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

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] Less than 9% of 9 billion MT ever produced are recycled, and if plastic consumption and waste management remain as it is currently, 12 billion MT of plastics will be released in the environment by the year 2050, most of which will come from plastic packaging. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Current cumulative plastic production has risen above 8 billion MT worldwide and is expected to progressively increase in the coming decades. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Increasingly severe and unpredictable weather events around the globe will continue to disrupt agricultural production, creating supply challenges. Dalhousie University
• [New] In 2026, AI-assisted content creation will move from novelty to core infrastructure, enabling athletes, creators, and small teams to match the speed and quality of professional production workflows. Shotcaller
• [New] There will be fiscal sweeteners ahead of 2026 licensing rounds and elections, fiscal stability legislation could become more common, there could be new terms for incremental production and mature assets, with direct negotiations and other hybrid offerings on the rise. Offshore Energy
• [New] The wine world in 2026 anticipates a rise in nonalcoholic and sparkling wines, with younger generations driving consumption. Economic Times
• [New] Industry analysis suggests that achieving the 100 GW target necessitates approximately 12,000-15,000 tonnes of natural uranium annually by 2047, representing a significant increase from current consumption levels. Discovery Alert
• [New] We expect to see more vertical integration in 2026, as defence primes acquire smaller specialized firms in the semiconductor and rare-earth processing spaces to ensure production resilience. FinancialContent
• [New] The combination of premium pricing and stable projected growth suggests attractive revenue potential, particularly as organic food consumption rises globally. openpr
• [New] The African Union's transition from the Malabo CAADP Agenda to the new Kampala Agenda (2026-2035) emphasizes building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems and boosting intra-African agricultural production. ExportFocus Africa
• [New] The planned fertilizer plant in Ethiopia, backed by one of Africa's richest investors, could significantly expand regional fertilizer supply, reduce costs, and strengthen maize, wheat, and other crop production. ExportFocus Africa
• [New] By 2025's end, VFX could become as accessible as an iPhone app, democratizing high-quality production but challenging established studios. WebProNews
• [New] Production at the Sakarya Gas Field will double in 2026, meeting the gas needs of 8 million households domestically, about 7.5 billion cubic meters. CEENERGYNEWS
• [New] Huawei's confidence in its chip portfolio is clearly growing and it plans to double production of the top-end Ascend 910 C chips in 2026. Light Reading
• [New] The expansion in Bangpakong strengthens regional supply capabilities in Asia, while a new APG production line in Cincinnati, scheduled for completion in 2026, will further enhance capacity in North America. Chemical Engineering
• [New] Emerging regions offer substantial opportunities due to increasing investments in local EV production and infrastructure development, particularly across the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Precedence Research
• [New] The PPP government in Guyana will continue to reap the economic benefits of expanding oil production and associated secondary investment. IndraStra Global
• [New] OPEC + will avoid aggressive production hikes in 2026, given persistent oversupply concerns. Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Governments will focus on stimulating domestic growth - for instance, Indonesia's new administration is raising public welfare spending to boost consumption while hedging against global volatility. The Diplomatic Insight
• [New] Public companies are set to defend maintenance production to avoid an outright decline and could opt for lowering payout ratios, hoping to gain operational and overhead synergies from M&A activity to offset full-cycle costs. investing.com
• [New] By 2030, global data center power consumption could surge by an astounding 160% to 175% above 2023 levels. Leo Wang's Blog

Last updated: 05 January 2026