Global Scans · Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] Going for EAFs might make British production more resilient in some regards, because the UK has bountiful scrap metal. The Guardian
• [New] Recognising that future demand for critical minerals cannot be met by domestic production alone, the UK will aim to deliver diversification by developing international growth partnerships with resource-rich countries and technology partners to secure the long-term supply of critical minerals. JD Supra
• [New] Technology group Wartsila will invest approximately EUR 140 million to further expand its production capacity by 35% at its technology center, Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaasa, Finland and associated global supply chain. Wartsila.com
• [New] Global bunker fuel demand is expected to flatline at around 5 million b/d through to 2030, as emissions regulations, efficiency gains and weak trade growth weigh on consumption. Ship & Bunker
• [New] Domestic SAF production has the potential to increase gross domestic product by more than $78 billion by 2035, and create or support more than 400,000 jobs at its peak. / USA NBAA - National Business Aviation Association
• [New] By the end of 2030, 7.4% of US electricity consumption will be devoted to training or deploying AI systems in the median scenario. International AI Safety Report
• [New] Agentic AI could reduce cost-to-collect by 30-60%, positioning RCM as the most viable path to near-term, production-scale AI deployment. Signify Research
• [New] With a budget of €1.3 billion, the IF25 Hydrogen Auction will support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin hydrogen or electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen across three topics, including a new topic for producers of hydrogen with maritime or aviation off takers. Climate Action
• [New] As announced in the Clean Industrial Deal, the Commission will launch a third Innovation Fund auction for hydrogen production under the European Hydrogen Bank. Climate Action
• [New] Copper markets face projected supply deficits reaching significant proportions by 2035, while lithium demand for battery manufacturing consistently outpaces production capacity expansion rates. Discovery Alert
• [New] Joint ventures with international battery manufacturers could establish Western Australia as a global hub for vanadium battery production and development. Discovery Alert
• [New] The X-1 is being developed by Michigan-based startup Velo X Aerospace, which is now taking $5,000 deposits on an initial run of 100 aircraft that are slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2027. New Atlas
• [New] Tesla AI5 should be in mass production Q2 of 2027. NextBigFuture.com
• [New] Expansion of production is expected in Africa, India, and other areas of Asia, with overall production projected to increase to 4.7-5.2 Gt / year by 2050. Nature
• [New] Verified production makes output predictable, costs stable and jobs durable - keeping value and opportunity inside the U.S., instead of exporting them through opaque suppliers overseas. Technology Solutions That Drive Government
• [New] Traditional AI remains the backbone of production Traditional AI will continue to underpin industrial operations in 2026, powering core systems across manufacturing, energy and logistics. CFC
• [New] Shell's ability to sustain strong production levels - particularly in deepwater assets and large-scale projects like Whale in the Gulf of Mexico and Brazilian operations - will be critical context for the year-end numbers. IG
• [New] CATL is expected to begin production in 2026 at its second European site; the factory, located in Hungary, is an $8.2 billion project that will supply automakers including BMW and the Mercedes-Benz group. MIT Technology Review
• [New] AI will lower production costs, but whether AI-generated creative can meet modern brand expectations becomes the defining question of the year. CRM Magazine
• [New] Projections show inference reaching 75-80% of all AI compute by 2030 as models move from research to production. byteiota | From Bits to Bytes
• [New] The US Department of Agriculture, in its December global supply and demand forecast, projected slightly higher US cotton production in 2025-26, lower mill usage and higher ending stocks compared with November. Fibre2Fashion
• [New] India is constantly forecasted to expand by about 6.6-6.7% in 2026, placing it among the fastest-growing major economies within Asia, powered by strong domestic demand, consumption, and government investment. gsdn.live
• [New] Current technology could cut fuel burn and emissions by ~20% by 2050, but only if manufacturers accelerate production, diversify suppliers, streamline certification and secure supportive government policies. Allianz Trade Corporate

Last updated: 09 February 2026