Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

Part 1 – Choosing a Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns

Summary of the Goal

Sustainable consumption and production patterns are at the center of environmental sustainability to improve human welfare. The goal emphasizes a decrease in waste generation, the effective use of resources, and the upsurge of sustainability in production processes (ESCAP, 2016). This attempts to bring down the ‘ecological footprint’ by imbibing ideals of minimum natural resource consumption, reduced environmental degradation, and seeing to it that consumption patterns in various industries do not drain resource replenishment for posterity. In essence, it strives to deliver more with less, thereby arresting the existing stress on the environment.

Importance of the Goal:

The issue has become critical because levels of global consumption and production have reached alarming rates in the consumption of natural resources. In these stages, overconsumption, a tendency to create waste, and unsustainable ways of manufacturing goods contribute to harming the environment through climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution (Bocken et al., 2014). As the human population increases around the world, it will be of increasing concern that the use of humans needs to meet some kind of sustainability if the resources are to be kept for future generations. This leads to responsible production and consumption for a circular economy that will diminish waste, increase recycling, and reduce the impacts on the environment.

Part 2 – Mobile App Requirements Outline

Business Requirements

App Objective and Vision Statement:

The mobile application has the purpose of changing the users’ behavioral patterns towards sustainable consumption and production by equipping them with tools and insight related to the reduction of litter thrown away, employed resources, and the ability to track and practice more environmentally friendly behaviors. The vision of the application is to empower people and organizations with actionable information that helps them contribute positively towards environmental sustainability. This would ultimately provide users with a platform in which informed decision-making in everyday consumption and production processes could result in reduced environmental impact and a more sustainable future.

Target Audience and User Journey

Target Audience

The app will target users who are conscious about the environment, advocate for sustainability in the business world, and seek to go green. The primary users will be proportionate consumers who need to monitor their ecological footprint and business operators who would like to know how to produce in a sustainable manner. The organizations will want to develop policies on how to green their operations.

User Journey

1. Onboarding: The user records into the system and inputs data involving what they consume and what they produce, the type of energy to use, how they handle their wastes, and the chemical footprints of the products and services they prefer.
2. Set Goals: The app will encourage setting and committing to organizational and personal goals regarding sustainability (e.g., carbon footprint minimization, plastic usage reduction).
3. Engage With Features: Use the app’s tools, such as carbon calculators, sustainability check sheets, learning materials, and social sustainability, to guide you in making sustainable choices.
4. Track Progress: Track step-by-step goals of the sustainability journey and data insights through feedback on goal achievements.
5. Challenges and Rewards: Challenges to challenge and reward when set sustainability goals have been met

Features List

• Carbon Footprint Calculator – This will enable users to know and track their ecological footprints based on daily activities (Clearbridge Mobile, 2023).
• Sustainable Product Recommendations – Recommendations on personally and locally relevant eco-friendly products, services, and events for the user.
• Waste Management Advice – Simple tips to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.
• Educational Content – Articles, videos, and quizzes about sustainable living and challenges across the world that the environment continues to face.
• Community Initiatives and Events – Information obtained about local sustainability initiatives, events, and opportunities for participation.
• Gamification Components – Allows the user to complete challenges and then earn badges, rewards, or discounts from various eco-friendly and other brands with whom the organization maintains a partnership.

Monetization Model

The application will use a freemium model where basic functionality for the user, like goal setting or educational content, is free. Premium features have sophisticated tracking tools, personalization of product recommendations according to usage, detailed analytics, and the ability to subscribe to curated sustainability content, and eco-friendly products will require a subscription. The application will offer in-market curated sustainability content and sell eco-friendly products. Partnerships with such sustainable brands will open opportunities for sponsored content and advertising. However, all ads will be screened to ensure that they do not impede the cause of sustainability goals and promote an enhanced app user experience.

Product and Technical Specifications

• Data Security: The app would be conceptualized with robust security to secure user information. The development of the app would focus on data encryption and other requirements arising from GDPR and other privacy guidelines.
• Scalability: The app will scale with the growing user base, ensuring smooth performance for an increasing audience.
• Assessment of Sustainability: Assess its carbon footprint and ensure that it is meeting its sustainability goals.
• Accessibility: The app shall be developed to gain accessibility to any kind of disability so that all features are accessible and executable.

Platforms

First, the app will be launched on iOS and Android to capture the biggest potential user base. The application design will ensure that it works seamlessly on older devices because it will have high sustainability features, which reduces electronic waste and will further motivate users to extend the lifecycle of current devices.

Maintenance and Upgrade Requirements

The following maintenance will be required for the application:

• Bug fixing and updates for the new versions of iOS and Android.
• Improving functionality due to user suggestions and improvement in best practices with respect to issues around sustainable consumption.
• Security patches against cybersecurity threats.

