Sustainable Consumption and Production: Exploring the Links with Resources Productivity in the EU-28

Gustavo Pineiro-Villaverde and María Teresa García-Álvarez
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Gustavo Pineiro-Villaverde: Doctoral Program in Economic Analysis and Business, University of A Coruna, 15070 A Coruna, Spain
María Teresa García-Álvarez: Department of Business, University of A Coruna, 15070 A Coruna, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: In the framework of the European Union’s Sustainable Development Policy, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns has been a key issue. The explanation is given by their capacity to address social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. The EU has established an extensive range of proposals on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), which include an energy- and resource-efficient economy, circular economy, waste prevention and recycling, among others. This paper contributes, by using both factorial and regression analysis, to the identification of fundamental constructs that define SCP in the EU-28, their links with resource productivity and the role of governments and enterprises in its improvement by means of investment in research, development and innovation over the period 2001–2018. Some recommendations to policy-makers are proposed in the paper in order to take actions directly on SCP, such as promoting the use of recycled raw materials in public works, or imposing the need for Ecolabel certification to contract with public administration.

Keywords: sustainable consumption; sustainable production; research and development; factorial analysis; regression analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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