From the beginning of the use of the concept, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) has been related to both poverty eradication and sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to explore the type and quality of these linkages, and investigate what evidence exists for them. The first section constructs an outline theoretical framework within which these and related concepts can be considered. It notes the shifting language around these concepts. The conclusion of this section is the suggestion of an indicator
framework, drawing on indicators of ecosystem goods and services, SCP indicators, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), through which the nature and extent of these linkages may be assessed. The following sections proceed through the analysis of a number of case studies in different areas, referring back to the theoretical framework and using the indicator framework where the case studies contain relevant data. The case studies have been chosen to give insights into some of the issues, challenges and opportunities relating to SCP in three of the priority sectors identified through the Marrakech Process, as noted above. In different ways they explore how SCP and the related concept of resource efficiency (RE) can advance development and sustainable livelihoods. The case studies also examine how scenarios for development in different sectors can lead to absolute decoupling; and they discuss how
these scenarios may be brought about through new institutions, organisations and technologies. Insofar as is possible from the data given in relation to the case studies, their achievements are evaluated through the various indicators that are presented in the next section: environmental, socio-economic and the MDGs. The paper’s conclusions set out the kinds of policies that will foster and develop these new directions for resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production.