Dependencies and Constraints

• Dependencies: The app will depend on external data sources, like environmental databases and product inventories from its partner companies, through which it can provide exact and relevant sustainability recommendations.
• Constraints: Budget constraints may lead to limitations in the range of features developed in the app in the initial stages. There are also issues of how users will adopt it since most of them will not be well-versed in the sustainability concepts.

Business Results and Competitive Advantage

The app will drive business through the rise of a community of responsible consumers and businesses. It is also unique from direct competitors, such as traditional carbon footprint calculators and general lifestyle apps, in incorporating unique features in sustainability. Its competitive strength lies in its comprehensive approach—education, actionable insights, and community commitment. In addition, it creates invitations through the freemium payment model and monetizes links with eco brands, building meaningful collaboration in the sustainability sector.

Why This Business App Is a Better

While a website would also do so, the app is much more personalized and interactive in its experience, especially toward the end of promoting sustainable consumption and production. Applications offer real-time tracking, personal notifications, and even offline access to essential features that enhance the ease and consistency with which users live their lives toward sustainable efforts. Additionally, mobile applications integrate much better with modern devices—like smartphones and wearables—allowing for carbon tracking and automated data collection, among other capabilities, which websites are unable to replicate in terms of engaging the level of user interaction and immediacy.

The Role Businesses Must Play as a Force for Good

Businesses can do much to shape society and lead the communities into wealth. Companies, as a force for good, need not only perfect their corporate social responsibility (CSR) profiles but also to create consumer trust and loyalty. It is part of the sustainable and continued business practices and behavior of every organization to address sustainable practices, ethical behavior, and community engagement as elements that bring positive societal impact, foster long-term success, and are able not only to deal with global challenges like inequality, poverty, and environmental degradation but also to help deal with them.

Tenets of Servant Leadership and Conscious Capitalism

Instilled in the app are the principles of servant leadership and conscious capitalism. Emphasis is placed on serving the community by offering tools for the benefit of people, businesses, and the environment. The mission of empowering users with sustainable choices reflects the vision of improving the well-being of society through servant leadership. This agrees with the idea that businesses should focus on social good more than profit (Greenleaf, 2002). It, therefore, implies that the business being conducted within the app will be informed by the principles of conscious capitalism, ensuring that partnerships and strategies for monetization align with ethical values and sustainability and strive to be a socially transparent, positive-impact-based venture.

References

Bocken, N. M., Short, S. W., Rana, P., & Evans, S. (2014). A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 42-56.

Clearbridge Mobile. (2023). How to build a mobile app requirements document. Retrieved from https://clearbridgemobile.com/how-to-build-a-mobile-app-requirements-document/

ESCAP, U. (2016). Sustainable Development Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Greenleaf, R. K. (2012). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. Paulist press.

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The purpose of this assignment is to begin the planning and research process for the “Benchmark – Mobile App Planning and Design” assignment coming in Topic 6.

Background:

Students will select and justify a sustainable development goal and also provide an outline covering concepts related to creating a requirements document for planning and designing a mobile application that will address the goal.

One of the key principles of the Colangelo College of Business is that business is a force for good to improve society and help communities prosper. For this assignment, consider the GCU’s “Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work” and the tenets of servant leadership, conscious capitalism, and the sustainable development goals described in “SDG Tracker: Measuring Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals,” both located in the topic Resources. Also view the video “Social Responsibility and Conscious Capitalism,” located in the topic Resources.

Using an approved generative AI tool, conduct research to learn about the various initiatives listed below.

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Part 2 – Mobile App Requirements Outline

Review “How to Build a Mobile App Requirements Document” and “How to Write a Mobile App Requirements Document (+ Free Template Download),” both located in the Topic 4 Resources, about the process of designing a mobile app. Using the attached “Sustainable Development Goal and Mobile App Requirements Outline Template” for guidance, create a 2-3 page outline that explains each of the following concepts. Use additional research sources as needed.

1. Business requirements, including mobile app objectives and product vision statement.

2. Target audience and user journey.

3. List of features.

4. Monetization model.

5. Product and technical specification.

6. Platforms the app is being developed for.

7. Maintenance and upgrade requirements.

8. Dependencies, assumptions, constraints, and submission.

9. Explanation of how the mobile app can be used to drive business results and create a competitive advantage for the organization. Include a discussion of how and why this business app is a better solution than a competitor’s app or website by comparing your app to theirs (for example, “Uber” or “Lyft” if designing a ride-share app).

10. How the tenets of servant leadership can be applied to the project. Review in detail the “Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work,” located in the Topic 4 Resources. Discuss and apply at least two of the “WE BELIEVE” statements in that resource that applies to your app.

11. How conscious capitalism can be applied to the project. Review “Conscious Capitalism at GCU,” located in the Topic 6 Resources. Discuss the importance of business being a force for good to improve society and help communities prosper.

Part 3 – References Page

Provide an APA list of references used for your research used to complete Part 1 and Part 2.