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12

Responsible Consumption And Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Activities Environment Africa Conservation Work Planting Trees Ghana Western Africa Reforestation Agriculture Ecological Farming Americas South America Brazil Hotspots Waste Reduction Eastern Africa NGO Support Business Development Europe Northern Europe Ireland Zanzibar Beach Cleaning Tanzania Hiking Asia Plastic Reduction Central America Southern Asia Yoga Volunteer and Travel Voluntourism Nepal Costa Rica Community Volleyball South East Asia Vegan Guatemala Construction Ecological Building Building Schools Culture and Arts Nairobi Intern Abroad Photography Internship Kenya Vietnam Indonesia Bali Ubud India Kolkata Families with small kids South Africa Southern Africa Annapurna Kathmandu Everest Trekking Pokhara Khumbu Himalaya Egypt Wildlife Conservation Animal Northern Africa Southern Europe Greece Ecuador Social Work Musanze Rwanda Zambia Peru Cusco Chile Amazon Rainforest Coffee Siem Reap Oceania Energy and Water Monastery Fiji Phnom Penh Melanesia Cambodia Indigenous cultures Machu Picchu Scouts Italy Rome Spanish Courses Language Course Uganda Theater Music Sumatra Bolivia
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 Reforestation in Kwahu Mountains
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Ghana Abetifi, Ghana
Atlas Volunteers

Reforestation in Kwahu Mountains

Excellent 4.8
(248)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
140 €  per week · 1  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Combat climate change and the affects of deforestation by growing seedlings, planting trees and working alongside the local communities on educational outreaches. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Short Term - in a self-sustaining Eco Farm
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Brazil Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Eco Caminhos

Short Term - in a self-sustaining Eco Farm

Outstanding 4.9
(79)
Video Flex Option
262 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join and experience life on a self-sustaining Eco Farm. A unique experience, Bioconstruction, permaculture, agroforestry, hikes in the mountains and camping weekends. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Charity Shop Helper
Reduced Inequalities Responsible Consumption And Production
Ireland Clonmel, Ireland
CTL Ireland

Charity Shop Helper

Great 4.4
(10)
Flex Option
453 €  per week · 3  ‑  14  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Support an Irish charitable organisation by helping in a charity shop and sorting office. A full immersion experience with homestay and a unique way to discover Ireland! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Environmental Conservation Assistant
Clean Water And Sanitation Responsible Consumption And Production
🔥 In High Demand
Tanzania Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Green Zanzibar

Environmental Conservation Assistant

Great 4.5
(20)
Video Flex Option
133 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

Support a women's group with beach-clean ups, water filtration and tree planting on the way to financial independence in Zanzibar Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Plastic Upcycling & Community Cleanup
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Ghana Abetifi, Ghana
Atlas Volunteers

Plastic Upcycling & Community Cleanup

Excellent 4.8
(248)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
140 €  per week · 1  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Help the fight against plastic waste by community cleanups, producing ecobricks and creating upcycled products from plastic waste. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Community Farm Assistant
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Ghana Abetifi, Ghana
Atlas Volunteers

Community Farm Assistant

Excellent 4.8
(248)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
140 €  per week · 1  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Lend a hand to rural farmers on their personal and community farms to assist small scale farmers in need of a helping hand. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Eco Farm Rehab – Rehabilitation in nature
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Brazil Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Eco Caminhos

Eco Farm Rehab – Rehabilitation in nature

Outstanding 4.9
(79)
Video Flex Option
337 €  per week · 4  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

We receive people with mental and psychological health problems to promote recovery through a natural and community life in a eco farm in the middle of the mountains. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Off-Grid Permaculture & Community
Responsible Consumption And Production
Costa Rica Cartago, Costa Rica
Finca La Quimera

Off-Grid Permaculture & Community

Outstanding 4.9
(26)
Video Flex Option
109 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Permaculture Sustainable project focused on Regenerative and Organic Agriculture and community living located in the heart of rural Costa Rica. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Building an Outdoor Activity Camp
Quality Education Responsible Consumption And Production
Nepal Ghyalchok, Nepal
Best Adventure Nepal

Building an Outdoor Activity Camp

Very Good 4.4
(28)
Video Flex Option
107 €  per week · 2  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Help to build an outdoor activity camp! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Green Building
Sustainable Cities And Communities Responsible Consumption And Production
Guatemala San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala
Long Way Home

