cosmetics in
the USA, Styrofoam ban in San
Francisco
Market based
Pigovian/environmental taxes;
Charges; Deposit Refund;
Quotas; Cap and trade; GPP;
EHS reform
AB Svenska Returpack deposit
refund on PET, glass and cans in
Sweden
Information based
Certification; Labelling;
Education; Awareness Raising
EU Ecolabel
Assessment tools/indicators
Whole life costing; Foot-
printing; Life Cycle Analysis
Eurostat Resource Efficiency
Scoreboard
Other, non policy
Grass roots; Volunteering;
Collaborative/sharing models;
Industrial symbiosis
Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) schemes
across EU

12. Unsustainable Production – Microbeads
Plastic micro beads in cosmetics (EU
wide) – plastic beads used as an abrasive
in cosmetics
 Policy: USA ban on micro beads from
June 2017, EU only voluntary
agreements
 Impact: estimate more than 4,000
tonnes of microbeads used in 2012,
straight into the ocean as not captured
in water treatment facilities.
 Relevant SDG – 14.1 By 2025 reduce
marine pollution from land based
activities; 12.4 By 2020
environmentally sound management
and all wastes throughout their life
cycle
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/publications/EllenMacArthurFoundation_Growth-Within_July15.pdf
Plastic Soup Foundation (2016) Companies that have pledge to stop using microbead. Beatthemicrobead. Available online (21st June 2016) at:
https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/en/industry

13. Sustainable production – restoring fish stocks
Sustainable fish stocks (national,
Iceland) - over exploitation of fisheries
led to a collapse of fish stocks and
marine biodiversity.
 Policy mix: Total Allowable Catches
(TAC), Individual Tradable Quotas
(ITQs) and a resource tax were slowly
introduced.
 Impact: Fish stocks have been
stabilised and industry demonstrates
growth. Exploitation stabilised less
than 10% of catches, doubling of
biomass (1997-2012)
 Relevant SDG – 14.4.1 Fish stocks within
biologically sustainable levels
Source: Fedrigo-Fazio, D.; Schweitzer, J.-P.; ten Brink, P.; Mazza, L.; Ratliff, A.; Watkins, E. Evidence of Absolute Decoupling from Real World
Policy Mixes in Europe. Sustainability 2016, 8, 517. http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/6/517

14. Sustainable production – CSA permaculture
TERRA Urban Farming (local,
Luxembourg) – agricultural systems in
the EU are highly unsustainable,
dependent on subsidies and fertilizers
 Policy Mix: grass roots, cooperative
community supported agriculture
(CSA) 1.5 ha farm in Luxembourg City,
permaculture and heritage cultivars
 Impact: initiative supports local
sustainable food production for 150
families, employment, biodiversity and
community engagement.
 Relevant SDG – 2.4 By 2030, ensure
sustainable food production
Schweitzer J-P., Mutafoglu K., ten Brink P., Paquel K., Illes A., Gitti G., Kettunen M., TwiggerRoss C., Baker J., Kuipers Y., Emonts M.,
Tyrväinen L., Hujala T., and Ojala A. (2016) The Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection: Annex 1: 20 Cases. A
report for the European Commission (ENV.B.3/ETU/2014/0039), Institute for European Environmental Policy, London/Brussels
http://ieep.eu/assets/2075/Health_and_Social_Benefits_of_Nature_-_Final_Report_Annex_1_-_20_cases_sent.pdf

15. Unsustainable Consumption – EHS
Tax reduction for diesel fuel – lower
tax on diesel intended to favour
commercial vehicles.
Example for DE:
 Policy: 47.04 cents per litre
compare to 65.45 per litre for
petrol (2010)
 Impact: concession for diesel of
EUR 6.15 billion per year, diesel
10x more nitrogen oxides, and
13% more CO2
 Relevant SDG – 12.c – rationalise
inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/publikation/long/3896.pdf
Oosterhuis F. and ten Brink P. (Eds) (2014) Paying the Polluter. Environmentally Harmful Subsidies and their Reform. Edward Elgar 2014)
http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?currency=US&id=15338
http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/paying-the-polluter?___website=uk_warehouse

16. Sustainable Consumption – Bag tax Ireland
Plastic bag tax (national, Ireland) –
single use plastic bags a common
issue for terrestrial and marine litter.
 Policy mix: 2002 incrementally
introduction of a plastic bag tax
(EUR 0.15 – 0.22), accompanied by
an awareness raising campaign.
Funds from the tax were
earmarked for environmental
protection.
• Impact: measurable reductions in
bag use (328 per capita p.a. to 14)
• Relevant SDG – 14.1 By 2025
reduce marine pollution from
land based activities
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, 2016, Plastic bag levy.
http://www.environ.ie/environment/waste/plastic-bags/plastic-bag-levy http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/6/517

17. Sustainable Consumption – GPP Denmark
Green Public Procurement (national,
Denmark) – public procurement is
equivalent to EUR 2 trillion in the EU
(19% of GDP), EUR 38 bn in Denmark
 Policy Mix: DK established a
Partnership for GPP with the
Ministry of Environment and Food.
14 partners integrate greening
across 11 product groups
 Impact: total procurement value
now EUR >5 billion
 Relevant SDG – 12.7 Promote
sustainable public procurement
practices
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/case-studies/denmark-public-procurement-as-a-circular-economy-enabler

18. SDGs, SCP, decoupling and the circular economy
• SCP can help realise a range of SDGs
• Need to accelerate relative decoupling and move to absolute
decoupling to meet SDGs and SCP ambitions.
• Need to fast track circular economy measures to keep resources and
their value in the economy and out of the environment
• These will bring benefits to the economy, society (i.e. jobs) and
environment
• Range of tools that address each – from fiscal reform, to standards,
product design, information provision, enabling civil society action,
assessment tools, investment….
• Requires all stakeholders to engage
• EU has self-interest in progress & responsibility within global context

19. www.ieep.eu
@IEEP_eu Follow us!
IEEP is an independent, not for profit institute dedicated to advancing an
environmentally sustainable Europe through policy analysis, development and
dissemination.
In 2016, we celebrate 40 years since IEEP was established!

20. Recent and ongoing work at IEEP
Analysing new areas of policy …
• e.g. The optimised cascading use of wood– for DG Growth
Assessing socio-economic costs…
• e.g The Socio-Economics of Marine Litter – for UNEP
Assessing socio-economic benefits …
• e.g. Health and Social Benefits of Biodiversity and Nature Protection – for DG Environment
Presenting the evidence base and innovative solutions …
• e.g. Paying the Polluter book edited by Oosterhuis and ten Brink
Reviewing stakeholders roles …
• e.g. Building the Europe we want: Models for Civil Society Involvement in the Implementation of the SDGs
Engaging stakeholders and capacity building …
• e.g. Capacity building in environmental taxation reform (ETR) to address resources & pollution – for DG Environment
Disseminating best practice …
• e.g. Beyond GDP Service – for DG Environment
Pooling knowledge …
• e.g. ACES: Alliance for Circular Economy Solutions – for the MAVA foundation, with the Green Alliance and partners:
Aldersgate Group (UK), De Groene Zaak (NL), Ecologic Institute (DE) & UnternehmensGrün (DE)
IEEP aims to make the value of the environment better understood and to better
integrate it into policies in Europe and beyond. Work on the SDGs and supporting SCP,
decoupling and the circular economy are priority areas for IEEP. Our activities include: