Sustainable consumption in the digital age: A plea for a systemic policy approach to turn risks into opportunities

Abstract

Digitalization offers opportunities for sustainable consumption patterns. However, the patterns enforced by present digital business models are not sustainable. Current European Union regulatory approaches for both consumers and environmental policies do not systematically address this challenge. By introducing “positive accountability,” we propose a systemic policy approach to hold digital companies accountable for their impact on consumers and the environment; supporting sustainable consumption in the digital age.