SDG Series – Cooperative contributions to SDG 12 – Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns

The world is off track to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12): ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Material extraction has more than tripled since 1970, while roughly one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. Cooperatives, with their member-owned and community-centred approach, are proving to be powerful partners in bridging this gap, especially in Europe, where they are driving resource efficiency and circularity. This brief was produced by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and COPAC in collaboration with Cooperatives Europe and other ICA regions.

Find the full policy brief here

The Cooperative Difference in Responsible Consumption

Cooperatives prioritize the sustainable development of their communities over short-term profit, making them uniquely effective at internalising environmental and social costs. They empower members to own and manage their value chains, ensuring accountability and long-term stewardship. In Europe, cooperatives lead the transition toward a circular economy, demonstrating how democratic ownership can accelerate progress toward SDG 12

European Success Stories

• Spain: The agri-cooperative Camara Arrossera del Montsià uses its ORYZITE® project to transform rice husks into a sustainable, bio-based material. This project replaces petroleum-based plastics in high-tech sectors like automotive and furniture.

• Italy: The wine cooperative Caviro has developed a “total use” circular model. Nearly all by-products are repurposed into bioenergy, fertilisers, or compounds for the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors, achieving a waste recovery rate of nearly 100%.

• Sweden: Södra, a cooperative of over 50,000 forest owners, created Once More®, the world’s first technology for large-scale recycling of blended-fibre textiles. By separating cotton from polyester, they reintegrate recycled cellulose into textile production.

• Germany: Through programmes like ERDE and PAMIRA, cooperatives supported by Deutscher Raiffeisenverband facilitate the return and recycling of agricultural films, nets, and chemical packaging.

• France: The A.D.I.VALOR initiative establishes a nationwide system for recovering agricultural plastics, collecting over 93,000 tonnes annually with recycling rates exceeding 90%.

• United Kingdom: The Co-operative Group has removed more than 6,600 tonnes of plastic from its own-brand packaging since 2018 and achieved 100% “easy to recycle” packaging status.

   

Find the full policy brief here

Why Cooperatives Matter

• Resource Efficiency: Cooperatives pool resources and enable collective investment in environmentally responsible production methods.

• Waste Reduction: Through recycling and reuse initiatives, cooperatives divert millions of tonnes of material from landfills.

• Transparency: Member-owned models provide greater oversight of sourcing practices, improving traceability from farm to market.

• Accountability: Democratic governance ensures that sustainability is an inherent part of the business logic rather than an isolated initiative.

Recommendations for Policymakers

To harness the full potential of cooperatives in advancing SDG 12, governments and institutions should:

• Integrate cooperatives into national circular economy roadmaps and sustainable food system strategies.

• Update legal frameworks to support cooperative innovation in emerging sectors like recycling and renewable energy.

• Expand access to finance through tailored instruments such as cooperative development funds and blended finance for sustainable technologies.

• Use public procurement to prioritise sustainable and socially responsible suppliers, helping cooperatives stabilise demand for green products.

• Invest in skills and data to help cooperative members manage digital traceability systems and circular business models.

Find the full policy brief here

This article has been co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of  Cooperatives Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.