Sustainable Consumption & Production

Latest News

Position papers
- PDF Document - 610.26 KB

Available in English
EU energy and climate legislation sets the pace for decarbonising our economy. Some of these laws contain EU targets. The governance law helps Member States deliver these targets and defines reporting obligations. This should result in consumers benefitting from lower bills, a better quality of life, and a future for our planet. Practically this means more renewable energy, less imports of volatile fossil fuels, continuous efforts to use energy more efficiently, the availability of sustainable products that can be recognised via clear labels, a variety of green mobility choices, and a future where healthy and sustainable foods are accessible and affordable.
Tools
- PDF Document - 156.5 KB

Available in English
Buying a car is a major decision for consumers. Beyond the initial investment, they expect reliable information about the fuel or electricity consumption, the range, the battery state of health, the overall condition or the environmental performance of a car. This is particularly true on the second-hand market, where most consumers buy their vehicle and look for accurate, credible and comparable data. A well-designed car label can therefore help consumers navigate the market and choose a car that fits their needs.
Position papers
- PDF Document - 872.19 KB

Available in English
To make a well-informed choice when buying a car (new or second-hand), consumers need clear and accurate information about a car’s real-world fuel or electricity consumption, its overall environmental impact or incentives available in their country. With many new models and powertrains available along with evolving purchase habits, current EU rules adopted in 1999 and are now completely outdated.
Press releases

The European Commission today presented its Water Resilience Strategy, the aim of which is environmental protection, competitiveness and to secure clean and affordable water and sanitation for all at all times, and empowering citizens for water resilience. BEUC very much welcomes this action plan as much bolder action is needed to restore and protect the water cycle, to eliminate harmful chemicals, make agricultural practices more sustainable and invest substantially in the EU’s water infrastructure.
Press releases

The European Commission announced today that Coca-Cola has agreed to change some of its labelling practices, following a complaint for greenwashing that BEUC and its members lodged in November 2023 to European consumer authorities, with the support of Client Earth and ECOS. Today’s announcement is the first company commitment since BEUC’s complaint was filed.
Factsheets
- PDF Document - 278.72 KB

Available in English
Today, e-commerce is fully part of the consumer shopping experience, revolutionizing the way consumers and businesses interact and bringing them closer than ever. When purchasing online, EU consumers expect products and services to comply with EU law and adhere to fair trade practices, therefore they have a legitimate expectation of quality and durability.

Consumers are increasingly willing to buy sustainable products, especially energy-efficient ones, in order to minimise their impact on the environment. All too often though, confusing information and a great variety of industry claims make this difficult. What makes it even more complicated is the lack of enough sustainable products in EU shops and that they are barely identifiable.

  • Improve the sustainability of products by reducing their impact on the environment
  • Give consumers the possibility to make informed and sustainable choices between different products using independent and verified labels (such as the Ecolabel). Unsustainable products to be taken off the market
  • Reduce the carbon footprint of transport in Europe while ensuring consumers benefit from improved information and cost reductions