Our work on SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Research
Faculty research themes
Stirling Business School have focussed one of their key research themes around SDG 12 and conducts research which investigates change in the consumption and production lifecycle, bridging the gap between business, markets and consumer behaviours, through research in retailing and supply chains; consumer behaviour; sustainability and consumption markets.
Food economy of the Western Isles
This project, funded by The Royal Society of Edinburgh, looked at the potential role played by informal food economy (IFE) actors across the Western Isles of Scotland. Despite being part of an advanced market economy, food access and security in this region has previously been identified as problematic for some consumer groups and communities.
The research found that due to the expansion of the formal retail sector, including online delivery services, food access has become less of an issue for many island residents. Nonetheless, IFEs can still help to strengthen social and community linkages and for certain segments of the island population, they continue to play a key role in providing access to food.
This continuing role is important as the research also identified an increasing reliance upon a small number of national retail chains, suggesting that future food security in remote and rural communities could become increasingly vulnerable to market externalities, including climate change.
Learning and teaching
MSc Sustainable Aquaculture
The MSc Sustainable Aquaculture course at the University of Stirling plays a vital role in advancing SDG 12 by training students to make aquaculture more efficient, ethical, and environmentally sustainable. The course continued with its delivery in 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 with applications open for the 2026-27 intake. Through a focus on reducing waste, improving feed practices, and managing environmental impacts, the course teaches future aquaculture professionals how to use resources wisely and support global food security. Students gain hands-on experience and work with industry partners to apply sustainable solutions in real-world settings, helping to build a more responsible aquaculture sector that meets the needs of both people and the planet.
LLM Environmental Law and Climate Justice
The University of Stirling’s LLM Environmental Law and Climate Justice course launched in 2024 equips students with the legal knowledge and interdisciplinary skills needed to address global environmental challenges. The course explores how law can be used to promote sustainability, protect human rights, and support climate justice. Students learn about international legal frameworks, environmental impact assessments, and policy-making processes that influence how resources are used and managed. The course connects to SDG 12 by training future legal and policy experts to shape regulations that reduce environmental harm, promote sustainable resource use, and hold industries accountable. Through legal tools and advocacy, graduates are prepared to influence systems that ensure production and consumption are fair, ethical, and environmentally sound.
Sustainability through waste reduction in clinical skills teaching
Initiatives are in place to reduce the carbon footprint associated with clinical skills teaching within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport. Through recycling, reusing, minimising waste generated from clinical skills sessions and reducing waste sent for incineration we aim to increase sustainability. Additionally, the associated reduction of waste sent for incineration, will contribute to lower carbon emissions. Our activity also heightens awareness amongst staff and healthcare students regarding the importance of reducing waste within healthcare practice. Much of our efforts are centred around the sorting of simulated clinical waste to reclaim and reuse items such as syringes, dressing packs, interconnects, one-use blood tube holders and IV fluids bags (which we refill and reseal repeatedly).
University operations
Sustainable marketing materials
Most of the University’s marketing print publications are printed on environmentally friendly materials which come from sustainable forests. Where possible, we have ceased production of sizable print documents such as the postgraduate prospectus.
It is now produced as an accessible document on the website, allowing international audiences to access it, thereby eliminating freight and print. Where possible, exhibition materials such as roller banners are reskinned using the same hardware to reduce waste.
Sustainable waste and recycling
A key theme of the University’s Sustainability Plan 2022-2028 is to minimise the environmental impact of waste by promoting a circular economy and better separation of waste, reuse, recycling, and reprocessing.
This includes a range of initiatives to reduce waste mass by 50% by 2030 including better waste separation facilities, maintaining a 100% landfill avoidance strategy for all commercial waste, eliminating all single-use plastic in campus catering outlets and increasing awareness of recycling through communication campaigns and clear signage.
Civic engagement
Keep Scotland Beautiful
Scotland’s International Environment Centre is working with Keep Scotland Beautiful to develop a litter detection tool and web application that categorises litter by type and brand. The innovation will support the organisation with Scottish Government monitoring, reporting and charging. SIEC was established as part of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.
The National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH)
Part of the University’s Institute of Aquaculture (IoA), NATIH will lead the development and deployment of the new technologies and systems required to support growth in the production of aquatic food for human consumption while reducing the impact on natural resources.
NATIH is funded by a £17 million investment by the UK Government through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, as well as a £1 million Wolfson Foundation grant.