World Consumer Rights Day: Date, Theme, History, Significance, Quotes

4to40.com 2 days ago Public Awareness 49 Views

World Consumer Rights Day: It is observed on March 15th every year to spread awareness about consumer rights and needs worldwide. Take a look at the history, significance, quotes, and this year’s theme of the day.

World Consumer Rights Day: Date

2025: 15 March, 2025 [Saturday]
2026: 15 March, 2025 [Saturday]
2027: 15 March, 2025 [Saturday]

The day provides a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers be respected and protected. Also, to protest against market abuses and social injustices that undermine those rights. Every year, World Consumer Rights Day is observed on March 15 to mobilize action on important issues and campaigns.

The day highlights the power of consumers and their rights for a fair, safe and sustainable marketplace for everyone.

The day was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, and a special message was sent by him to the US Congress on March 15, 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first leader who did this. In 1983, the first consumer movement was marked, and now the day is observed every year.

History:

World Consumer Rights Day was initiated as a result of President John F. Kennedy’s leadership. On March 15, 1962, he spoke before the US Congress and specifically brought up consumer rights. He did so first among all world leaders. The first World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983. Since then, every year on March 15, various events are organized on national and international levels to spread awareness about consumer rights.

The United Nations has recognised and endorsed World Consumer Rights Day on a global scale. Consumers International has been running the campaign for 40 years, bringing the consumer movement together to celebrate as a group. Each year, members of Consumers International contribute to the decision of the campaign’s theme in order to encourage international action on critical consumer issues.

World Consumer Rights Day: Theme

2025: A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles
2024: Fair and responsible AI for consumers
2023: Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions
2022: Fair Digital Finance
2021: Tackling Plastic Pollution
2020: The sustainable Consumer
2019: Trusted Smart Products
2018: Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer
2017: Better Digital World
2016: Antibiotics Off The Menu
2015: Healthy Diets
2014: Fix Our Phone Rights

Some key facts are:

It is estimated that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050.
Annually, around 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and about 1 million seabirds are killed by marine plastic pollution.
Did you know that an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans each year?
Furthermore, approximately 40% of all plastic produced is packaged and discarded after one use.

The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2020 was ‘The Sustainable Consumer‘.

In August 2020, the Pew Charitable Trust and SYSTEMIQ report namely Breaking the Plastic Wave was released and calculates a tripling of the flow of plastic materials into the ocean by 2040 if major changes in policy, innovations, and changes behaviour do not occur. This year’s theme is a global challenge that requires coordinated and international solutions.

Quotes:

Your customer’s perception is your reality. ~ Kate Zabriskie
Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. ~ Damon Richards
The copyright bargain: a balance between protection for the artist and rights for the consumer. ~ Robin Gross
Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. ~ Bill Gates
Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to re-examine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles. ~ David Suzuki
You are serving a customer not a life sentence; learn how to enjoy your work. ~ Laurie McIntosh
Consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production; and the interest of the producer ought to be attended to, only so far as it may be necessary for promoting that of the consumer. ~ Adam Smith
A brand is nothing but an expression of the customer’s loyalty and trust. ~ Phil Dusenberry
Loyal customers, they don’t just come back, they don’t simply recommend you, they insist that their friends do business with you. ~ Chip Bell
A satisfied customer is the best strategy of all. ~ Michael Le Boeuf