From ideas to action: promoting transformative consumption options

Since December 2015, the aim of the Responsible Consumption and Social and Solidarity Economy Fair has been to provide businesses, organisations and initiatives from the social and solidarity economy with access to Plaça de Catalunya, a central location in the city, in order to:

• Highlight the work and the goals of these businesses and organisations, including participation in the projects of third social sector associations that work with people in vulnerable situations, with diverse abilities or other circumstances.
• Showcase the diversity within the SSE: cooperatives, associations, foundations and other business models.
• Earn income for the participating companies and organisations: to contribute to their economic solidity and visibility. The companies and organisations, in turn, undertake to provide a direct social return during the Fair or other times of year with a commitment that is implemented through specific actions that raise the public’s awareness of responsible consumption and the social and solidarity economy.

At the same time, we want the people who come to the Fair to be aware that they have the power to change their consumption and easily adopt more responsible and sustainable habits. In fact, they are the true drivers of transformation. This is why in this space they’ll find:

• Products for Christmas made with responsible consumption in mind that convey the importance of knowing the origin of the products we consume and how these everyday acts can contribute to a fairer and more sustainable future. The underlying message would be not to give just any old gift, but to give one with added value. Aside from the diversity of products, the Fair highlights two major types: clothing and food, where there are responsible consumption options that have a major impact on the much-needed shifts towards social and environmental sustainability
• Responsible consumption and social and solidarity economy options that are not just for Christmas, but for all times of year, particularly products and services needed for everyday life. This information is provided directly by the organisations and businesses themselves and is complemented through the information space and activities of the Responsible Consumption Space.
• Awareness-raising activities for families through the initiatives and activities programmed in specific spaces to publicise responsible consumption and the social and solidarity economy.

We are all the key to the easy and concrete changes that lead to more responsible consumption