Our Scans · (LF.12) Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

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In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] In the case of plastic, a global scheme could require producers to hold allowances for each unit of primary polymer they produce, with the number of available allowances falling over time, in line with the targeted limit on production. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] The relatively low number of businesses involved in primary plastic production means that, at the global level, a tax or levy on production might be simpler to administer than one targeted towards later stages of the plastic life cycle, which involve more companies and even consumers. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] A globally agreed levy would be effective in realizing the societal costs of plastic production and could help shift the plastic system towards reuse, recycling and materials substitution. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Across all sectors, System Transformation reduces annual primary plastic production by 14% by 2040 relative to 2025, which falls well short of recent calls for a 40% reduction. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] System Transformation results in 40% fewer plastic production jobs and 6% fewer total jobs compared with BAU in 2040. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] By 2040, System Transformation is associated with an estimated 4.5 million years of healthy life lost, which is 54% below the BAU figure of 9.8 million years, largely as a result of the projected decreases in primary production and open burning. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] By 2040, System Transformation achieves a 38% reduction in annual GHG emissions relative to BAU, mostly from decreased primary plastic production. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] By 2040, annual primary macroplastic production decreases to 390 Mt, a 44% cut versus BAU (680 Mt) and 14% from 2025 (450 Mt). The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] Through the India Semiconductor Mission, the PLI (Performance Linked Incentive) schemes, and capital investment in the development of ATMP facilities, India hopes to emerge as a major force in global semiconductor material production. Bisinfotech
• [New] Amsterdam-headquartered Bright Green Partners, which maintains a network around Europe, named AI in food production the first of eight trends to watch in 2026 for executives, investors, and innovation leaders working in or close to agrifoodtech. AgFunderNews
• [New] Syensqo recently announced it will restart its synthetic vanillin production unit in Saint-Fons, France, by the end of 2025, ensuring greater supply reliability for European customers. CNS Media
• [New] Using the supercritical extraction process could potentially make domestic hop production more efficient and viable in Brazil, which currently grows less than 1% of hops locally despite being the third-largest producer and consumer of beer worldwide. CNS Media
• [New] Quest One is hoping that production of green hydrogen will eventually cost €4 per kilogram - about half of the current price in Germany. BBC News
• [New] Production value for livestock and livestock products is expected to fall from record highs to $40 billion in 2025-26, driven by lower sheep and cattle turn-off. / Australia FTA Freight & Trade Alliance
• [New] We are forecasting continued growth for Australian horticulture, with record production value of $19 billion in 2025-26. FTA Freight & Trade Alliance
• [New] We are forecasting 2025-26 Australian agricultural production to reach $90.7 billion in value ($97.5 billion including fisheries and forestry production), the third highest on record. FTA Freight & Trade Alliance
• [New] Milk receipts are projected to rise by $1.4 billion, increasing from $50.8 billion in 2024 to $52.1 billion in 2025, supported by stronger prices and increased production. American Farm Bureau Federation
• [New] Increasingly unpredictable weather makes UK crop production difficult, and funding is needed for climate adaptation and resilient varieties to protect national food security. Islam Times
• [New] Geopolitical factors influence competition, as regions like California, Turkey, and South Africa dominate production, creating both opportunities and vulnerabilities based on climate, trade policies, and regulatory alignment. Market Data Forecast
• [New] U.S. farmers will account for an estimated 38.4% of global corn exports this marketing year, showing the outstanding production practices of U.S. growers and the strong reputation U.S. corn has with global customer bases. American Ag Network
• [New] Companies like General Motors or Tesla could see continued pressure on their production lines due to component shortages. The Chronicle-Journal
• Low-emissions hydrogen production is still set to see robust growth to 2030, rising from less than 1% of the total today to around 4% by 2030. IEA
• Based on projects with a final investment decision (FID), renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production can reach over 4 Mt by 2030, but they represent only 9% of all announced projects (up from 6% last year). IEA

Last updated: 08 December 2025