World Consumer Rights Day: Celebrating Consumer Empowerment and Community Development

Consumer co-operatives in Europe celebrate the World Consumer Rights Day as a great occasion to promote their commitment for consumer empowerment and community development. This day, which is observed on the 15 March every year, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of co-operatives and the importance of consumer rights. 

Co-operatives are businesses that are owned and governed by their members, who share the profits and decision-making. One of the key features of co-operatives is the focus on maximising member benefits as opposed to their profits. This makes them an ideal model for promoting the needs of the individual, and with that, consumers’ rights.

The legal and ethical principles that protect consumers from unfair and unsafe business practices include the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard, and the right to redress. 

Co-operatives can help to promote consumer rights in several ways:

 Access to quality products and services: co-ops can provide consumers with access to high-quality, safe, and affordable products and services. Being owned by the consumer-members means co-ops have a vested interest in ensuring products and services that meet the needs and expectations of their customers.  

Coop Czech expanded its chain by opening new automatic stores in rural areas nationwide, where consumers can shop 24/7. The new points of sale enable customers to do their shopping at any time of their choice and without queues. 

Coop Netherlands is dedicated to offering customers fresh meat of the highest quality by sourcing meat that has been awarded at least one star of the Beter Leven quality mark - certification that reflects high animal welfare standards. Coop NL recognizes the importance of sustainability and is continually investing in expanding its range of products.

Co-op UK is proud to offer its customers same-day delivery through an innovative fleet of Starship Technologies robots. Customers can easily place orders using the delivery app, downloadable on both iOS and Android platforms. By utilizing local Co-op stores as micro-distribution hubs, customers can expect groceries to be hand-picked fresh and delivered quickly, often in as little as one hour or less.

Coop Italy has set an ambitious goal of producing 5,000 new products within the next two years to revolutionise its current offerings. This initiative will result in a 50% innovation boost, with Coop Italy covering entire market segments that were previously unserved or significantly expanding its existing product range to cater to the ever-evolving and specific needs of its consumer-members. By adapting and embracing innovation, Coop Italy is committed to delivering high-quality products exceeding customer expectations and elevating their shopping experience.

 Empowering consumers through participation: Co-op Principle II - Democratic Member Control gives any individual co-op member an equal voice in the enterprise’s decision making. In shareholder enterprises, consumers are often seen as passive recipients of products and services, with little say in how they are produced or delivered. However, in co-ops, consumers are also owners and members, and have a say in how the business is run. 

Coop Norway has taken the initiative to empower consumers to reduce their plastic consumption by launching re-use bonuses. Under this initiative, customers are rewarded with a bonus of NOK 1 each time they use and scan their bags at Coop stores. In 2022, this strategy led to a decrease in plastic bag consumption by almost 13% and over 340,000 members earned a total of NOK 8.5 million (EUR 800.000) in reuse bonuses.

 Promoting consumer education and awareness: Co-op Principle V - Education, Training and Information means co-ops place an emphasis on raising consumer awareness about the products,  and services they provide, but also about the environmental and social impact of their business practices, including how consumers can exercise their member rights.

Hispacoop launched the Circular Consumption School (Escuela de Consumo Circular - ECC), aimed at educating students at early stages about responsible and sustainable consumption. The educational program provides children with the understanding and skills needed to become eco-friendly and informed consumers of the future, promoting choices that positively impact both the individual and the planet.

ZdK is offering a new series of online seminars that will help members dealing with different aspects of a co-operative and will give insights on accountancy, member management, board responsibilities, and housing co-operatives.

 Building strong and resilient communities: Co-op Principle VII - Concern for the Community means co-ops prioritise members’ needs and interests and thus create a sense of belonging, community and mutual support. They can also provide employment opportunities and contribute to local economic development.

Coop Italy offers a range of benefits, services, opportunities, and initiatives exclusively dedicated to its members. These offerings include discounts on leisure activities, visits to producers, online services, and social and environmental campaigns, among others. 

Coop Ukraine created the Special Charitable Fund of Ukrcoopspilka to help enterprises and consumer co-operative organizations affected by the war. The Fund collects international aid from co-operators abroad and facilitates the reconstruction and restoration of Ukrainian organizations. Thanks to the new Fund, hundreds of thousands of euros had already been collected.

EROSKI, in collaboration with its customers, has successfully collected an impressive 1,200 tons of food to support the Spanish Federation of Food Banks. This achievement not only demonstrates EROSKI's commitment to social responsibility but also highlights the generosity and kindness of its customers in supporting this noble cause.

Central Co-op, in collaboration with the Co-operative College, launched the International Trading Development Fund to help communities around the world develop trading opportunities. In order to support the initiative, a range of products from suppliers with trading or product links to Malawi is sold in Central England’s more than 260 stores.

Consumer rights are essential for protecting individuals from unfair and unsafe business practices. These rights give consumers the power to make informed decisions about the products and services they use, and hold businesses accountable when they fail to meet their obligations. 

By upholding consumer rights, we can create a more equitable and sustainable economy that benefits everyone. It is important for businesses and governments to recognise the importance of consumer rights and work towards promoting and protecting them for the well-being of society as a whole.