SDG 12.1 · UPES report on SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
UPES research turns waste into resources, from sewage and electronics to textiles, food and wood, and studies what makes people choose greener products.
The figures below cover UPES research publications on responsible consumption and production from 2021 to 2025 (source: Scopus, October 2026).
Number of 2021–2025 papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).
| Theme | Papers |
|---|---|
| Waste to energy and value | 262 |
| Food systems and agriculture | 133 |
| Circular economy and recycling | 100 |
| Plastics, packaging and biodegradable materials | 98 |
| Sustainable supply chains and operations | 66 |
| Life cycle assessment and resource efficiency | 62 |
| Consumer behaviour and sustainable business | 42 |
The full list of 748 publications since 2007, with links, is on the responsible consumption research publications page (also available as a spreadsheet).
Prof Bhawna Yadav Lamba leads a first-of-its-kind pilot in which a 20,000-litre open pond uses microalgae to treat sewage from a nearby canal. The algae become bio-oil through hydrothermal liquefaction, and the remaining sludge becomes biogas and bio-manure. Backed by a ₹73 lakh DST grant, the system has reached Technology Readiness Level 7.
UPES researchers reviewed where e-waste comes from, how it harms health and the environment, how it is assessed and governed, and how it can be managed (Sustainability, 2023), and contributed to the 2025 book E-Waste: From Generation to Management.
A UPES study found that Indian consumers who care about the environment still face practical barriers to using formal e-waste collection schemes (Cleaner Waste Systems, 2025).
Dr Shailey Singhal studies how garment-industry textile waste can be managed scientifically and upcycled into valuable materials, including extracting microcrystalline cellulose from textile waste (New Journal of Chemistry, 2026).
UPES holds 2,314+ intellectual property rights, made up of 813 patents, 943 designs and 558 copyrights, with 139 granted (December 2025).
Sources and further reading