Consumer Education & Awareness

Consumer education and awareness involves providing consumers with the information and skills they need to make informed purchasing decisions, use products safely, and understand their environmental and social impacts.

ISO 26000 identifies consumer education as a key element of consumer issues, emphasising the organisation's responsibility to help consumers understand the environmental and social impacts of their consumption choices. Key areas include product information and labelling (ingredients, origin, environmental footprint), sustainability certifications and eco-labels, digital literacy and online safety education, financial literacy for financial products and services, and guidance on product use, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal. Effective consumer education contributes to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by enabling more sustainable consumption patterns.

Further Reading

• ISO 26000 — Consumer issues guidance
• UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection — International consumer protection framework

Related Topics

• Consumer Issues
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption
• Fair Operating Practices