Sustainable consumption is a balancing act. It is about consuming in such a way as to protect the environment, use natural resources wisely and promote quality of life now, while not spoiling the lives of future consumers.

Like other developed countries, the UK currently has damaging and unsustainable habits of consumption of natural resources. But both government and businesses are making greater efforts than ever before to promote policies for sustainable consumption at national and local levels.

The UK government is committed to developing a strategy for sustainable consumption and production, and has already stated its ambition to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy by 60 per cent by 2050.

To achieve this kind of radical change it is crucial that policy-makers clearly understand the attitudes and behaviour of consumers, including those who are disadvantaged by low incomes and other factors. The NCC's recent work details the ways in which both government and industry can help these consumers make greener choices.

Green grocers?

Our latest report on supermarkets and the environment. Since the last report in 2006, we have seen commitments from a number of supermarkets on issues ranging from unnecessary packaging to new 'green' labelling schemes for products, such as carbon labelling and aeroplane stickers on airfreighted goods. There have alse been impovements in our ratings.

However, no supermarket did well across all our indicators.

Click here to download the full report.

Fuel poverty

Almost four million UK households - that's 5.5 million people - struggle to afford an adequate energy supply. They are victims of 'fuel poverty'. (Click here to view Cold comfort - a film of first-hand accounts of this daily struggle.)

Meanwhile, many UK households use unsustainably high amounts of gas and electricity. A third of the UK's total carbon emissions come from heating our homes and the water we use, but awareness of how our daily lives impact on the environment is low.

Conflicting though these challenges may appear, it is vital to develop policies that both help vulnerable groups stay warm affordably, and encourage those who over-consume energy to use it more wisely. The National Consumer Council proposes a blueprint for action - by government, the energy regulator (Ofgem) and energy supply companies - that has the potential to do just that.

Recommendations include smarter tariffs, innovative payment methods and adequate financial help.

Click here to download our blueprint for action, Energy shouldn't cost the Earth (122KB).

Click here to read our press release.

Click here to read energywatch's press release on social tariffs

Consumer electronics

With eight out of ten consumers trying to save energy on a day-to-day basis, there is great potential to encourage people to focus some of their green efforts on life at home.

NCC's new shopping survey, Information blackout: why electronics consumers are in the dark, found just how little information is available when it comes to energy efficiency.

The research showed very little variance in results between the different companies. Out of 350 items researched, only one item, a television, had an energy label sticker on it. 

Click here to download the report.