REPORT and WEBINARS: Catalysing science-based policy action on sustainable consumption and production

UNEP (2021) Catalysing Science-Based Policy Action on Sustainable Consumption and Production: The Value-Chain Approach and its Application to Food, Construction and Textiles. 98 pp.

This report from the One Planet network - International Resource Panel Task Group, explains the ‘Value-Chain Approach’ methodology and shares findings from its application to three critical sectors: food, construction and textiles. See PAEPARD blogpost of 19 February 2021. 

The ‘Value-Chain Approach’ is a methodology for catalysing science-based policy action on sustainable consumption and production. Its purpose is to identify key points of intervention within economic systems to reduce natural-resource use and environmental impacts caused by production and consumption, and to define a common agenda for action. 

Following the release of this report (which received funding from the EU) a series of consultations are taking place across all three sectors highlighted in the report. 

The first set of consultations identify innovative business and policy solutions in the Food sector, undertaken through expert workshops each focusing on specific stages of the value chain.

22 March Webinar 1: Centrality of the middle stages of the value chain on production and consumption practices

Examples from the public and private sector demonstrated how actions at the central stages of the food value chain - transport, processing, distribution, retail - can have significant impact on the production practices at one end, and consumption habits at the other. The presentations explored how these ripple effects from actions taken at the central stages of the value chain reduce environmental impacts and natural resource use.

• How the middle stages of the food value chain affect what we produce and consume - Ms. Martina Fleckenstein - Global Policy Manager Food - WWF
• Governments working along the whole value chain to prevent food waste: The example of Norway - Ms. Marianne Gjørv - Senior Advisor - Norwegian Environment Agency
• Big business as a lever for change in the middle of the value chain -  Scarlette Elizée - Sustainability Outreach Lead - Carrefour
• Positive impacts of local distribution networks in Senegal, Brazil, Indonesia, and Morocco - Ms. Agnès Weil - Director of Sustainability and Philanthropy - Club Med

You can access the full slide presentation here and read the main conclusions from our speakers here.

 

26 April 2021. Webinar 2: Innovative trade tools to increase the sustainability and transparency of global value chains

Recording forthcoming

Experts from international organisations, civil society, and research institutes explored a number of trade tools which can thrust sustainability into trade agreements, and in doing so provide ripple effects outwards towards both the production and consumption ends of various global value chains. Topics covered included: the use of voluntary sustainability standards, online technologies for increasing traceability and transparency along global value chains, and tools to equip smaller actors to enter a global marketplace.

• Moderator - Dr. Adriana Neligan - Senior Economist for Green Economy and Resource Economics - German Economic Institute
• The changing trade landscape and approaches to increase the sustainability of global value chains - Prof. Dr. Galina Kolev - Senior Economist, Head of the Research Group Macroeconomic Analyses and Business Cycles - German Economic Institute
• Voluntary Sustainability Standards: Building back better in the food value chain - Ms. Rubi Lambert - Sustainability Expert - UNCTAD
• Standards Map: Using technology to increase the traceability of products along the value chain - Mr. Mathieu Lamolle- Senior Advisor, Sustainability Standards & Value Chains - International Trade Centre)
• Overcoming fragmentation: Increasing the competitiveness of small producers in Honduras - Mr. Miguel Gamboa - Manager, Supply Chain Services Latinoamerica - Rainforest Alliance