Unsustainable consumption is one of the main causes of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published two briefings that examine the evolution of consumption in Europe and highlight opportunities for a more circular and sustainable consumption: “Environmental and climate pressures from household consumption in Europe” and “Conditions and pathways to sustainable and circular consumption in Europe.” According to the EEA, the current consumption trends in Europe are unsustainable because “efficiency gains in the production value chain do not appear to be enough to compensate for the incresing consumption levels in the long run,” resulting in many ecosystems being already under pressure beyond their regeneration capacity. To reverse this trend and achieve sustainable consumption in Europe, it is necessary to “deeply transform the consumption patterns” towards a circular model.

The EEA has analyzed domestic consumption trends in Europe for the period 2000-2019 and the impacts of this consumption on climate and the environment throughout the value chain, including resource extraction, production and processing, transportation, consumption, and waste management. The main findings are that household consumption in Europe increased by 26% between 2000 and 2019, and most of the environmental pressures caused by this consumption did not significantly change. While greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants have decreased, the use of natural resources has either increased or remained stable.

A sustainable and circular consumption

To address this situation and reduce the negative impacts of our consumption, the EEA briefings outline that reduced pressures and impacts can be achieved by shifting consumption to products and services that use less materials or renewable and recycled resources; by consuming less through, for example, longer product lifespans or sharing models that can reduce the demand for new products; and by scaling up circular product design that enables longer use and easier repairs, reuse and recycling. To achieve this goal, the Agency states that “strong policies, new business models, and changes in consumption patterns” are necessary.

You can download the EEA’s briefings here: