The document discusses responsible consumption and production, emphasizing the need for both producers and consumers to adopt environmentally sound practices. It highlights the alarming rates of waste, particularly plastic and food, and the health dangers posed by microplastics, alongside the adverse effects of climate change on food security and resource availability. The document also outlines various sustainability innovations and practices in communities aimed at promoting a circular economy to combat environmental degradation.

1. Sarah Ashley, Jayda dos Anjos
Shayn Jones, and Mason Tavares
RESPONSIBLE
CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION
Stone Soup Sustainability Summit 2023, June 5th-9th

2. WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION?
Responsible Consumption and Production is the environmentally
sound creation and use of products
It is the responsibility of producers to make sure that they are not
harming the environment in the making of their products
As consumers, it is our responsibility to make sure that we dispose of
our waste properly and reuse and recycle our waste when possible

3. QUICK FACTS
From 2000 to 2019 the total amount of domestic material
consumption rose by 65% to get to a total of 95.1 billion metric
tons
Approximately 30-40% of the United States food supply is
wasted
23% of E-waste globally is not handled in a sustainable way
In 2010 alone, 275 million tons of plastic waste was disposed of
improperly
In 2018 only 32.1% of plastic was recycled in the U.S.
7.6 billion tons of industrial waste are produced each year
Plastic never fully decomposes, it just gets smaller and smaller

4. HOW DOES THIS ISSUE AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY?
Microplastics, microscopic pieces of plastic,
that are present in our drinking water and
food can potentially cause major health
risks according to the National Institutes of
Health
Studies have shown that microplastics can
adversely affect our Immune, Endocrine, and
Neurological systems.
Microplastics have the potential to cause
chronic inflammation, decreased organ
function, and increased risk of cancer
Especially in coastal states and countries, as
microplastics in our food and water rise, so
do our risks for health problems from them

5. HOW HAS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTED
CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCITON?
Affects food security on a global, regional, and local level
Limit food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food
quality
Increased temperatures make water and precipitation scarce,
affecting food production and water intake
An increase in severe weather events will affect food transport
and can destroy crops

6. PROJECTIONS FOR THE NEXT FIVE, TEN,
AND TWENTY YEARS
NEXT FIVE YEARS: NEXT TWENTY YEARS:
NEXT TEN YEARS: THE 10-YEAR FRAMEWORK:
There is a 90% chance of one year in the next five
years being the hottest on record. There will also be an
increase in tropical cyclones in regions near the
Atlantic, which can destroy crops and hamper
transportation of products.
If climate change holds a steady rate it will surpass an
increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees
Fahrenheit). In the next ten years the climate will
become too warm to grow many staple crops, and
droughts will become extremely severe.
Farmers could expect to see a decrease in crop
production of 10-20 %
By 2030, the UN plans to implement the 10- year
framework, get all countries on board and have the
more developed countries take the lead. This will be
to obtain sustainable management of natural
resources, reduce food waste on all levels including
consumer, supply chains, and harvest, substantially
reduce waste through recycling programs, and
provide information for people who are uneducated
on the topic.

7. Because we are consuming more resources than the earth can generate, there is
an increase in waste and pollution. This coupled with the gap between rich and
poor stretching longer is causing negative effects on global health, education,
equity and empowerment.
By promoting responsible consumption and production, poverty can be elevated
and we can make strides towards a green economy throughout the world
If climate change continues, there will be a decrease in crop production and
sources of clean water shortening the supply for our increasing population
Economic and social progress in the past years have been followed by
environmental degradation which threatens systems and resources that human
beings depend on
The bottom line being that responsible consumption and production are essential
to our survival
HOW HAS CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION AFFECTED THE WORLD?

8. What are sustainability innovations in the world?
Engineers have designed a robot
that can pick through trash to sort
recyclables from waste
Twice as fast as humans and 99%
accurate
Use of robots
Circular economy vs linear economy
A circular economy focuses on the use and reuse
of products
It extends the life of non-renewable resources
Less wasteful
in environmental and economic ways
A linear economy follows take, make, consume
and throw away pattern

9. What are sustainability innovations in the world?
Using solar panels to capture
energy is a lot more efficient and
less wasteful than using gas.
Reduces greenhouse gases.
Many towns offer benefits for
those who use solar panels
Solar energy
Researchers aim to reduce the
amount of chemicals being used in
many processes
ex: using crab shells instead of
chemicals
UK has developed a water based
recycling process that recycles hard
plastics
Solar catalyst breaks down chemicals
using a process similar to
photosynthesis
Green chemistry and solar catalyst
Rice university developed a
process that recovers metals
from electronics that is 500x
more efficient than previous
methods.
Reducing E-waste

10. SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATIONS IN OUR
COMMUNITY
AT BRISTOL AGGIE PLASTIC USE
SOLAR POWER
RECYCLING
Here at Bristol Aggie we have compost (that we use
for fertilizer), animal feed (which will go to the animals
we have on campus), and recycling to help reduce
how much we put in our landfill bins. On the topic of
getting rid of waste the school has composting toilets
to our schools water usage.
Many businesses form the surrounding towns have
switched from oil and gas to solar power for most of
their energy. Changing how these big companies are
getting their energy benefits not only our community
but but the world. Using solar power instead of gas
and oil helps global warming and air pollution.
Many towns in the southeast Massachusetts area
have implemented bans on plastic bags. Most stores
use paper bags and often suggest to bring your own
reusable bags. According to a recent article, 130
cities and towns have acted on this is Massachusetts
alone.
Massachusetts recently passed a law that prohibits the
recycling of hazardous compositable and recyclable
materials. This is to reduce the amount of waste put in
landfills and to reuse/recycle as much waste as possible.

11. INNOVATORS ON THIS ISSUE
Timberland
uses old tires to make shoes
H&M
plans on being 100% circular by 2030
To Good To Go
startup saving 20+ million meals per year from
food waste
Cellucomp
uses 100% sustainable additives for their
products
Lono, Schneider Electric and General Electric are
also all companies that have circular economies and
work to be sustainable.
Fairtrade, B Corp and LEED are all
certifications that are becoming more
popular among businesses.

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