IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i16p9379-d618791.html

Evolution and Current Challenges of Sustainable Consumption and Production

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Glavič

    (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

Abstract

This review paper examines the past, present, and future of sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The history of the Sustainable Development Goal No. 12 (i.e., to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) is presented and analyzed. A definition of the sustainable consumption is given and the role of education is explained. The present status and existing trends of SCP are introduced by analyzing unsustainable behavior and the existing dilemma, namely sustainable growth or degrowth. A very broad range of methods is used for measuring and evaluating SCP within sustainable development. To forecast the future of SCP, important trends are presented. The future development of SCP will follow several megatrends and it will require reduced personal and collective consumption (degrowth). Energy usage in buildings, renewable energy sources, and energy storage will be important in that respect. Transportation emissions will continue to be lowered. Waste, especially food waste, shall be reduced, and consumer products shall become more durable. All waste must be collected and separated to be reused. SPC is elaborated in view of the two approaches—Industry 4.0 (smart factory), and the “Sixth Wave” evolution. Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, and zero waste will be at the forefront of future activities. A circular economy requires extension of product lifetimes, and the reuse and recycling of products. Reducing emissions, pollution and specific energy, water, and raw material usage (especially critical raw materials), as well as the role of digitalization, will be important.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Glavič, 2021. "Evolution and Current Challenges of Sustainable Consumption and Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-24, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9379-:d:618791
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9379/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9379/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Doris Fuchs & Sylvia Lorek, 2005. "Sustainable Consumption Governance: A History of Promises and Failures," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 261-288, September.
    2. Michael Kremer, 1993. "Population Growth and Technological Change: One Million B.C. to 1990," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 108(3), pages 681-716.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tomasz Chajduga & Manuela Ingaldi, 2021. "Hiring Disable People to Avoid Staff Turnover and Enhance Sustainability of Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Ayansola Ayandibu, 2024. "A literature review on sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship Encouraging positive change in a dynamic world," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(9), pages 33-42, December.
    3. Ghadeer Alsanie, 2025. "Investigating the Impact of Digitalization on Resource Use, Energy Use, and Waste Reduction Towards Sustainability: Considering Environmental Awareness as a Moderator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-37, April.
    4. Waheed Ahmad & Rukhsana Kalim, 2024. "Analyzing Digital Economy¡¯s Role in Global Green Growth Opportunities: An Asymmetric MMQR Approach," Journal of Economic Sciences, Federal Urdu University Islamabad, Department of Economics, vol. 3(2), pages 162-180, December.
    5. Saulius Baskutis & Jolanta Baskutiene & Valentinas Navickas & Yuriy Bilan & Wojciech Cieśliński, 2021. "Perspectives and Problems of Using Renewable Energy Sources and Implementation of Local “Green” Initiatives: A Regional Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Jungmin An & Dong-Kwan Kim & Jinyeong Lee & Sung-Kwan Joo, 2021. "Least Squares Monte Carlo Simulation-Based Decision-Making Method for Photovoltaic Investment in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Geovanna García-Roldán & Nelson Carrión-Bósquez & Andrés García-Umaña & Oscar Ortiz-Regalado & Santiago Medina-Miranda & Rubén Marchena-Chanduvi & Mary Llamo-Burga & Ignacio López-Pastén & Iván Veas G, 2025. "Digital Social Influence and Its Impact on the Attitude of Organic Product Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Paweł Dobrzański & Magdalena Dobrzańska, 2025. "Sustainable Consumption in Urban Transport: A Case Study of a Selected European Union City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-21, July.
    9. He, Bei & Alshaghdali, Nourah O. & Ren, Yuheng & Romano, Marco & Cuomo, Maria Teresa, 2025. "Augmenting user experience in the AI-transitioned metaverse: The role of knowledge management in socio-economic inclusion," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    10. Natália Teixeira, 2025. "Innovative Human Resource Management Strategies for Circular Economy Transition: Comparative Insights from Portugal and Sweden," Merits, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Jorge Alberto Vargas-Merino & Cristian Armando Rios-Lama & Miguel Humberto Panez-Bendezú, 2023. "Sustainable Consumption: Conceptualization and Characterization of the Complexity of “Being” a Sustainable Consumer—A Systematic Review of the Scientific Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-23, May.
