UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 12 - Responsible Production and Consumption
Episode 4 of 'The 17' podcast focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goal 12. It explores how our way of living - especially in the Western world - puts a massive and unsustainable strain on the planet's natural resources. It also discusses what changes in production and consumption (at all levels from individual to global) can pivot us toward progress. The task is huge. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the current state of affairs looks like this:
- Unsustainable production and consumption are the root causes of 3 global crises - climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution
- Our reliance on natural resources is increasing - up 65% from 2000 to 2019
- There are problems in multiple industries. For example, 17% of the world's food is wasted. Safe recycling of electronic waste can be as low as 1.2% in some parts of the world.
Goal 12 raises an important question: Is it possible to produce and consume responsibly when the majority of the world's companies are designed to prioritise profit? If making people want and consume more is profitable, how can we move toward sustainability?
Experts with retail experience and fashion industry insights
Andrew Ostcliffe is Head of E-commerce & Retail Innovation for Oxfam and has shaped their strategy aimed at reducing waste by being a conduit for both re-use and recycling. He argues for more innovative uses of materials that are beyond re-use (such as Oxfam inventing a new way to turn waste textiles into a new hard material than be used in shop-fitting, displays and sign-making). But Andrew's main appeal is to us consumers and how we need to rediscover the art of patience:
“Do you really need your new purchase tomorrow morning? Could you wait a little longer? If you can, you help the climate by affecting transportation logistics… and perhaps you start to fight that "quicker, bigger, faster, more” mindset that fuels over-consumption.” - Andrew Ostcliffe, Oxfam
Addressing the goal directly
Each episode of 'The 17' ends with our influential expert guests suggesting practical actions at individual, regional, national and global levels to help move the planet toward meeting the UN Sustainable Development goal in question.
Josie Warden, who explores regeneration for business consultancy Volans, thinks that individually we should start to embrace buying pre-loved clothes as a way of expressing our unique identity. Choosing unique second-hand items displays our taste in a more effective way than buying fast fashion.
She also proposes that at a global level we take the opportunity to regulate high consumption industries. She makes the point that if the onus is on companies to change themselves it's hard to be the first-mover and be at a competitive disadvantage.
Yorkshire's ambition to lead on Sustainability
Both Andrew and Josie point out that Yorkshire's textile heritage can help make the region a leader in making the fashion industry more sustainable. There is expertise and legacy skills that can be harnessed, plus local distinctive sustainable production that can be encouraged and promoted more.
This episode of 'The 17' was recorded at the first ever Yorkshire Sustainability Week which took place earlier in July 2023.. Go to www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com to learn more about the impact of this new event.
Be informed, take action and spread the word
'The 17' is a podcast dedicated to sustainability. It is structured around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals. They represent, in essence, a plan to protect the future of the planet. We all need to know what they are, take reasonable positive actions in our own lives to help... and spread the word.
This new sustainability podcast has made quite an impact. Episode 1 was a hit - hitting Number 2 in the UK Apple Podcasts ‘Earth Sciences’ chart - an amazing result for a brand new podcast.. A new episode of ‘The 17’ is released on the 17th of each month and each episode is themed around a different one of the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Follow 'The 17' to make sure you are informed and hear from influential experts about what actions to take to play your part in building a sustainable future. Listen every month, subscribe, leave reviews and tell your friends.
Resources
Shop sustainably with Oxfam here: https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk
Discover what Volans do and why sustainability is at the heart of their values here: https://volans.com
Discover the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Check out the highlights from Yorkshire Sustainability week here:
https://www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com/
The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail.
The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.
We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.
The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk