Sustainable consumption and Production (SCP)
10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production: The Marrakech Process 

Recognising that consumption and production patterns are increasingly global and that international co-operation is needed to address them in cost-effective ways, the World Summit on Sustainable Development called for the “development of a 10-year framework of programmes in support of regional and national initiatives to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns that will promote social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems.” The Marrakech Process is an international effort to formulate the 10-year Framework of Programmes on SCP. The Marrakech Process began in 2003 and will conclude in 2011 when the 10-year Framework will be launched at CSD 19. More than a series of meetings, the Marrakech Process is intended to promote implementation of sustainable consumption and production policies and measures at the national and regional levels, with coordinated international support. It is expected that the 10-year Framework that emerges will be broad in scope and will help to catalyze and guide the transition to a more sustainable global economy.

ICC supports a vision of sustainable development that collectively embraces and balances economic growth, poverty eradication, social development and environmental improvement. A sustainable world is one with less poverty, less disease, less hunger, and greater access to education, safe water and sanitation, energy and a healthy environment, one that is progressing through economic growth and development. Societies around the globe should pursue sustainable consumption and production with the objective of seeking opportunities to address human needs and wants and meet the aspirations of their peoples for a better life.
The private sector has a crucial role to play in both meeting those aspirations and in doing so in more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable ways. Much progress has already been made over the past several decades by industry and particularly in the realm of more efficient and environmentally sound production processes, and in the propagation of these practices globally.  Sustainable development need not be a matter of consuming less, but should instead offer choices for consuming differently. In particular, the ICC supports global efforts to assure proper management of products throughout their life cycle, through collective and cooperative market-based efforts of governments, industry and consumers at each of the multiple stages of resource extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, recycling, ultimate disposal, improving the quality of life and enabling effective stewardship of the world’s resources.