Green Building

Fantastic 4.5
(12)
Video Flex Option
80 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Long Way Home is currently constructing a self suficient 18-building school campus using sustainable design and materials in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Music, Art , Dance and Culture Teacher
Decent Work And Economic Growth Responsible Consumption And Production Partnerships For The Goals
Kenya Nairobi, Kenya
UCESCO Africa

Music, Art , Dance and Culture Teacher

Excellent 4.8
(130)
Video Flex Option
322 €  per week · 1  ‑  28  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Music, Dance, Culture & arts are what make the world beautiful & have the ability to illuminate people’s lives. Please apply & support us training our children & youths Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Eco Farming Homestay
Responsible Consumption And Production
Vietnam Da Lat, Vietnam
Involvement Volunteers IVI

Eco Farming Homestay

Brilliant 4.7
(219)
Video Flex Option
495 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

Participate in daily farming activities, including planting, harvesting, and caring for animals. Help create a self-sustaining farm that supports local communities. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Implementing Sustainable Environmental Initiatives
Zero Hunger Responsible Consumption And Production
Indonesia Ubud, Indonesia
Global Nomadic

Implementing Sustainable Environmental Initiatives

Perfect 4.7
(17)
Flex Option
295 €  per week · 4  ‑  24  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

This program is a hands-on experience in Permaculture, Mobile Rice Mills and other innovative technologies and techniques. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Urban Organic Garden Assistant
Zero Hunger Quality Education Responsible Consumption And Production
India Kolkata, India
SMILE Society, India

Urban Organic Garden Assistant

Fantastic 4.6
(23)
Video Flex Option
125 €  per week · 4  ‑  24  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

This program is for the youth group to help in organic farming in cities. International Volunteers of any age are most welcome . Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Agricultural Entrepreneurship in rural communities
Responsible Consumption And Production
South Africa Hoedspruit, South Africa
Nourish Eco Village

Agricultural Entrepreneurship in rural communities

Excellent 4.9
(26)
Video Flex Option
293 €  per week · 2  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Support sustainable farming, empower local entrepreneurs, and help provide 35,000 meals monthly. Create real change through agriculture—volunteer today! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 2-week Everest trekking + 2-week help on Farm
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Nepal kathmandu, Nepal
Third Eye Foundation

2-week Everest trekking + 2-week help on Farm

Brilliant 4.7
(39)
Flex Option
399 €  per week · 4  ‑  4  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

2 weeks Everest base camp trek and two weeks volunteer program of your choice for better Nepal experience and more meaningful contribution. Make difference on the Way. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Desert Restoration Helper
Responsible Consumption And Production
Egypt Nuweiba, Egypt
Habiba Community

Desert Restoration Helper

Brilliant 4.8
(15)
Video Flex Option
340 €  per week · 1  ‑  7  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join us at Habiba Community to transform desert lands through sustainable farming and community outreach. Gain hands-on experience and make a difference! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Plastic recycling & Upcycling Supporter
Responsible Consumption And Production
Greece Ermoupoli, Greece
SCE Apano Meria

Plastic recycling & Upcycling Supporter

Outstanding 5.0
(10)
Flex Option
468 €  per week · 2  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join us in our waste experiencing life on a picturesque island and immerse yourself in the local community! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Sustainable Living Camp
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Ecuador Manta, Ecuador
Volungo Abroad

Sustainable Living Camp

Brilliant 4.7
(29)
Flex Option
318 €  per week · 4  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Pacific Coast of Ecuador: Join us and understand sustainable living techniques while volunteering on a Working Farm. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Community Empowerment Assistant
Responsible Consumption And Production Life On Land
Rwanda Musanze, Rwanda
Partners For Conservation

Community Empowerment Assistant

Very Good 4.4
(41)
Video Flex Option
269 €  per week · 2  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

The programme offers applicants with opportunity to work towards local mindset about conservation by empowering former traditional hunters towards entrepreneurship. Details >

Airport Taxi
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Food
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Show All 37 Programs
12

Responsible Consumption And Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Volunteer Abroad Responsible Consumption And Production

Responsible Consumption And Production

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.

What's the goal here?

