Sustainable Consumption and Production. Clarifying the Concepts

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Eco-efficiency, carrying capacity, eco-space, ecological footprints -- these are some of the broad concepts that have been advocated to guide industrial economies towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production. Each concept rests on a specific set of assumptions, offers certain insights and poses particular challenges for policy design and implementation. Each concept also embodies a unique vision of "sustainability". This report explores some of the current debate around six key concepts and examines their potential value in the development and implementation of polices to promote more sustainable consumption and production. The report also summarises the conclusions of an expert workshop held in Norway to examine the concepts with the aim of sharpening the conceptual basis for policy development in OECD countries.