Student AffairsPursuing a career that aligns with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production encourages you to promote sustainable practices in consumption and production. This goal emphasizes resource efficiency and reducing waste. Join efforts to drive sustainability in industries and communities.
The Goal: Responsible Consumption and Production
This goal aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Objectives include achieving sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, halving per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse, and encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycles.
The Work
Achieving SDG 12 requires ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, reducing waste, and promoting resource efficiency. It involves adopting sustainable practices in agriculture, industry, and tourism, and encouraging sustainable lifestyles among consumers. Implementing policies and regulations to reduce waste and pollution, and promoting recycling and reuse are essential. International cooperation and partnerships with the private sector are needed to drive sustainable consumption and production.
The Skills
Below is a list of key skills that are in demand for careers related to SDG 12. While it is not necessary to master all of these skills, familiarity with them can enhance your readiness and competitiveness in the job market
- Sustainable Practices
- Waste Management
- Environmental Science
- Resource Management
- Innovation
- Financial Literacy
- Consumer Education
- Advocacy
- Policy Understanding
- Critical Thinking
Engagement with Queen's and Kingston
You can contribute to SDG 12 by reducing waste, recycling, reusing items, and choosing sustainable products. Supporting businesses with ethical and sustainable practices, participating in local recycling programs, and raising awareness about responsible consumption are impactful ways to make a difference. Educating others about the environmental impact of consumption habits and promoting sustainable lifestyles are essential steps toward achieving this goal.
Clubs at Queen's
Volunteering in Kingston
Past QUIP Internships
- Water & Wastewater Co-op Student
- Student Intern, Supply Chain Management
- Waste Transition Intern
- Distributed Energy Resources Planning - University Co-Op Student
- Co-Op Student - Critical Materials Management
- Asset Management Co-op Student
Sample Undergraduate Courses
- Environmental Chemistry – Specialization (Science)
- ENSC 230 Principles of Sustainability
- ENSC 245 Consuming the Environment
- MECH 424 Sustainable Product Design
- ENSC 445 Waste Flows: Environmental Studies of Waste
- ENSC 330 Applications of Sustainability
- DEVS 352 Technology and Development
- DEVS 356 The Political Economy of Resource Extraction
Sample Graduate Courses
- Collaborative Masters in Applied Sustainability
- MDPM 850 Digital Transformation & Ethical Product Leadership
Career Possibilities
- Waste Management Specialist
- Sustainability Consultant
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager
- Sustainable Supply Chain Manager
- Renewable Energy Engineer
- Resource Management Specialist
- Circular Economy Researcher
- Food Waste Coordinator
- Urban Farmer
- Sustainable Fashion Designer
- Production Operator
- Sustainable Tourism Analyst
Corporations, NGOs, and Government Agencies
Corporations can promote responsible consumption and production by adopting sustainable practices throughout their value chains. This includes reducing waste, minimizing resource use, and promoting recycling and circular economy principles. Companies can develop and market sustainable products and services that meet the needs of consumers while minimizing environmental impact.
By engaging with consumers and raising awareness about sustainable consumption, corporations can drive demand for environmentally friendly products and contribute to more sustainable consumption patterns.
- Canada-wide Strategy and Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste (government program)
- Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP)
- Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF)
- Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Office of Consumer Affairs
