Sustainable consumption and production

The basic definition of sustainability in ISO Guide 82:2014, Guidelines for addressing sustainability in standards, is:

“The state of the global system, including environmental, social and economic aspects, in which the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The standards development process provides standards-makers with the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development, and in particular to encourage sustainable consumption and production.

Within this, the UN Sustainable Development Goals are an important reference point, particularly Goal 12 ‘Responsible production and consumption’, which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns:

“Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty. Sustainable consumption and production aims at “doing more and better with less,” increasing net welfare gains from economic activities by reducing resource use, degradation and pollution along the whole lifecycle, while increasing quality of life. It involves different stakeholders, including business, consumers, policy makers, researchers, scientists, retailers, media, and development cooperation agencies, among others. It also requires a systemic approach and cooperation among actors operating in the supply chain, from producer to final consumer. It involves engaging consumers through awareness-raising and education on sustainable consumption and lifestyles, providing consumers with adequate information through standards and labels and engaging in sustainable public procurement, among others.”

BSI is supporting a programme of work in the area of sustainable consumption and production, and is seeking new committee members to help shape this programme.

SDS/3 is the BSI committee responsible for the preparation of national and international standards in the field of sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The committee is composed of volunteer nominations from government, trade bodies, academic bodies, individual members, consumer groups, and co-opted members, etc., gathered to discuss the context and challenges associated with SCP, and how standards can address these.

How does SDS/3 approach the sustainable consumption and production agenda?

SDS/3 is setting the strategic direction of work in this area, coordinating and providing oversight of several subcommittees, monitoring and mirroring national, European and international work in standardization, identifying new opportunities for standards development, and advising BSI on wider engagement with stakeholders influencing SCP.

There are two guiding principles for the work of the committee:

1. Sustainability addresses environmental, economic and social concerns, often expressed as the ‘triple bottom line’, but these three aspects may at times be in conflict.

SDS/3 takes the position that all three aspects of sustainability can be managed together, without the need to ‘trade-off’ one aspect against another, as is often expressed.

2. Sustainability is a contested term, with many different meanings and priorities for different individuals, groups and organizations. It is a developing and evolving concept. It is also debated when applied to different concepts or areas of concern, i.e., sustainable development, sustainable consumption and production.

SDS/3 takes the position that, in contributing to the development of sustainable consumption and production, its activities may make use of different interpretations of sustainability.

SDS/3 has oversight of several BSI technical subcommittees which are actively engaged with standards development, nationally, and at European and International level through CEN and ISO.

The subcommittees are as follows, with mirroring roles shown:

• SDS/3/1 Sustainable procurement
  • BS ISO 20400:2017, Sustainable procurement - Guidance
• SDS/3/2 Responsible sourcing of construction products
• SDS/3/3 Wood-based products – chain of custody 
  • ISO/PC 287, Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products
• SDS/3/4 Sustainable resource management
  • ISO/TC 323, Circular economy
• SDS/3/5 Energy-related products – material efficiency aspects for eco-design
  • CEN/CLC/JTC 10 Energy-related products – material efficiency aspects for eco-design
• SDS/3/6 Chain of custody
  • ISO/PC 308 Chain of custody

If you have expertise or experience in sustainable consumption and production, please email us to express an interest in joining one of our committees, hosting a stakeholder event, or offering a presentation, workshop or visit.

If you’ve never taken part in a BSI committee, we can provide guidance and training, and put you in touch with an experienced standards-maker for an informal introduction to standards development.

You can contact us on: sustainability@bsigroup.com at any time to discuss your interests and expectations of the role of BSI committee member.