Responsible consumption and its impact on environmental conservation
Keywords:
responsible consumption, environmental conservation, consumer behaviour, sustainability, environmental education.Abstract
Responsible consumption is a fundamental strategy for reducing the pressure exerted by production and consumption systems on natural resources, ecosystems, and the climate. This article aimed to analyse the foundations, practices, determining factors, and effects of responsible consumption on environmental conservation. A narrative literature review was conducted based on scientific articles and institutional reports related to consumer behaviour, environmental education, sustainable production, waste reduction, food, energy efficiency, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The literature reviewed showed that decisions such as reducing unnecessary purchases, choosing durable products, repairing and reusing goods, avoiding single-use plastics, reducing food waste, and preferring options with a lower environmental footprint can contribute to conserving materials, water, energy, and biodiversity. However, the adoption of these practices is influenced by price, the availability of sustainable alternatives, environmental information, personal values, social norms, infrastructure, and trust in corporate claims. The results also showed that placing responsibility exclusively on consumers is insufficient because their decisions are shaped by production, commercial, and regulatory systems. It was concluded that responsible consumption can support environmental conservation when integrated with public policies, education, reliable labelling, ecodesign, corporate responsibility, and waste management systems. Its effectiveness depends on simultaneously transforming individual choices and the structural conditions that promote resource-intensive patterns of extraction, disposal, and pollution. Furthermore, accessible and equitable alternatives adapted to each territory’s social, economic, and cultural characteristics must be ensured.
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