The World Business Council for Sustainable Development released a report that takes stock of recent developments and trends in global consumption patterns. It presents an overview of documented facts and trends on the relationship between business activities, consumer behavior, and environmental and social challenges.

The primary purpose of this report is to stimulate further discussion among businesses and to be used in dialogue with stakeholders. Data comes from a variety of sources, including intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, academics, consumer groups and businesses. Published in November 2008, using the best data available at the time, this document is both broad in scope and incredibly detailed. A must read for anyone seeking to fully grasp the role of business in our evolving world, and an ideal lunch time distraction for business leaders.

Main areas of study include:

• Global drivers of consumption
• Global Consumption patterns & impacts
• Role of consumer
• Role of business
• The challenge ahead & options for change

This 40 page report has been developed by the WBCSD’s Business Role Focus Area and members of the Consumers & Sustainable Consumption workstream: Adidas, BCSD Argentina, Coca-Cola, EDF, General Motors, Henkel, Interface, KPMG, Nokia, Pakistan State Oil, Philips, Procter & Gamble, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sony, Teijin, Umicore and Weyerhaeuser.

The Business Role Focus Area aims to engage, equip and mobilize business leaders to demonstrate the evolving role of business in a sustainable society. Dialogues with stakeholders around the world have confirmed that society expects business to act, and that leading businesses of the future will be those with products and services that address society’s most urgent challenges.

Read the report >

Tags: consumerism, grassroots sustainability, green business, shopping, sustainable business