Page 3 - Social_Sustainable consumerism

3

Introduction to the topic

Sustainable Consumption is the umbrella that unites all concepts related to consumption that has the least
negative impact on society, natural resources, animals and ecosystems, changes in consumption that help
solve local and global problems of pollution, exploitation of resources, poverty, exploitation of minors,
adults and animals.

It seeks to promote products and habits that are healthy, that allow a quality life for both producers
throughout the production chain and for the consumer. Some of the concepts it covers are the following:

- Fair trade
- Direct trade
- 0km or local production
- Zero waste
- The “R” imperatives, ie Reject, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle
- Minimalism
- Decrease
- Circular economy
- Collaborative economy
- Green economy
- Sustainable entrepreneurship
- Social entrepreneurship

References to EU policies in line with this topic

The programme of EU action in the field of consumer policy mainly consists of the (Regulation (EU) No
254/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014, Decision No 1926/2006/EC)
that you can see under this link

The European Consumer Agenda has several objectives:

• Promoting consumer safety through the 2013 Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package, and in
particular through enhanced product identification and traceability, measures reinforcing safety in the food
chain and the new rules on the safety of cosmetic products introduced in mid-2013;

• Enhancing knowledge of consumer rights: interactive tools, such as the Consumer Classroom, have been
developed to inform and educate consumers and help them to fully participate in the single market;