Why it matters

The level and speed of the transformations needed to achieve sustainable growth in a resource-constrained world require business to tackle lifestyle and consumption issues, and to improve sustainable value chain management.

First, technological innovation will not suffice to address sustainability challenges; radical transformations in lifestyles and consumption patterns will be needed. Business has a significant role to play in co-piloting these transformations and encouraging consumers to adopt more sustainable behaviors.

Second, a fragmented approach to value chains can only lead to marginal improvements. To be more sustainable, value chains also need to be more integrated. This requires better collaboration between different value chain actors; mutual understanding of what value means to different stakeholders; and better consideration of consumer desires, attitudes and practices.

The business case

Sustainable consumption is crucial to long-term consumption. Companies need to engage with consumers to develop commercially-successful sustainable solutions, stimulate innovation and strengthen consumer trust and loyalty.

In addition, more integrated value chains will improve sustainability. This will speed up and strengthen innovation as well as maximize environmental, social and economic benefits for all stakeholders involved and society at large.

Work program activities

The WBCSD’s Sustainable Consumption and Value Chain (SCVC) system solution aims to identify new business models, solutions and opportunities in value chain integration with a particular focus on consumption. There are two workstreams:

Sustainable Consumption, led by Henkel, Nokia and PepsiCo:

• Build a vision and a pathway for a sustainable consumption by 2050

Sustainable Value Chains, led by Coca-Cola and Unilever:

• Help companies to improve the sustainability of their value chains

Deliverables

There will be three main deliverables.

1. Building on several workshops, a report will outline a vision and pathway to achieving sustainable consumption by 2050. Release is planned for May 2011;
2. A tool will support companies in their efforts to improve the sustainability of their value chains.

Our members

List of members by alphabetical order

• Adidas
• AkzoNobel
• Borusan
• Caterpillar
• Coca-Cola
• Deutsche Post-DHL
• Dupont
• Eczacibasi
• Havas
• Henkel
• Kimberly-Clark
• KPMG
• Natura
• Nokia
• PepsiCoPhilips
• Procter and Gamble
• PwC
• SABIC
• SC Johnson
• Solvay
• Sompo
• Umicore
• Unilever

Regional partners:

• Accion RSE
• CEADS
• CentraRSE
• Korean BCSD
• NBI
• UniRSE
• WBCSD North America