World Consumer Rights Day 2025
On March 15 of each year, the global consumer movement and other influential stakeholders come together to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day. This annual event raises awareness of consumer rights, protection, and empowerment worldwide. Consumers International is proud to coordinate the day through a multi-stakeholder approach that unites our 200 Members together with international organisations, governments, businesses, and civil society.
Every day, billions of consumers make choices that directly shape our planet’s future—yet sustainable options often remain out of reach. For 2025, we united for A just transition to sustainable lifestyles. The theme reflected the urgent need to make sustainable and healthy lifestyle choices available, accessible, and affordable for all consumers – while ensuring that these transitions uphold people’s basic rights and needs.
ABOUT THE THEME
Recent years have seen unprecedented environmental challenges, including record-breaking temperatures, severe weather events, and escalating biodiversity loss. Pollution is now a major public health issue, contributing to millions of premature deaths annually. Without urgent action, these crises will deepen, jeopardising global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sustainable lifestyles are key to addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. These are not just environmental concerns but also pressing economic and social issues that impact communities worldwide.
A just transition ensures that the shift to sustainable lifestyles upholds people’s basic rights and needs. Rather than imposing hardships, it presents an opportunity for inclusive progress – delivering solutions that benefit both people and planet. This year’s campaign highlighted the pathways needed to achieve sustainable lifestyles and call for stronger consumer protection and empowerment worldwide.
Sustainable Lifestyles Summit
From 10-14 March 2025, we hosted the first ever Sustainable Lifestyles Summit – a global platform where the consumer voice took centre stage. Bringing together consumer advocates, businesses, governments, multilateral organisations, and academics, the summit explored solutions that put consumers at the heart of a more sustainable future.
How can we make sustainable living the easy choice for all? What policies and innovations will drive real change? Who is leading the way, and what can we learn from them?
Over five days, we tackled these urgent questions and more, focusing on key sectors such as food, diets, health, plastics, energy, gender, and consumer information.
Select leading organisations, governments, and initiatives also featured their events on the official Summit platform—gaining global visibility and shaping the future of sustainable lifestyles.
In addition, our Members and Partners hosted sessions throughout the week, aligning with the Summit theme, offering deeper insights and practical solutions.
Consumer advocates unite on March 15
On Saturday 15 March, Consumers International Members from around the world, alongside partners, came together to call for A just transition to sustainable lifestyles. Our global network of Members, spanning over 100 countries, took action to ensure the consumer voice was heard in shaping a more sustainable future. From public awareness campaigns and policy advocacy to research and community engagement, consumer advocates highlighted the urgent need for solutions that protect both people and planet.
Why 2025 is a Landmark Year
Our Sustainable Lifestyles Summit did not let these moments stand alone. By harnessing insights, commitments, and momentum, we will drive real change beyond the summit—culminating in our closing session which focused on turning discussions into action.