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Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

The University of Wollongong is committed to working towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its governance, teaching and learning, community engagement, partnerships and research. The following initiatives are by UOW staff and students working towards Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Teaching & learning

2,318 students studying this goal 5,668 students studying subjects about this goal

Advocacy & outreach

257 media articles about this goal 491 media articles about this goal
audience reach 512 Million audience reach across multiple outlets

Research

*2023 SciVal figures accessed Jul/Aug 2024

47.8% of publications had international collaboration 60.9% of publications had international collaboration
3 citations per publication (global average 2.3) 6 citations per publication (global average 3.9)
17.4% publications in the Top 10% most cited 29.6% publications in the Top 10% most cited

Case studies

Researchers from the UOW-based Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), led by food systems senior research fellow Dr Tom Brewer, have developed the Pacific Food Trade Database to assist regional analysis and decision making. 
 
Food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture are one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and are central to a healthy future for Pacific Island countries and territories.  
 
Information held within the database can inform high-level policy making and decisions about food production, impact of trade agreements, diet-related health outcomes and regional food security. The database will be used by national governments across the Pacific and by regional trade, agriculture, health and coordination bodies. 
 
The database has already revealed several important findings including growing import dependence, particularly of wheat, rice and meat for food security, and an alarming increase in the volume of highly processed food being imported from East and Southeast Asia. 

  • SDG 3 – Good health and Wellbeing
  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production 

Learn more about the Pacific food database

A new collaboration on regenerative farming between researchers from the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, UOW and local industry leaders is looking at how Indigenous, community and economic values can inform the emerging seaweed farming sector and evolving shellfish farming in waters off the south coast of NSW. 
 
Regenerative farming is considered one of the most sustainable forms of aquaculture on the planet. It involves the natural environment providing the inputs needed for growth, allowing stock to grow on its own using natural food sources and conditions. 
 
Today, shellfish farming dominates Australia’s regenerative farming footprint. However, Australia’s coastal waters are home to thousands of native seaweed species and offer the potential for a thriving seaweed industry. 
 
This collaborative research project will work alongside community, Indigenous rights holders and other marine estate users to understand what matters to them when it comes to growing the blue economy. It will also examine the potential to further develop regenerative farming in the waters off the south coast of NSW, including optimising marine space through the co-location of seaweed and shellfish on the same sites.  

  • SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 14 – Life Below Water
  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals 

Discover seaweed and shellfish farming off the NSW coast

National Circularity Centre, Bega Valley

A new, multi-purpose tourism, community and research hub, the National Circularity Centre (NCC) will be built in the Bega Valley on the NSW South Coast, to develop market-leading research and demonstrate replicable models for the circular economy.

The Centre will keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, before recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their life.

The University of Wollongong, through its membership of the Regional Circularity Cooperative (RCC), will be a driving partner to establish the Centre, bringing research expertise in energy, materials innovation and sustainable building practices.

The NCC will be a test case for scalable solutions with potential for world-wide application. It will offer business and edu-tourism opportunities where visitors can see solutions they can implement in their own workplaces and homes.

Let's create a more circular region

A new, multi-purpose tourism, community and research hub, the National Circularity Centre (NCC) will be built in the Bega Valley on the NSW South Coast, to develop market-leading research and demonstrate replicable models for the circular economy.

The Centre will keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, before recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of their life.

The University of Wollongong, through its membership of the Regional Circularity Cooperative (RCC), will be a driving partner to establish the Centre, bringing research expertise in energy, materials innovation and sustainable building practices.

The NCC will be a test case for scalable solutions with potential for world-wide application. It will offer business and edu-tourism opportunities where visitors can see solutions they can implement in their own workplaces and homes.

Let's create a more circular region

Waste Minimisation of Plastics and Disposable Items

UOW strives to drive behaviours that create a circular economy to reduce the overall amount of waste generated. Our waste management prioritises reducing, reusing, recycling and, where there is no other feasible option, the proper disposal of waste.

Under the guidance of our Purchasing and Procurement Policy, UOW prioritises the purchase of assets and products that are made of recycled materials or can be reused or recycled at end-of-life, and avoid the purchase of single use (disposable) items and plastics. This is outlined in the university’s Waste Management Action Plan.

The Purchasing and Procurement Policy extends to contractors who are either outsourced suppliers or outsourced service providers. As such, the decrease of waste generation must be a shared goal of UOW and that of its suppliers and contractors. This is outlined in our Waste Management Action Plan. Additionally, according to the environmental sustainability principles of our Supplier Code of Conduct, the University prefers to work with suppliers that share the same environmental commitments and goals.

Ethical Sourcing Policy

All purchases and procurements by and for UOW are governed by the Purchasing and Procurement Policy. This includes all food and supplies. It states that all products must be sustainably and responsibly sourced with particular emphasis on the social and environmental impact of the sourcing process, and that workers involved in the procurement process are treated fairly in accordance with Anti-Slavery principles.

In terms of food sourcing, the main caterer of UOW, Aspire, is committed to sustainability and implements sustainable work practices in its operations. Where possible, the fruits and vegetables it purchases are locally sourced from sustainable farms and in close collaboration with Green Connect in the Illawarra, our local region, to improve and deliver sustainable food.

Research groups

Australian Power Quality Research Centre (APQRC)

Partnering with industry, APQRC helps improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply for consumers. They provide training, focusing on enhancing the integration of renewable energy and improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply.

The Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions (CSES)

Focusing on threats to ecosystems, CSES reports on invasive species, disturbances, climate change, and human impact.

ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids

Training the next generation of electrical power engineers with the multidisciplinary skills needed to navigate the rapidly changing energy sector

Latest news for SDG 12

Health and Medicine

Community-run food co-ops can reduce food insecurity and boost healthy diets

Food co-ops are local groups where people join together to buy food in bulk, usually straight from farmers or wholesalers
Business and Economy, Environment and Energy

Here’s who topped the rankings in this year’s scorecard for sustainable chocolate

... and which confectionery giant refused to participate
Community

UOW ranked among world’s best for environmental and social impact

QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 place UOW 98th globally and 13th in Australia
Community

Putting a lid on recycling myths

National Recycling Week (11–17 November) aims to improve recycling knowledge and promote better practices. We asked UOW's Dominique Di Leva to set the record straight on some of the most persistent recycling misconceptions.
Alumni, Environment and Energy

Finding beauty in seaweed and sustainability

“You’ve got to create solutions that work,” says Dr Pia Winberg, a celebrated marine ecologist, entrepreneur and graduate of the University of Wollongong (UOW). Her focus on seaweed and microalgae is not just about products but a mission to address global sustainability challenges.

Research

Turning plastic waste into homewares

In Australia, just 12 per cent of recyclable plastic produced each year is being recycled, and 88 per cent of all possible recyclable plastics ends up in landfill. 

Explore UOW's impact and commitment to each of the goals

Goal 1: No Poverty No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing Good Health and Well-Being
Goal 4: Quality Education Quality Education
Goal 5: Gender Equality Gender Equality
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities Reduced Inequalities
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 13: Climate action Climate Action
Goal 14: Life Below Water Life Below Water
Goal 15: Life on Land Life on Land
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals Partnerships for the Goals