Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research and knowledge exchange, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.

Research and impact

The University advances SDG 12 through innovative research on circular economy models, sustainable business, and ethical supply chains (12.2, 12.5, 12.6). A central focus is rethinking linear production systems by developing strategies that extend product lifecycles through reuse, repair, recycling, and resource-sharing (12.2, 12.5). This research generates practical solutions to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency. The Management School’s Centre for Sustainable Business leads in this area, exploring how organisations can integrate sustainability into operations, minimise unnecessary consumption, and adopt circular practices. The Centre’s Responsible Consumption and Circularity theme examines how businesses and consumers can shift towards sustainable models that reduce reliance on finite resources and prevent unnecessary waste (12.2, 12.6). Liverpool researchers are also shaping policy and corporate practice. Work on modern slavery and supply chain reporting influenced the UK Government’s updated Modern Slavery Guidance Reform, encouraging companies to strengthen ethical production standards, increase transparency, and promote responsible sourcing globally (12.6).

Education and student experience

The University advances SDG 12 in education and student experience through curriculum design, engagement activities, and innovation opportunities (12.2, 12.5, 12.6, 12.8). Academic programmes embed responsible consumption principles, with modules such as Consumer Behaviour and Environmental Science (12.8). The Sustainable Business MSc equips graduates with the skills to integrate sustainability into corporate strategy, advancing sustainable production and consumption (12.6, 12.8). The Guild of Students plays a central role in promoting behavioural change, from energy-saving and recycling initiatives in student residences to recycling audits, sustainable crafting workshops, food growing projects, litter picks, and the Student Switch Off campaign (12.5, 12.6). The flagship Leave Liverpool Tidy campaign diverted approximately 35.9 tonnes of waste from landfill in 2024/25, raising £67,395 for the British Heart Foundation through 911 donated items from halls and 4,493 collected bags (12.5, 12.6). Student innovation is also supported through the Maker Space, where learners design and build products using recycled or repurposed materials. This hands-on experience fosters creativity, resource efficiency, and circular economy thinking (12.2, 12.5, 12.6).

Sustainable campus and operations

The University advances SDG 12 through sustainable procurement, waste reduction, hazardous waste management, and circular economy initiatives (12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.8). The Responsible and Sustainable Procurement Policy embeds sustainability into purchasing, requiring a minimum 10% sustainability weighting in tenders and supplier engagement via the NETpositive Tool (12.6). Our Waste Management Plan sets out a hierarchy approach to prevention, reuse, recycling, and recovery, underpinned by ISO 14001 accreditation and external auditing (12.5, 12.6). Throughout 2025, we reduced general waste by 67.12 tonnes compared with the previous year and achieving a total reduction of 650.87 tonnes (48.1%) since 2021 (12.5). This was supported through the launch of Warp It, which has saved 14 tonnes of waste and 52 tonnes of CO₂e to date, alongside £117,095 in resource value. In addition, the Uni Green Scheme collected 1.7 tonnes of redundant laboratory equipment for reuse and resale (12.5). The Sustainable Food Policy introduced food waste recycling across catering and residences, diverting more than 125 tonnes of food waste from landfill since September 2023, alongside commitments to local, seasonal, and plant-forward sourcing (12.2, 12.5, 12.6). Hazardous and electronic wastes are managed under strict compliance, with accredited contractors ensuring safe disposal and reuse wherever possible (12.4). Over 150 laboratories participate in the LEAF framework, with 99% accredited at Bronze, Silver, or Gold. (12.2, 12.6). Our Sustainable Event Guidance further embeds low-waste principles into campus activities, reinforcing a culture of responsible consumption (12.5, 12.6).

Case studies

Advancing sustainable bioplastics

In 2024, researchers from the University of Liverpool and the University of Georgia launched a pioneering international project to advance sustainable bioplastics through ultrasonic treatment technology, directly supporting SDG 12.

The project, Sustainable Bioplastics Prepared by Ultrasonic Treatment with Low CO₂ Footprint, seeks to revolutionise manufacturing by cutting carbon emissions and energy consumption compared to conventional plastics. It contributes to Target 12.4 by promoting environmentally sound management of chemical processes, and Target 12.5 by valorising waste biomass into new materials.

Funded by UKRI EPSRC (£670k) and the US NSF ($557k), the team is developing biodegradable plastics from agricultural, pulp, paper, and biofuel industry waste streams. These sustainable polymers can be applied in food packaging, textiles, and construction, supporting circular economy principles and reducing reliance on fossil-based plastics.

