“Sustainable Consumer in the New Normal”

The month of October has been designated as Consumer Welfare Month in order
to raise public awareness of consumer rights and duties. Republic Act 7397, also known
as the Consumer Act of the Philippines, which went into effect on July 15, 1992, states
the state's policy to safeguard consumers' interests, promote their general welfare, and
create standards of behavior for commerce and industry. Among the fundamental
consumer rights are the right to basic needs, which guarantees consumers the availability
of basic and prime commodities at reasonable prices and of high quality, as well as the
right to safety, which provides consumers the right to be safeguarded from the marketing
of products or the supply of services that are harmful to their health or life.
Every year in October, we celebrate Consumer Month. For more than two
decades, the country has celebrated the consumer every month in accordance with
Proclamation No. 1098 series of 1997. CWM (Consumer Welfare Month) is still raising
awareness about essential consumer rights and duties. According to resource speaker
Ma. Lourdes S. Tiongco, MPA, a Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist,
"Practicing sustainable consumer behavior in the new normal is important," particularly
considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased economic constraints on
vulnerable groups, many of whom depend directly on livelihoods tied to agriculture and
other land usage. Moreover, it is especially vital since our nation is now through an
unanticipated crisis, with many people losing their jobs, and we all need money for our
daily living expenses, which is why we must be smart buyers in order to save money.
According to the United Nations definition. "Sustainable consumption is the use of
goods and services in a manner that minimizes the effect on the environment, so that
human needs may be addressed not only in the present but also for future generations,"
When one practices sustainable consumerism. Resources are utilized carefully, and
waste and pollution are minimized. We can fulfill our wants and ambitions without
degrading the natural resources of our planet. Consumption includes not just
individuals and households, but also governments, businesses, and other institution.
Sustainable consumption is inextricably linked to sustainable production and a
sustainable way of life. Our sustainable way of life has been influenced by our culture,
cultural norms, political institutions, public policies, and markets. For example, in our
location, we would want to construct a structure; but, in order to do so, we must first
remove logs or trees, which would have an influence on the environment. It indicates that
whatever development we construct, we will make sure to keep our environment in
excellent shape; we will not only care about today's generation, but also about future
generations.
To be more environmentally conscious consumers and workers, we must minimize
residential power use in order to preserve energy. Avoid quick fashion/following new
trends since the money we spend on it will be squandered after the trend is finished, and
remember to think carefully before purchasing goods. When we go shopping, there are
many products made locally. We should shop locally and buy natural materials, which
means looking at the quality of the materials to see if they are made without having a
negative impact on our environment. Another thing we should do is avoid single-use
items. There are many products that can only be used once and we should avoid them to
reduce garbage and pollution in our environment.
The increased problems posed by the Covid-19 pandemic have heightened the
need to establish a better balance between the natural resources we consume and the
methods we take to protect and restore them. Our decisions are also having an
unparalleled influence on the environment. The basic needs we buy- from clothes we
wear to the food and drink we consume- they all have impact, in varying degrees, on the
environment. So, we need to starts with the individual changing his/her unsustainable
consumption patterns and if done collectively by the entire society will pressurize
businesses and industries to produce environmentally-friendly products. In this way we
can make progress towards preserving this planet, the only home to humans and all
species, the only one for the future generation to come. So, its on us to educate ourselves
and make conscious choices about what we consume for the health of our bodies and
planet.