World Consumer Rights Day: 19 Sustainable Consumer Trends From All Over Europe

Austria

Austria is choosing to fight electronic waste with repair vouchers. Consumers are encouraged to invest in repairs rather than in new electronic devices, with vouchers that cover half the costs of a repair up to €200. The programme was launched in the capital of Vienna in 2020 and expanded to the whole of Austria in 2022.

Belgium

Belgian second hand shops are more popular than ever. In the year before the pandemic more than 6.5 million customers visited a “Kringwinkel” or “Petit Rien”. Consumers simply drop off furniture, kitchen utensils or other items they no longer need, and can buy items at bargain prices.

Bulgaria

A multinational clothing company operating in Bulgaria encourages consumers to bring clothing donations to the store. Clothes are accepted on site and the traders see to it that clothes are recycled or reused. As a reward for handing in old clothes, customers receive a discount voucher for their next purchase.

Croatia

The Croatian online platform “Burza otpada” (waste exchange) has been bringing companies together since 2017. The platform promotes an exchange of information on the supply and demand of secondary raw materials that arise during the production process, or during the waste management process.

Cyprus

Cycling can be an effective way to fight traffic and carbon emissions, especially in a small country like Cyprus. With a new subsidy scheme providing subsidies for the purchase of a bicycle, maintenance and repairs, the Cyprus government hopes to introduce cycling in people’s daily lives.

Czechia

Bringing your own food containers to the shop? In recent years, Czechia has seen an increase of shops where consumers can scoop rice, pasta, coffee or tea into their own containers, reducing the need for single-use food packaging.

Denmark

A win-win situation for consumers, shops and the environment: in Denmark restaurants and shops use a popular mobile app to sell leftover meals that would otherwise be thrown out. Customers can check the app to see what is available in their local area and pick up the leftover food at a reasonable price.

France

When it comes to defective products, France encourages consumers to choose repair over replacement. For example, by suspending the legal guarantee of conformity while a product is being repaired. Or by granting a six-month extension of guarantee if a consumer asks a trader to repair the product.

Germany

With an amendment to the German law on circular economy, the country wants to put a stop to overproduction, the destruction of new goods and unnecessary returns. By making manufacturers and retailers document how they deal with unsold goods (will they be donated, or sold at a lower price, for example), Germany hopes to stop perfectly fine electronics and clothes from being wasted.

Italy

The Italian platform NeXt-Nuova Economia per tutti provides an overview of sustainable best practices across the country. Whether these are carried out by companies, schools, municipalities or start-ups. With the "Vote with your Wallet" tool, the platform encourages consumers to take responsibility and make informed and conscious purchases.

Latvia

A coffee for the road: several Latvian fuel station chains encourage drivers to bring their own reusable coffee cups. Resulting not only in less single-use coffee cups, but also in less money spent on the take-away coffees. Customers who bring their own cup can earn up to a 15% discount on their drink.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is the first country in the world to offer free public transport to all, showing the world what sustainable mobility could look like. All residents and tourists in Luxembourg can simply hop on a bus, train or tram, without having to buy a ticket.

Malta

A reverse vending machine? Starting April this year, the Malta Beverage Container Refund Scheme will place a refundable 10 cent deposit on all beverages in glass bottles, metal bottles and cans. Consumers in Malta and Gozo can return their beverage containers to a network of Reverse Vending Machines.

Netherlands

A Rotterdam-based start-up has launched the Netherlands’ first package free, circular online supermarket. Consumers buy their products in bulk and will get them delivered in deposit glass jars. Used jars can be returned to the delivery driver, so they can be washed and filled again. Forbes reports that package free supermarkets could save up to 20kg of plastic per person per year.

Norway

Recycling is everyday business for Norwegian consumers. Norway’s deposit scheme for recyclable bottles and cans made sure that last year more than 92% of all bottles and cans were recycled. Recycling machines are stationed at the entrance of every supermarket and return the deposit that was paid at the purchase of the can or bottle.

Poland

Looking for an interesting getaway? An architectural studio from Wrocław has created a mobile hotel, made of repurposed and upcycled cooling trucks. As they are usually used for the transportation of refrigerated goods, these trailer trucks have great isothermal insulation and can maintain a comfortable temperature inside.

Portugal

With energy prices rising, energy poverty is an important topic. The Portuguese government has launched a programme to fight energy poverty. Subsidies are provided to make houses more energy efficient, for example by making improvements to windows and doors, using sustainable home heating systems and making sure houses are insulated.

Slovenia

In Slovenia, the non-profit Reuse Centre’s motto is to ‘reduce, repair, reuse’. The centre teaches consumers how to properly repair and maintain products and also manufactures new products using existing materials (upcycling).

Sweden

Sweden has halved its VAT rate for repair services. Consumers wishing to repair their bicycle, shoes, leather goods, clothes or household linen now pay 12% VAT instead of 25%. Consumers who hire a mechanic to fix household appliances are also able to claim a partial tax refund for the costs of the repair.