Circular Economy and Sustainable Consumption in the Context of SDG 12

This volume offers sustainability science students, educators, and practitioners an integrated perspective on circular economy principles within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) of the 2030 Agenda. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing responsible consumption and production patterns across sectors, emphasizing systemic approaches that go beyond traditional industrial models.

The book also presents strategic pathways for decoupling economic growth from resource overuse, offering actionable insights into reducing material intensity, improving energy efficiency, and embedding cleaner production principles throughout the value chain. It highlights the role of Industry 4.0 technologies—such as IoT, AI, blockchain, and digital twins—in enabling traceability, lifecycle optimization, and circular supply chains, accelerating progress toward SDG 12.

In addition to technical strategies, the book addresses the cultural and behavioral challenge of downshifting consumerism, examining how impulsive consumption patterns and extractivist logics undermine sustainability efforts. It explores pathways to foster life-cycle thinking, ethical awareness, and generational engagement—particularly among Millennials and Gen Z—whose values and expectations are reshaping markets and organizational practices.

Structured in seven interconnected chapters, the text combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, addressing cultural transformation, organizational leadership, and digital innovation as critical enablers of circularity. Readers will gain tools for designing regenerative business models, implementing circular strategies at macro, meso, and micro levels, and fostering competencies such as systems thinking, creativity, and ethical responsibility.

Designed for academic courses and professional development, this book serves as a resource for students, professors, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to operationalize circular economy principles. By bridging research and practice, it empowers stakeholders to drive systemic change toward a sustainable future where prosperity aligns with ecological integrity and social well-being.