Consumer Education for Sustainability and Market Citizenship: A European Private Law Perspective

Francesca Bertelli () and Karin Peluffo ()
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Francesca Bertelli: University Unitelma Sapienza, Department of Law and Economic Sciences
Karin Peluffo: University IUSS Pavia, Theories, Institutions, and Cultures of the Ecological Transition (CU4)

A chapter in Sustainability in Education, 2026, pp 517-531 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The common values implied in the principle of sustainable development are reshaping the economic model of a “competitive social market economy” in the EU internal market, as well as the overall approach to EU law. In this context, consumer education is essential to help individuals to make informed choices that support sustainability. Both consumers and corporations represent a political force in a complex system of interdependencies, where individual economic interests are no longer the priority. However, the freedom to choose less sustainable options still remains part of economic freedom. Educating consumers about the impacts of their choices enhances the rebalancing power of transparency in the capital market. In this context, environmental certifications serve as a key tool for promoting informed consumer choices, enhancing both transparency and consumer awareness in the pursuit of sustainability. These certifications help reshape market dynamics, promoting more sustainable economic practices, and ensuring that businesses are held accountable for their environmental impact. The flow of (sustainability) information in the right direction empowers stakeholders, promoting their active engagement in corporate decisions. This approach, through the democratization of corporate governance and enhanced consumer education, would make the market system more democratic and sustainable.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:csrchp:978-3-032-16077-5_22

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-16077-5_22

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