Promote sustainability-driven innovation4 and knowledge and the integration of Best Available Techniques (BATs) and Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) through the entire value chain of goods production, including the upstream and downstream flows of resources and waste, paying particular attention to the life-cycle of manufactured goods.
Promote innovation and use BATs and BEPs including (but not limited to) environmental performance; human protection (toxic free products and manufacturing processes), resource efficiency, renewable energy, in the manufacturing of goods and the provision of alternative services.
Promote innovation and use BATs and BEPs to implement the waste management hierarchy and encourage closed loop material cycles. This should consider toxics elimination, product durability, reparability and dematerialization and should include the encouragement of green sector value chains by the establishment of industrial recycling and remanufacturing networks connecting companies generating wastes with those recycling it.
Promote, use and develop tools such as eco-design, Life Cycle Management, risk assessment of chemicals, substitution of hazardous chemicals, and Cradle to Cradle to facilitate the sustainable design and production of manufactured goods. This should include the formulation and promotion of a related research and development agenda and the compilation of best practice cases.
Create green businesses and jobs in sustainable goods manufacturing and recycling/refurbishment and alternative services such as switching from a product ownership to a Service Systems and lease based economy (“servicizing”), social businesses and other innovative business approaches.
Objective II
Develop integrated policy making and the legal framework to promote sustainable consumption, production and recovery in the goods manufacturing sector with the aim to move towards a circular economy.
Develop an institutional framework to encourage integrated national and local decision making through the involvement, collaboration and coordination of relevant stakeholders including governmental bodies, industries and civil society for improved integrated policy making (national and local) using life cycle thinking and forward looking decision making for the sustainable production, consumption and recovery of manufactured goods including an enforcement and assessment system.
Create at regional level an effective policy and regulatory framework for the reuse, repair, recycling and recovery of manufactured goods (waste management hierarchy) based on lifecycle techniques and the promotion of extended producer responsibility. This should include the set-up of a frame for decent jobs in repair, refurbishment, recycling and waste management considering the role of the formal and informal sectors along with their respective needs for training, health and safety and livelihood.
Promote full cost accounting8 and market base instruments (MBI) which favour sustainable goods and alternative services taking account of renewable energy use; eco-innovation; and support of green entrepreneurs and green jobs. This would also include financial and tax based mechanisms to encourage relative sustainable goods production9 and practices, and discourage unsustainable goods consumption.
Promote and adopt Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) schemes for manufactured goods based on agreed standards.
Support existing institutions or create new ones that can help enterprises to implement Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Ecolabels, facilitate hazardous chemicals substitution, sustainability reports, and support the creation of the necessary accreditation and certification bodies.
Objective III
Educate and raise awareness of consumers and other stakeholders and support the development of market structures, increasing the visibility and market share of sustainably manufactured, used and disposed-of goods and alternative services.
Establish and promote certification schemes (eco-labels) for manufactured goods and alternatives services in the country; promote related activities like voluntary agreements between retailers and public authorities to promote sustainable products.
Educate and inform stakeholders (consumers, policy and decision makers, producers, retailers, academia) about sustainable production and consumption of manufactured goods and alternative services including information relating to Ecolabels, local/regional products, waste hierarchy, ecological footprint accounting, Life Cycle Assessment, external cost, corporate sustainability reporting and other approaches.
Demonstrate and publicize the economic, environmental and social benefits of sustainably manufactured goods and alternative services using appropriate media outlets. Particular emphasis should be given to promoting the economic and business case for individual categories of manufactured goods (or alternative service provision), emphasizing the benefits to consumers, the private sector and the environment.
Improve education on sustainable production and consumption of manufactured goods and alternative services by reviewing and updating primary, secondary and tertiary educational curricula in relation to issues such as engineering processes, design, marketing, advertising, economy (including business schools), chemistry, health, education, social and environmental impacts of products and services.