Building on a decade-long collaboration, the partnership unites expertise in ultrasonic cavitation and polymer chemistry, ensuring strong foundations and global credibility. Engagement with industry partners and policymakers ensures real-world relevance and positions the research for commercial scaling.

The project is committed to transparent reporting of outcomes and environmental impacts (12.6), with planned validation of industrial up-scaling. By turning waste into value-added materials with a lower carbon footprint, the research exemplifies the University of Liverpool’s leadership in sustainable innovation, contributing measurable benefits to the environment and the green economy.

New sustainable event planning guidance

The University introduced a new Sustainable Events Guidance, a resource to help event organisers incorporate sustainability into event planning, management, and evaluation. The guide, developed with input from university staff and EDI experts, includes a checklist and resources to ensure sustainability principles are applied to events of all sizes and themes. It aims to inspire staff, students, and societies to lead by example and reduce the environmental impact of their events. The guidance highlights key considerations such as venue selection, focusing on facilities, waste management, and accessibility; transportation, promoting venues accessible by public or active travel to reduce the carbon footprint; food and beverage choices, encouraging locally sourced, plant-based options; and merchandise, urging organisers to question the necessity and environmental impact of promotional items. The guide is tailored for University of Liverpool staff but is also valuable for students and external partners.

Master’s students #LeadingTheWay in sustainability

A team of MSc Project Management students from the University of Liverpool's Management School reached the final round of the Association for Project Management (APM) Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Project Management Challenge. The team, consisting of Sagar Datrange, Aditi Gaikwad, Rakhi Hiremath, and Shubham Kadam, saw the challenge as an opportunity to drive positive societal change while advancing their studies. With support from their Director of Studies, Dr. Jennifer Davies, and other faculty members, the team managed a project focused on Student Waste Prevention, aligned with the Leave Liverpool Tidy initiative. Their activities included waste management workshops, social media campaigns, and litter clean-ups, aiming to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability within the university community. The team sees this project as a vital step toward their career goals, equipping them with essential skills for the corporate world while contributing to societal and environmental well-being. Dr. Davies praised their dedication, noting that their success in reaching the final demonstrates the practical application of their studies and enhances their employability. The team presented their project to the APM panel in June 2024, showcasing how their hands-on experience is preparing them to be future project leaders.

Overcoming challenges in sustainable plastic packaging

A University of Liverpool-led project, in collaboration with the University of Manchester, Unilever, and IPL Brightgreen, has been tackling the challenges of producing more sustainable plastic packaging for fast-moving consumer goods. The three-year initiative focuses on increasing the use of recycled resins in packaging without compromising quality and performance. The team have developed a framework to understand the economic, social, and environmental impacts of circular supply chains for recycled plastics. This Natural Environment Research Council-funded project aims to create smarter, sustainable packaging by 2025, reducing plastic pollution through cleaner supply chains. Despite the benefits of thermoplastics, such as their durability and low weight, the recycling of petroleum-based plastics is limited due to quality degradation during the recycling process. Challenges include the higher cost of recycled resins and the difficulty in maintaining performance with increased recycled content. The research also addresses supply chain disruptions, including sorting complexities and maintaining supply of specific plastic grades. The project aims to develop a profiling framework to assess how different recycled plastic configurations perform under various scenarios. This framework will help define industry-led quality standards, increase the market value of recycled plastics, and support the development of standardized tests for post-consumer recyclates (PCR). Ultimately, the project seeks to overcome the economic and technical barriers to using recycled plastics, promoting more sustainable packaging solutions in the FMCG sector

Advancing sustainability in manufacturing

The University of Liverpool became a key partner in the £11 million Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (SCHEMA), a research initiative led by the University of Oxford. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and supported by £22 million in partner commitments, SCHEMA aims to revolutionise the design, production, and recycling of chemicals and polymers, moving away from virgin petrochemicals and enhancing recycling rates. Liverpool’s involvement is spearheaded by researchers from the Department of Chemistry and the Materials Innovation Factory. The work focuses on developing digital tools to create sustainable materials, contributing to broader efforts to achieve net zero. The Liverpool team will utilise the university’s automated and digital discovery capabilities to identify new, sustainable manufacturing pathways and evaluate catalysts for industrial use. SCHEMA also involves researchers from the Universities of Bath, Cardiff, York, and Cambridge, collaborating across sustainable chemistry, process engineering, polymer science, and digital technologies. The research emphasises the importance of achieving net zero emissions in the chemical industry, which underpins many essential sectors. SCHEMA is one of five EPSRC-funded hubs aimed at fostering innovation and sustainability in manufacturing.