Goal 12 addresses the structural mismatch between prevailing consumption and production patterns and the planet’s ecological limits. It recognises that efficiency gains alone are insufficient without systemic change in how goods are produced, distributed, and consumed.

The goal targets resource extraction, energy and material intensity, waste generation, chemical pollution, food loss, and opaque global supply chains. Key policy areas include circular economy models, extended producer responsibility, sustainable procurement, consumer transparency, and corporate reporting standards.

Global coordination is supported by the UN Environment Programme, while organisations such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and networks like Zero Waste Europe promote system redesign and behavioural change.

Recycling rates and sustainability disclosures have improved in some regions, and International Day of Zero Waste (30 March) has gained prominence. Nevertheless, absolute resource use continues to rise, driven by consumption growth in high-income economies. Recent news has focused on negotiations for a global plastics treaty and supply-chain accountability legislation. GSN analyses consumption as a structural economic issue rather than an individual lifestyle choice.