Ethical Issues in Responsible Consumption and Production by JiaYi ZHENG

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 14:56:38 UTC

This Padlet critically explores the business ethics issue of unequal sustainable consumption behavior adoption—a challenge where post-disruption behavioral shifts toward sustainability remain limited to pre-existing sustainable consumers, while most individuals retain unsustainable habits. It analyzes two peer-reviewed journal articles: A systemic view of sustainable consumption behaviour in the context of disruption (Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al., 2025) and The choice of sustainable coproduction technology in a supply chain (Jin et al., 2025), both linked to UN SDG 12 (“Responsible Consumption and Production”). Ethics is foundational in business, as it bridges profit motives with societal and environmental well-being—without ethical frameworks, businesses may prioritize short-term gains over resource equity, waste reduction, or equitable access to sustainable options, undermining SDG 12’s goal of balancing human needs and planetary health.

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:00:49 UTC

Article 1: A systemic view of sustainable consumption behaviour in the context of disruption (Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al., 2025)

This study uses Rasch Modelling to explore sustainable consumption behavior (SCB) among 1,005 New Zealand consumers post-major disruption (e.g., COVID-19). It constructs a Hierarchy of Sustainable Consumption Behaviours Post-Disruption (HSCB-PD) and segments consumers into Innovators/Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. Key findings include: (1) only high-SCB groups (Innovators/Early Adopters) increased sustainable behaviors post-disruption, while Laggards (18% of respondents) showed no change; (2) psychological factors (self-transcendence values, eco-literacy) strongly predicted SCB, while demographics (age, income) did not; (3) most consumers (66–91%) retained pre-disruption habits. This links to SDG 12 by highlighting barriers to widespread responsible consumption—SDG 12’s targets (e.g., reducing waste, enhancing consumer awareness) cannot be met if only a small segment adopts sustainable behaviors, emphasizing the need for systemic interventions to engage all consumer groups.

Utilitarianism

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:02:38 UTC

Utilitarianism, a consequentialist theory, holds that actions are ethical if they maximize overall utility (well-being) for the “greatest number” (Mill, 1863). It aligns with the sustainable consumption ethics issue by framing responsible consumption/production as a means to optimize resource allocation—e.g., reducing food waste (SDG 12 target) ensures more people access resources, increasing total utility. Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al. (2025) reflect utilitarian goals: engaging all consumer segments in SCB would maximize environmental and social utility (e.g., less pollution, equitable resource use), but current behavior gaps mean utility remains limited to a small group. Jin et al. (2025) further illustrate utilitarian trade-offs: coproduction boosts utility for green consumers and supply chains when demand is balanced, but excessive green demand increases waste, reducing overall utility. Critically, utilitarianism often overlooks intergenerational equity, but SDG 12 addresses this—its sustainability focus ensures current consumption does not compromise future generations’ utility (e.g., avoiding overuse of raw materials), correcting utilitarianism’s short-term bias. SDG 12.8 (consumer education) also advances utilitarian goals by empowering consumers to make choices that benefit collective well-being.

Virtue Ethics

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:03:19 UTC

Virtue ethics, centered on character and moral virtues (Aristotle, 350 BCE), emphasizes fostering traits like responsibility and justice in actors. For sustainable consumption, it applies to consumers (cultivating “sustainable virtues” like frugality) and businesses (prioritizing integrity over profit). Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al. (2025) note that Innovators/Early Adopters exhibit virtues like environmental consciousness, while Laggards lack such traits—highlighting the need to nurture virtues via education (SDG 12.8). Jin et al. (2025) show that suppliers acting virtuously (avoiding excessive price hikes) could enable manufacturers to adopt coproduction, advancing SDG 12. Virtue ethics complements utilitarianism by focusing on who we should be (not just what actions maximize utility), ensuring sustainable behaviors stem from intrinsic values rather than external incentives.

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:04:01 UTC

UN Environment Programme (2023). Sustainable Consumption Report: Closing the Behavior GapThis report offers global data on consumer SCB gaps, providing strategies (e.g., policy incentives, corporate transparency) to engage all segments. It links to SDG 12 by expanding on Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al.’s (2025) findings, offering actionable steps to meet SDG 12.3 and 12.6. URL: https://www.unep.org/resources/sustainable-consumption-report-2023

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:04:12 UTC

This Padlet links the ethical issue of unequal sustainable consumption to SDG 12 via two journal articles and two ethical theories. Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al. (2025) highlights consumer behavior gaps, while Jin et al. (2025) explores supply chain trade-offs—both show SDG 12’s success depends on systemic change (engaging all consumers, equitable supply chains). Utilitarianism frames sustainable consumption as a utility-maximizing goal, corrected by SDG 12’s intergenerational focus, while virtue ethics emphasizes nurturing sustainable traits. Globally, this issue matters because SDG 12 is critical to climate action—unsustainable consumption drives 60% of global emissions (UNEP, 2023). In Australia, where 30% of food is wasted (Department of Agriculture, 2022), addressing consumer behavior gaps can reduce landfill and food insecurity. Locally, community campaigns (e.g., zero-waste workshops) can engage Laggards, aligning with SDG 12 and utilitarian goals of collective well-being. Without addressing these gaps, SDG 12’s vision of responsible consumption/production will remain unfulfilled.

