Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Unsustainable consumption and production practices lead to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and increased waste, necessitating a shift toward more sustainable behaviors.

How engineering can make it happen

Mining, civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineers play critical roles in managing the Earth’s resources efficiently through processing essential minerals, generating energy from renewable resources, using water resources sustainably, supporting agricultural production, and managing biodiversity. Engineering innovations support resource management and responsible consumption through the “circular economy” where outputs and products can become inputs into other processes and products. Innovations to recycle or reuse waste materials, including plastics, are being developed by materials and chemical engineers.