3.3 Consumer organisations
Consumer organisations serve the interests of their members by conducting research on products and services and publishing the results. Some consumer organisations focus on environmental or social considerations, others integrate this in their overall goal to serve the interest of members.
Goede Waar & Co (formerly the Alternative Consumers League) is a consumer organisation supporting the critical, environmentally aware consumer. The general goal is a sustainable and just society. Until recently the organisation focused on supporting and critically following organic agriculture and the market for organic food products. But at present attention has shifted from alternative to critical consumerism; to meet the wishes of the consumer who requests clear and objective information on the origin of products and production methods for food, clothes and gene technology. Goede Waar & Co conducts research, organises campaigns and disseminates information. Apart from the quality and health aspects of products, it pays attention to environmental aspects, labour conditions, political or other forms of repression, the treatment of animals and advertising.
The Consumentenbond is an independent national consumers association with more than 600,000 members. It carries out activities on behalf of the interests of its members. These include testing products and services, and providing publications and other information for consumers. The Consumentenbond is also involved in consultations and negotiations with politicians and the business community, and offers direct help and support for individual members who have queries or are faced with consumer-related legal problems. At international level the League is a member of Consumers International (CI), the European umbrella organisation Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC), and the testing agency International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT). The League's 'Anne Fransen fonds' provides support to consumer organisations in developing countries and Eastern Europe.
Milieu Centraal is a national organisation that offers practical and reliable information on environmental issues to consumers. This information is reviewed by a panel of independent experts. An important activity of Milieu Centraal is providing information to the general public. Consumers can present their queries to experts who provide tailor-made answers. Or through the query-and-answer service on the website of the organisation. Milieu Centraal also initiates communication projects on important environmental issues, such as environmental-friendly building, transport and food. This is done in close cooperation with other organisations. At the same time, collaboration and a common approach increases the effectiveness and impact of environmental campaigning.