Council of Europe

COE

Europäische Kommission

Rethinking consumer behaviour for the well-being of all.

Reflections on individual consumer responsibility.

Strasbourg

2008

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This guide invites the reader to think about consumption as one factor in the difficult task of building cohesive, sustainable societies based on the principle or universal well-being. The Council or Europe hopes that this reassessment will prompt people to question their choices as consumers: taking account of human rights, decent working conditions, the sustainable use of resources and our legacy to future generations. Surely consumption should be a responsible, socially committed act. An eclectic mix or academic articles, examples and illustrations makes this guide an unusual, informative work which can be readily used as the basis for discussions on this pressing social issue. This book, inspired by a contribution from the European Inter-Network of Ethical and Solidarity-Based Initiatives (IRIS), is intended as a prototype: readers are free to adapt its contents to their own circumstances, to add relevant examples and to bring the ideas presented to life.

Foreword

Introduction

Part I – Consumption as an expression of citizenship

The nature and culture of consumption in consumption societies
Lucia Reisch
Democratisation and consumption
Lucia Reisch
Consumers and citizenship
Michele Micheletti
No need to edit? Is faith in consumer sovereignty justifi ed?
Tim Cooper
From consumer sovereignty to consumer governance. Room for choice in consumption
Sophie Dubuisson-Quellier
Consumers′ concerns and alternative choices
Federica Volpi

Part II – Contributing to general well-being through a more balanced approach

When overabundance is detrimental
Francesco Gesualdi
Value, depreciation and the maintenance of wealth
Tim Cooper
Consuming with respect for the environment and future generations: towards more sustainable consumption
René Kalfa

Part III – Contributing to general well-being through a better choice of goods

Transforming consumption by rejecting the unacceptable
Tim Cooper
Consumers as citizens: synergies and tensions for well-being and civic engagement
Frank Trentmann
Fighting for human rights: consumption behaviour as political praxis
Massimo Lori
Combating excessive fragmentation by collective organisation of choices
René Kalfa

Part IV – Contributing to general well-being through prior links with producers

From socially responsible consumers to co-producers
Marco Servettini
Fair trade: long-distance and short supply chains.
When buying goods means showing solidarity with producers
Christophe Maldidier
Supporting local farmers through customer loyalty
Daniel Vuillon
Using money differently
Nadia Benqué

Part V – Making consumers more aware of their responsibilities

Education for responsible consumption
Jean Huet
Consumer information: labels, eco-labels and product comparison to tackle the current information asymmetry: advantages and limits
René Kalfa
Responsible consumption: how to make information accessible to all and make proximity an instrument for consolidating action
Pauline Rivière

Conclusion From poverty to the sobriety model
Francesco Gesualdi

Appendix

↑ http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/socialpolicies/socialcohesiondev/source/Rethinking_en.pdf

30.09.2015