Resumo

Patterns of consumption that little regard the Sustainable Consumption concept jeopardize the future generations on meeting their needs (CLARK, 2007), but education for sustainability, access for information and consumer awareness may shift current consumer behavior (UNEP, 2016). The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for “Responsible consumption and production” addressed in this study aims at ensuring that current needs do not lead to the over-extraction and degradation of natural resources (UNITED NATIONS, 2019), by promoting economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality.

There is not a clear distinction between the terminologies associated with “consumption”. “Sustainable consumption” has been widely used for any situation where something relates to the environment or a cleaner practice. This implicates that any consumption practices could refer to an environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially fair form of consumption, to a misunderstanding of what sustainability represents. This study aimed to track the main concepts related to consumption, as well as to provide some proper applications to them.

The concept of […] consumption refers: 1) Minimum: consuming strictly according to the needs. 2) Ethical: co-responsibility on the environmental impacts of human activities. 3) Conscious: the consumer reflects on how to choose products. 4) Responsible: there are a reflection and change on consumer behavior as a whole. 5) Political: connection of purchasing to sustainability by “electing” the kind of product. 6) Green: inclusion of an environmental variable when purchasing a product. 7) Sustainable: use of products that meet basic needs without jeopardizing the needs of future generations.

This study carried out a bibliographical review to identify the terminological definitions related to the term “consumption”. Then, this search was deepened by using as key-words: consumption, minimum consumption, ethical consumption, conscious consumption, responsible consumption, political consumption, green consumption, sustainable consumption. Second, a hypothetical choice made by a generic consumer was simulated through a logical flowchart. The choices directed the fictional individual to different consumption patterns, enabling to characterize the principles associated with each concept.

Sustainable consumption and responsible consumption are driven by the consumption of less damaging, economic developer and social fair products, which is observed by green consumers, although these products might still be too much damaging and the individual does not want involvement with such issue (political consumption). A minimum consumer considers that such a product is not necessary, or there is might exist a substitute. Being conscious of this, also being an ethical consumer, the consumer’s decision considers an option that preserves the environment for other people.

Sustainable consumption encompasses the definitions used for the minimum, ethical, conscious, responsible, political and green consumption patterns, which is the most comprehensive and closely related concept to sustainability standards. However, a consumer can only be characterized as sustainable, if a scenario is created to compare his or her consumption patterns to an average consumer, that is, adopting certain consumption habits, a consumer would be closer to being more sustainable.

CLARK, G. Evolution of the global sustainable consumption and production policy and the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) supporting activities. Journal of Cleaner Production, v. 15, n. 6, p. 492-498. 2007. UNEP ? UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME. A framework for shaping sustainable lifestyles: determinants and strategies. Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP, 2016. 42 p. UNITED NATIONS. Progress of goal 12 in 2019. 2019. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 12 ago. 2019.