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:05:01 UTC

Aristotle. (350 BCE). Nicomachean ethics (W. D. Ross, Trans.). Oxford University Press.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. (2022). National food waste strategy. Australian Government. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/food/food-security/food-waste

Ganglmair-Wooliscroft, A., Bulmer, S., Palakshappa, N., & Dodds, S. (2025). A systemic view of sustainable consumption behaviour in the context of disruption. Journal of Marketing Management, 41(1–2), 147–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2025.2474123

Jin, M., Li, B., Qiu, X., Yang, F., & Nie, J. (2025). The choice of sustainable coproduction technology in a supply chain. International Journal of Production Research, 63(3), 1088–1104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2024.2370516

Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism. Parker, Son, and Bourn.

Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An overview of the Schwartz theory of basic values. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1116

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2023). Sustainable consumption report: Closing the behavior gap. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/resources/sustainable-consumption-report-2023

World Economic Forum. (2024). Supply chain sustainability: Coproduction best practices. WEF. https://www.weforum.org/reports/supply-chain-sustainability-2024

SDG

s8123003 — 2025-09-29 15:28:48 UTC

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global action framework to address environmental, social, and economic challenges, aiming for shared prosperity of humans and the planet by 2030. Comprising 17 interconnected goals, they cover key areas like poverty eradication and ecological protection, forming an integrated system for sustainable development.

s8123003 — 2025-10-02 13:31:25 UTC

Article 2: The choice of sustainable coproduction technology in a supply chain (Jin et al., 2025)

Focusing on supply chain dynamics, this game-theoretical study models a raw material supplier and a manufacturer using coproduction (converting leftover materials into low-quality “coproducts”). It finds: (1) manufacturers benefit from coproduction only if green consumer segments are very small or very large—moderate segments lead to suppliers raising wholesale prices, eroding manufacturer profits; (2) coproduction creates a “win-win” for suppliers and manufacturers when green consumer demand is high (suppliers increase prices, manufacturers boost sales); (3) coproduction harms the environment if green demand is excessive (higher raw material consumption and waste). This aligns with SDG 12’s focus on sustainable production—SDG 12.2 (sustainable resource use) and 12.6 (consumer awareness) require balancing coproduction’s efficiency with environmental impacts, while 12.9 (supporting developing countries) echoes the study’s caution about equitable supply chain costs.

s8123003 — 2025-10-02 13:34:58 UTC

World Economic Forum (2024). Supply Chain Sustainability: Coproduction Best PracticesFocused on supply chain ethics, this resource outlines guidelines for equitable coproduction (e.g., fair pricing, environmental checks). It supports Jin et al.’s (2025) “win-win” findings, helping businesses align coproduction with SDG 12.2 and 12.9. URL: https://www.weforum.org/reports/supply-chain-sustainability-2024

s8123003 — 2025-10-02 13:35:08 UTC

Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic ValuesThis article explains self-transcendence values (universalism, benevolence), which Ganglmair-Wooliscroft et al. (2025) identify as key SCB drivers. It links to SDG 12 by showing how value-based education can foster sustainable behaviors, advancing SDG 12.8. URL: https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1116

SDG12

s8123003 — 2025-10-02 14:10:03 UTC

SDG 12 ("Responsible Consumption and Production") targets optimizing resource use, reducing waste, and enhancing supply chain transparency. It addresses overconsumption, waste surges, and supply chain inequities in traditional models, balancing human needs with planetary resource protection to support climate action and poverty alleviation.

Impact

s8123003 — 2025-10-02 14:10:15 UTC

Uneven sustainable consumption adoption (from 1.pdf) and coproduction supply chain challenges (from 3.pdf) hinder SDG 12 implementation. The former limits progress on targets like waste reduction (12.3); the latter, if unregulated, increases waste, violating resource efficiency (12.2). Low eco-literacy and unfair supply chain costs (linked to 12.6, 12.9) also require interventions to advance SDG 12.