The concept of “sustainable consumption” can be used and interpreted in various ways depending on the perspective. One starting point is to consider consumption that meets today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, while giving special consideration to the needs of the world’s poor and the limitations of ecosystems. Some definitions also emphasize minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials, as well as reducing emissions of pollutants and waste throughout the lifecycle of a service or product.
Another approach is to base the definition on the 17 Global Sustainability Goals [8], which are supported by all countries worldwide. This implies that we must reduce our environmental impact while simultaneously achieving social goals such as access to food, healthcare, education, water, energy, and housing. To date, no country has fully achieved sustainable development or sustainable consumption. For a country like Sweden [12], it is primarily the environmental goals that have not yet been met.
Another interpretation of the term “sustainable consumption” involves consuming products labeled as green, organic, or fair. However, this does not necessarily mean that these products have a sufficiently low impact to be in line with sustainable development.
About author:
Göran Finnveden
Program Director and Professor in Environmental Strategic Analysis at the Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Sciences and Engineering (SEED), KTH, Stockholm
My research is focused on sustainable consumption, circular economy and methods for environmental and sustainability assessments of different types of products and systems. In the program I am the director and also leading a project on sustainable consumption and macro-economic effects.
