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] The development of a scalable and efficient photocatalytic process for hydrogen production could significantly contribute to the global transition away from fossil fuels and towards a more sustainable energy future. QT News
• [New] As the world looks to a future where clean, renewable energy sources reign supreme, the breakthrough in photocatalytic hydrogen production stands as a shining beacon of hope. MH News
• [New] The successful integration of photocatalytic hydrogen production into the global energy ecosystem will require careful navigation of complex policy and regulatory landscapes, as well as the alignment of various stakeholders and industries. MH News
• [New] EPA's final 2026-2027 RFS rule establishes the highest renewable volume obligations ever and raises volumes above the 2025 proposal, underscoring strong administration support for domestic biofuels, agricultural feedstocks, and renewable fuel production. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] While EPA raised cellulosic volumes above proposed levels, RNG and biogas groups argue the final D3 targets still undershoot feasible production and could constrain sector growth. / USA Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] Meeting the new biomass-based diesel obligations will require more than a 60% increase in production from 2025 levels, a development that is projected to strengthen demand for U.S. agricultural feedstocks and boost investment in greater fuel processing capacity. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] Sustainable food, fiber, forest, and mineral production in 2026 and beyond will rely on the principles of organic farming - and on cutting-edge technology and transparent management tools to ensure real, lasting environmental benefits. Farmonaut
• [New] Shell and Air Liquide are each building a 200-megawatt electrolyzer on the Maasvlakte, which will rapidly increase the production of green hydrogen in Rotterdam. Hynetwork
• [New] The East Midlands will help manufacturers scale up clean energy and advanced production technologies, while East Yorkshire, Hull, and Tees Valley will support a joint clean energy and industrial decarbonization programme. UKAuthority
• [New] Diesel is still needed for backup generators, agricultural production and vehicles, and it will take a month to convert the shipment of oil into diesel. / Cuba Sarcastosaurus
• [New] Scaling nearshoring production will require resolving energy bottlenecks. / Mexico The Rio Times
• [New] Mexico's nearshoring opportunity is genuine, but the gap between announced investment and operational production is where deals die. The Rio Times
• [New] Steel production capacity of almost 7 million net tons will be added in the U.S. in the next three years. Railway Age
• [New] Platform Hondo is expected to resume production by the end of the second quarter of 2026 and produce over 10,000 barrels of oil per day added Sable Offshore. News Channel 3-12
• [New] OPEC + will boost oil production by 206,000 barrels daily from May. Economic Times
• [New] Cobalt mining reserves are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, accounting for approximately 70% of global cobalt production, creating significant supply chain vulnerability that recycling can help mitigate. Discovery Alert
• [New] Arca Continental, a major Coca-Cola bottler, will invest $1 billion in 2026 to expand production and distribution capacity, particularly enhancing its recycling operations across Mexico, the US, and South America. Matium
• [New] If continuous polymer production in Europe can be maintained in 2026, prices will reach their highest value by the end of May, mid-June. ICOSA s.r.o
• [New] EPA is partially waiving the 2025 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement due to a shortfall in domestic production, and it is also finalizing a 70% partial reallocation of exempted renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027. Agroinformacion News
• [New] By 2026, millennials and Generation Z will turn to jelly beans and gummy bears at different moments in their lives, whether for consumption or as fashion items. valorinternational
• [New] Large tax refunds and continued spending by higher-income households provide a cushion for consumption, while corporate fundamentals remain solid, with S&P 500 earnings still expected to grow. First Business Bank
• [New] Higher energy prices will lift inflation in 2026 while dampening real incomes and consumption, resulting in a softer growth profile than previously expected. First Business Bank

Last updated: 13 April 2026