To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Facts & figures

  • Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced - equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion - ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices
  • If people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually
  • Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles

Water

  • Less than 3 per cent of the world's water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per cent for all of man's ecosystem's and fresh water needs.
  • Man is polluting water faster than nature can recycle and purify water in rivers and lakes.
  • More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water.
  • Excessive use of water contributes to the global water stress.
  • Water is free from nature but the infrastructure needed to deliver it is expensive.

Energy

  • Despite technological advances that have promoted energy efficiency gains, energy use in OECD countries will continue to grow another 35 per cent by 2020. Commercial and residential energy use is the second most rapidly growing area of global energy use after transport.
  • In 2002 the motor vehicle stock in OECD countries was 550 million vehicles (75 per cent of which were personal cars). A 32 per cent increase in vehicle ownership is expected by 2020. At the same time, motor vehicle kilometres are projected to increase by 40 per cent and global air travel is projected to triple in the same period.
  • Households consume 29 per cent of global energy and consequently contribute to 21 per cent of resultant CO2 emissions.
  • One-fifth of the world's final energy consumption in 2013 was from renewables.

Food

  • While substantial environmental impacts from food occur in the production phase (agriculture, food processing), households influence these impacts through their dietary choices and habits. This consequently affects the environment through food-related energy consumption and waste generation.
  • 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year while almost 1 billion people go undernourished and another 1 billion hungry.
  • Overconsumption of food is detrimental to our health and the environment.
  • 2 billion people globally are overweight or obese.
  • Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, overfishing and marine environment degradation are all lessening the ability of the natural resource base to supply food.
  • The food sector accounts for around 30 per cent of the world's total energy consumption and accounts for around 22 per cent of total Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Why?

More people globally are expected to join the middle class over the next two decades. This is good for individual prosperity but it will increase demand for already constrained natural resources. If we don't act to change our consumption and production patterns, we will cause irreversible damage to our environment.

What are some of the current consumption and production patterns that need to change?

There are many aspects of consumption that with simple changes can have a big impact on society as a whole. For example, each year about one third of all food produced-equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes worth around $1 trillion-ends up rotting in the bins of consumers and retailers, or spoiling due to poor transportation and harvesting practices, something that businesses need to address. When it comes to consumers, households consume 29 per cent of global energy and contribute to 21 per cent of resultant CO2 emissions. However, if people worldwide switched to energy efficient lightbulbs the world would save US$120 billion annually. Water pollution is also a pressing issue that needs a sustainable solution. We are polluting water faster than nature can recycle and purify water in rivers and lakes.

How can I help as a business?

It's in businesses' interest to find new solutions that enable sustainable consumption and production patterns. A better understanding of environmental and social impacts of products and services is needed, both of product life cycles and how these are affected by use within lifestyles. Identifying "hot spots" within the value chain where interventions have the greatest potential to improve the environmental and social impact of the system as a whole is a crucial first step. Businesses can also use their innovative power to design solutions that can both enable and inspire individuals to lead more sustainable lifestyles, reducing impacts and improving well-being.

How can I help as a consumer?

There are two main ways to help: 1. Reducing your waste and 2. Being thoughtful about what you buy and choosing a sustainable option whenever possible. Reducing our waste can be done in many ways, from ensuring you don't throw away food to reducing your consumption of plastic-one of the main pollutants of the ocean. Carrying a reusable bag, refusing to use plastic straws, and recycling plastic bottles are good ways to do your part every day. Making informed purchases about what we're buying also helps. For example, the textile industry today is the second largest polluter of clean water after agriculture, and many fashion companies exploit textile workers in the developing world. If you can buy from sustainable and local sources you can make a difference as well as exercising pressure on businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

Where are volunteer projects that need my help?

Africa
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Rwanda
  • South Africa
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
Americas
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • Peru
Asia
  • Cambodia
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Nepal
Europe
  • Ireland
  • Italy
Oceania
  • Fiji

Discover related Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. As such, the 17 SDGs and its associated 169 targets do not stand alone, but are are interconnected. The key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another. If you are interested in supporting a cause addressing to the goal {sdg.name}, you might also be interested in the related goals No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Decent Work And Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities And Communities, Life Below Water and Life On Land.

Please visit the website of the United Nations to find out more about Goal 12 Responsible Consumption And Production and other Sustainable Development Goals.

Source: United Nations

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