Opinion – Maria Inês Dolci: Conscious consumption protects the planet and reduces inequality

In March, consumer month, I defended in this space that the CDC (Consumer Protection Code) be better known and debated, with effective consumer education. Since a new president has been elected, will take office in January 2023 and has assumed a series of commitments, especially with the poorest and most vulnerable, my postulation is that, finally, something real is done to protect the environment and reduce inequality , via conscious consumption.

There are several citations to education at the CDC, but they remain much more in the field of good intentions. In Chapter II of the National Consumer Relations Policy, one of the principles is: education and information for suppliers and consumers, regarding their rights and duties, with a view to improving the consumer market.

Later, in the same chapter: promotion of actions aimed at financial and environmental education of consumers (included by the law to combat over-indebtedness).

Among the basic consumer rights are education and disclosure about the proper consumption of products and services, ensuring freedom of choice and equality in hiring. And a little later: the guarantee of responsible credit practices, financial education and the prevention and treatment of over-indebtedness situations, preserving the existential minimum, under the terms of the regulations, through the review and renegotiation of the debt, among other measures ( also included by the Over-indebtedness Law).

Yes, there is a strong focus on combating indebtedness, which is explainable, since last November almost 80% of Brazilian families reported having debts.

But there are other very relevant factors in consumer education: learning to demand your rights, very well established by the CDC. Avoid consumerism that adds to practices that destroy planet Earth. And create more patterns of conscious, collaborative, cooperative consumption that contribute to the reduction of socioeconomic inequality in Brazil.

Younger people seem to have understood this reality. Dreams of consumption such as owning a car and owning a home have lost much of their appeal for the new generations. These consumers are more concerned with the values ​​linked to the brands of products and services purchased. So be it, because education for consumption is transformative, awakens awareness and sheds light on global challenges.