Advertisements shout at us: “NEW! Revolutionary Technology!” “Improved Performance!” But what do we really get? A slightly thinner screen, a camera feature we never asked for – maybe a new color. And when we take a closer look, the difference from the last model is often… just that: a different color. Yet we fall for it – again and again.
We try to make sustainable choices, but the system is designed to make us want more – and more – and more.
Why Do We Mark World Consumer Rights Day?
World Consumer Rights Day is marked every year on March 15. In 2025, the theme is A Fair and Responsible Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles (Consumers International).
But how do we achieve that when the biggest market players deliberately manipulate our habits – even going so far as to shorten the lifespan of the products we buy?
The last decade has been the hottest on record. Extreme weather, loss of biodiversity, and increasing pollution threaten both the planet and public health. These crises also create social and economic inequalities that undermine the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Consumers play a key role in shifting toward more sustainable lifestyles – but only if green choices are accessible, affordable, and fair. This transition cannot come at the cost of basic needs like food, energy, and health.
The Goals of This Year’s Campaign:
- Protect consumers’ needs, including access to essential goods and services.
- Make sustainable choices easier by ensuring they are affordable and available.
- Give consumers a voice to influence businesses and governments.
- Adapt solutions to local realities – the path to sustainability looks different in every country.
The campaign focuses on food, energy, transport, housing, finance, and consumer goods – sectors where most people still have limited real choices.
The Consumer’s Dilemma
We know we need to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, cut food waste, and choose greener alternatives. But today, it’s often like this:
- Sustainable products cost more than their less eco-friendly counterparts.
- Companies greenwash – they advertise more sustainability than they actually deliver.
- Consumers lack clear information on how their choices affect the environment.
If we want a truly sustainable future, it has to be possible for everyone to make environmentally responsible choices – not just those who can afford it. That means producers, politicians, and legislators must do their part: ensuring green solutions are as affordable and accessible as the least sustainable ones.engelige og rimelige som de minst miljøvennlige alternativene.
Planned Obsolescence – A Quiet but Powerful Weapon
Some of the world’s biggest companies have been caught deliberately shortening the life of their products to ensure we keep buying. This is not a conspiracy theory – it’s well documented:
- Samsung used capacitors that were underpowered or poor quality, causing TVs to fail over time. There’s no proof this was intentional, but under pressure, Samsung acknowledged the problem and offered free repairs for a period.
- Apple was fined heavily for slowing down older iPhones via software updates – supposedly to preserve battery life, but in practice nudging customers toward newer models.
- Printer manufacturers have programmed counters into their devices to stop them from working after a certain number of prints – even if the hardware is still fully functional.
And this is nothing new.
In my early twenties, I met a salesperson from Electrolux and asked him why my grandmother’s washing machine still worked after decades – while new models seemed to break down after just 3–4 years. He said, bluntly:
“The manufacturers have a dedicated department in product development that works to shorten the lifespan of what the engineers originally designed – before it reaches the production line.”
Electrolux is far from alone. Several major brands have been caught weakening product durability, releasing performance-slowing software updates, or adding technical locks that prevent repairs. In other words: products could be made to last longer – but that’s not profitable.sperrer som hindrer reparasjon. Produkter kunne med andre ord vært laget for å vare lenger – men det er ikke lønnsomt.
What Can We Do?
Here are three practical things you can do to help create a fairer and more sustainable consumer economy:
- Choose companies that take responsibility
Support brands that walk the talk on sustainability – not just those using it as a marketing buzzword. Look for certifications and production transparency.
- Reduce food waste and make smarter choices
Food production is a major source of emissions. Plan your meals, choose local produce when possible, and get creative with leftovers.
- Demand change from businesses and politicians
Consumer power is real. Ask for better product labeling, environmental impact disclosures, and vote for leaders who prioritize sustainable policies.
Consumer Power vs. Producer Power
We like to think we make rational choices – but marketing psychology says otherwise. We’re bombarded with “new and improved” products that are only marginally different – designed to trigger desire, not solve real problems.
Think about the TV industry, which launches “new” models yearly with barely thinner bezels. Or smartphones that get a new color and a camera function no one asked for – because companies profit more from us buying new than keeping what we have.
If we’re going to achieve a fair transition to sustainable living, we must stop putting all the pressure on individual consumers. We can’t win the fight against overconsumption when the system is built to make us consume more.
FFun Fact: Why Are We Called “Consumers”?
It’s no coincidence we’re called consumers – not just users, but con-sumers – those who use things up, often more than we need.
The English word “consumer” comes from Latin consumere, which means to use up, destroy, or devour – the exact same roots and meaning as in many other languages.
In short: the name reveals the role we’ve been given in the economic machine.
What Needs to Change?
- Stricter regulations for new product launches
No “new generation” models without real improvements. Cosmetic updates shouldn’t justify full product releases.
- Legal requirements for compatibility and repairability
Products should be repairable and upgradeable for 5–10 years at minimum. Why should a phone be obsolete after just two?
- Ban planned obsolescence
Authorities must monitor and penalize companies that shorten product lifespans on purpose.
- Transparent marketing rules
Companies must prove their sustainability claims – not just slap a green leaf on the packaging.
- Pricing systems that reward sustainability
Sustainable products must be more affordable than their polluting alternatives – not the other way around.
- Lawmakers must fix the system
In some countries, companies have been penalized for donating surplus food rather than throwing it away. And countless stories exist of people fined for rescuing food from dumpsters. We need policies that reward responsible behavior – not punish it.
People Want to Change – the System Needs to Let Them
It’s easy to say “make better choices.” But when sustainable products are more expensive, harder to find, or less appealingly marketed, it’s unrealistic to expect consumers to solve this alone.
So next time you see an ad for a “revolutionary” upgrade, ask yourself:
Is this really an improvement – or just marketing in a new disguise?
Consumer power matters – but it won’t win the battle alone. For real change, we must turn our focus to those truly in control: the producers.
World Consumer Rights Day 2025 shouldn’t be about what we buy – but why we feel pressured to buy it.
