Introduction to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Asia is the first course of this kind, produced specifically for the Asia-Pacific context. There have been three editions so far - in 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively. Through the course, close to 200 key stakeholders from more than 30 countries have been trained. This has led to measurable results and evidence of impact across the continent. The course development and delivery have been supported by the SWITCH-Asia Programme of the European Union.

Learn more about the impact of the course by downloading the course brochure.

During the 2nd and 3rd edition of the courses, small grants of up to 7000 K were awarded to course participants for the implementation of SCP projects developed during the course.

Following interest from other regions UNITAR and UN Environment scaled-up their partnership, with the goal of delivering more dedicated regional training on SCP. In 2016 the e-learning course Introduction to Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Africa was created and delivered in English and French language, training more than 110 stakeholders from over 33 African countries. The course was supported by the SWITCH Africa Green programmes of the European Union.

Learn more about the impact of the course by downloading the course brochure.

With the goal of scaling up learning on the various approaches and tools for SCP in the region, UN Environment and UNITAR are partnering to deliver for the first time the interactive e-learning course Introduction to SCP in Latin America and the Caribbean region: Approaches and Practical Tools. The course will be delivered in parallel in Spanish and English language. The first edition of the course is taking place 2 October – 24 November 2017.

For more information, download the course flyer in English and in Spanish language.

Greening Universities in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, economic development is on the rise. However, this has come at a cost. Consumption has increased and consequently so has waste.

To tackle this issue, two participants from the second edition of the SCP course, Upendra and Uthpala, realized projects aimed at greening Sri Lankan universities and educating students and university staff on the benefits of waste management and resource efficiency.

Watch the video to follow the journey of Upendra and Uthpala while they implement their SCP projects.

The project demonstrates how education for sustainable consumption and production (SCP) can positively influence the behaviour of young people, in Sri Lanka, enabling them to find practical solutions to the challenges of over-consumption and waste generation. This is particularly important for a country, where 44% of the population is under the age of 24.

Find out more from: 

• Sri Lankan Universities Go Green
• SCP Champion Series: Sri Lanka’s Upendra Arjeewani and Uthpala Sankalpani

Sustainable School Competition in Bhutan

Children can become ambassadors for sustainable lifestyles in their schools, families and communities.

During the 3rd edition of the SCP course in Asia, Ms Pem Lama from Bhutan developed a project aimed at empowering students and teachers to rethink daily habits and embark on more sustainable lifestyles.

I want to be an 'ECO' person, not an 'EGO'. I had a lot of positive impact with my actions. Now my relatives and neighbours are taking care of their waste through recycling, and using a car-pooling system.
Meghna Pradhan, Student at Jigme Losel Primary School

It was great to receive the small grant to implement my action plan. The course has had direct benefit to schools in Bhutan that have great potential to further SCP via education.
Pem Lama, GPP Bhutan

Nine schools entered the EGO-to-ECO Sustainable School Competition and developed inspiring projects that will change their schools and communities forever!

For example, students from Loselling Middle Secondary are bringing PET bottles from their homes and communities to the collection point at the school. Children in Changzamtog Lower Secondary School are making their own sitting mats from plastic wrappers after school hours every day.

Find out more from:

• Ego to Eco: A Sustainable School Challenge!
• Bhutanese Children on a Mission to Lighten their Load on the Planet

Ella Pad: Scraps to Feminine Hygiene Products in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, more than 5000 garment factories are dumping around one million bales of textile scraps every year, contributing to a significant solid waste management problem. Additionally, the approximately 4 million female workers in the apparel industry, who often work in generally hazardous conditions, typically lack access to sanitary napkins. As a direct result, the apparel sector is losing around 215 million workdays because of women workers absent from work. Workers at textile factories are not allowed access to the scraps to manage their hygiene.

One of the e-course participants, Mamunur Rahman started the project to reuse garment scraps to make low-cost feminine hygiene products, reducing the solid waste burden, ensuring a safer work environment for 4 million female workers, and increasing mobility of 35 million more women of Bangladesh. In addition to ensuring regular attendance of women employees at factories, access to feminine hygiene products will help address the significant school dropout rate of female students.

Find out more from: 

• Ella Pad: Innovative Solution to Waste Reuse to Make low-cost sanitary napkin for garments workers in Bangladesh
• Ella pad: Scraps to Feminine Hygiene Products (Flyer)