Consumer policy strategy of the state government: vunk Institute contributes to new mission statement for Baden-Württemberg

State government publishes its Consumer Policy Strategy 2025
The state government of Baden-Württemberg has presented its new Consumer Policy Strategy 2025 under the motto "Taking everyone with you - for strong cohesion in society". "With the new consumer policy strategy, the state government is laying down the theoretical framework for its consumer policy," emphasizes Peter Hauk, Member of the State Parliament and Minister for Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, in his foreword. The strategy was developed under the leadership of his ministry.

Innovative consumer mission statement - with the involvement of vunk
A centerpiece of the strategy is the newly formulated consumer mission statement, which was developed with the involvement of vunk. Prof. Dr. Steffen Kroschwald, Director of the Institute, supported the Ministry in formulating the mission statement from a legal perspective. The focus is on a differentiated consumer image. The state government emphasizes: "All people are unique and therefore not equally informed, understanding and attentive in every everyday situation and in every consumer issue." The strategy therefore calls for a Europe that "continues to offer strong consumer rights and a high level of protection" while taking into account the diversity of target groups.

At state level, this includes the promotion of consumer institutions, their and official consumer advice, consumer education and consumer research - supported by the Baden-Württemberg Consumer Commission.

Consumer-friendly technology design as a task for the future
The strategy also focuses on consumer-friendly technology design ("Consumer Protection by Design"). The state government makes it clear: "Where people in complex contexts want or need to trust instead of knowing, protection, especially of vulnerable groups, can only succeed if it is integrated into the respective situation and is automated." Consumer-friendly technology design should ensure that digital services and interfaces are developed in such a way that decision-relevant information is accessible in a way that is appropriate to the situation, additional reflection time is granted and consumer-friendly default settings are available. "We are therefore committed to integrating comparable regulatory concepts for 'consumer protection by design' into relevant consumer protection regulation, following the example of data protection law," the strategy states.

Scientific expertise for strong consumer rights
As a member of the Baden-Württemberg Consumer Commission, Prof. Dr. Steffen Kroschwald advises the state government on consumer law issues. In particular, he contributes the research perspective from the Institute for Consumer Research and Sustainable Consumption (vunk) at Pforzheim University and his expertise in digitalization law and data law.