World Consumer Rights Day: Empowering consumers for sustainable consumption

UNCTAD marks World Consumer Rights Day by convening a discussion on how to meet present and future generations’ needs for goods and services in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable for all.

Helping consumers make more sustainable choices requires improved information sharing and awareness campaigns so that people understand better the impact their consumption has on the environment.

Ultimately, to make better choices consumers must be able to easily identify environmentally sound products through informative labelling and trusted environmental seals or guidelines, such as those that follow UNCTAD BioTrade’s Principles and Criteria.

In some instances, however, regulation will also be necessary to ensure sustainable consumption, such as the ban of single-use plastic in Kenya and the European Union.

Everyone must be involved

Sustainable consumption and production require doing more and better with less. This means using and managing resources more efficiently and reducing environmental degradation, waste and pollution along the whole life cycle, while increasing the quality of life, creating green jobs and opportunities for developing countries to leapfrog development stages.

The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection call for the participation of all stakeholders in bringing about sustainable consumption.

Governments, businesses, consumer associations and environmental organizations must all play their part in enhancing consumer knowledge and informing consumer choice. For this, there is a need to combine all instruments and tools at hand, be they regulatory mechanisms, standards or business initiatives.

Consumer protection laws may not always include specific provisions on sustainable consumption, but consumer protection agencies can promote consumer education and provide guidance to businesses.

Business initiatives – voluntary standards, codes of conduct and self-regulatory initiatives – should equally be developed or strengthened and supported. Moreover, businesses should develop new sustainable production patterns and use alternative materials in a way that facilitates green consumer choices.

To better inform policymaking, the guidelines also advocate for research, methodologies and data collection, especially work that is oriented towards improving the sustainability of products and services from design to recycling.

Meeting objectives

Under this scenario, UNCTAD will organize a panel session bringing together policymakers, businesses and consumer groups to share experiences in fostering sustainable production and consumption and promoting responsible behaviour by businesses and consumers.

In particular, the event will:

• Increase information and knowledge as to the current state of sustainable consumption and what is needed going forward
• Increase awareness among policymakers about the policy options to enhance sustainable consumption

Issues that will be covered include:

• Providing examples of successful information and education campaigns to raise awareness among consumers
• Presenting challenges and opportunities from a regulatory perspective, including on the avenues for incorporating sustainability into consumer policy
• Showcasing examples of certification, standards and labelling that enhance sustainable consumption
• Highlighting the need for a multi-pronged, multi-stakeholder approach to ensure consumer engagement

Speakers

Opening

• Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD Secretary-General

Moderator

• Ms. Teresa Moreira, Head, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD

Panelists

• Ms. Elisabeth Tuerk, Director, Economic Cooperation and Trade, UNECE
• Ms. Dana Kissinger‐Matray, Technical and Policy, Consumer Matters (COPOLCO), International Standards Organization Secretariat
• Dr. Laura Best, Deputy Chairperson, Consumer Protection Tribunal of South Africa
• Ms. Lara Koritzke, Communications and Marketing Director, Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)