    12. Sara Sousa & Elisabete Correia & Vera Sá & Clara Viseu & Inês Maduro & Laércia Sousa, 2025. "Egg Consumption Patterns and Sustainability: Insights from the Portuguese Context," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    13. Gökhan Ekrem Üstün & Metin Güldaş, 2025. "A Life Cycle Assessment of Snack Bar Prototypes Created with Ingredients Compatible with the Mediterranean Diet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Rita Góralska-Walczak & Ewa Rembiałkowska & Klaudia Kopczyńska & Dominika Średnicka-Tober & Hubert Dobrowolski & Renata Kazimierczak, 2023. "Initial Insight into the Environmental Awareness of Employees in the Catering Sector in the City of Rybnik, Silesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    15. A’aeshah Alhakamy & Areej Alhowaity & Anwar Abdullah Alatawi & Hadeel Alsaadi, 2023. "Are Used Cars More Sustainable? Price Prediction Based on Linear Regression," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    16. Yuqing Geng & Mukasar Maimaituerxun, 2022. "Research Progress of Green Marketing in Sustainable Consumption based on CiteSpace Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, August.
    17. Jane Emma Machin & Josephine Go Jefferies & Elizabeth Crosby & Natalie Ross Adkins & Ann M. Mirabito & Elaine Holt & Aušra Rūtelionė & Daniela Alcoforado, 2025. "From satisfaction to sustainability: A conceptual introduction to sustainable consumer well-being," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 15(3), pages 321-342, December.
    18. Patrick Trummer & Gloria Ammerer & Marco Scherz, 2022. "Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Extraction and Processing of Raw Materials—Measures Sets for Achieving SDG Target 12.2," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, September.
    19. Riccardo Censi & Paola Campana & Anna Maria Tarola & Roberto Ruggieri, 2025. "Digital Pathways Toward Sustainability in Agri-Food Waste: A Systematic Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-22, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Das Gupta, Monica & Bongaarts, John & Cleland, John, 2011. "Population, poverty, and sustainable development : a review of the evidence," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5719, The World Bank.
    2. Dietrich Vollrath, 2009. "The dual economy in long-run development," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 287-312, December.
    3. James A. Brander, 2007. "Viewpoint: Sustainability: Malthus revisited?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(1), pages 1-38, February.
    4. Elgin, Ceyhun, 2012. "A Theory Of Economic Development With Endogenous Fertility," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(5), pages 686-705, November.
    5. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/2241 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Cuffaro, Nadia, 1997. "Population growth and agriculture in poor countries: A review of theoretical issues and empirical evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(7), pages 1151-1163, July.
    7. Ignat Stepanok, 2016. "Creative destruction and unemployment in an open economy model," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 49(3), pages 931-948, August.
    8. Patrik Hultberg & David Santandreu Calonge & Seong-Hee Kim, 2017. "Education policy in South Korea: A contemporary model of human capital accumulation?," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1389804-138, January.
    9. d'Albis, Hippolyte & Greulich, Angela & Ponthiere, Gregory, 2018. "Development, fertility and childbearing age: A Unified Growth Theory," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 461-494.
    10. Ron W. NIELSEN, 2016. "Interpretations of Hyperbolic Growth," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 3(4), pages 594-626, December.
    11. Dolgonosov, B.M., 2010. "On the reasons of hyperbolic growth in the biological and human world systems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(13), pages 1702-1709.
    12. Ignat Stepanok, 2023. "FDI and unemployment, a growth perspective," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 761-783, May.
    13. Toke Christensen & Mirjam Godskesen & Kirsten Gram-Hanssen & Maj-Britt Quitzau & Inge Røpke, 2007. "Greening the Danes? Experience with consumption and environment policies," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 91-116, June.
    14. Bretschger, Lucas, 2021. "Getting the Costs of Environmental Protection Right: Why Climate Policy Is Inexpensive in the End," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    15. David Lam, 2011. "How the World Survived the Population Bomb: Lessons From 50 Years of Extraordinary Demographic History," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(4), pages 1231-1262, November.
    16. Albert Makochekanwa & Mamello Amelia Nchake, 2019. "Do Female Managers Affect Productivity? Evidence from Zimbabwean Manufacturing Firms," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 31(3), pages 364-379, September.
    17. Patrizio Pagano & Massimo Sbracia, 2014. "The secular stagnation hypothesis: a review of the debate and some insights," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 231, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    18. Carl-Johan Dalgaard & Holger Strulik, 2014. "Physiological Constraints and Comparative Economic Development," Discussion Papers 14-21, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    19. Schäfer, Andreas, 2002. "Endogenous Growth with Endogenous Fertility and Social Discrimination in Education," Thuenen-Series of Applied Economic Theory 35, University of Rostock, Institute of Economics.
    20. Xu Lin, 2010. "Identifying Peer Effects in Student Academic Achievement by Spatial Autoregressive Models with Group Unobservables," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 28(4), pages 825-860, October.
    21. Strulik, Holger & Werner, Katharina, 2014. "Elite education, mass education, and the transition to modern growth," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 205, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9379-:d:618791. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.