Production and Consumption Patterns: Sociale Justice and Products Policy
In 2008, the European Union adopted a plan of action for sustainable production and consumption (SPC). This largely relates to the environmental dimension of SPC, without dealing much with the social dimension. The aim is to draw attention to the social component of SPC at both European and international levels (CSD, UN). This informal gathering will also draw a parallel between the use of social ‘life-cycle analysis’ tools currently under development, together with the more advanced environmental tools.
In 2008, the European Union adopted a plan of action for sustainable production and consumption (SPC).This action plan by and large relates to the environmental dimension of SPC, without dealing much with the social dimension.During this informal meeting, the Belgian Presidency wishes to identify the policy action guidelines to strengthen the social dimension of SPC initiatives.
The event will focus both on global political analysis and the specific examples underlining their benefits (and costs) related with integrating the social dimension of SPC, as part of products policy.
The target is to come up with recommendations which will make a useful contribution to European and international debate, for example the UN’s adoption in 2011 of a 10 year SPC framework programme.
This informal gathering will close with three workshops dedicated to three specific tools and will underline the lessons encountered which may be drawn from it.These include:
- environmental life-cycle analysis:(relatively advanced stage) the workshop will focus on communicating their results to consumers;
- social life-cycle analysis:(initial phase) this workshop will focus on the content and related processes;
- On the social responsibility of enterprise, which also includes the value chain.This workshop will broach the question of value-chain management, so that the sphere of influence may be defined, and how an enterprise can influence this chain by proposing sustainable products and services.
On 6/10/2010 from 14:00-21:00.
On 7/10/2010 from 09:30-18:00.