Introduce children to sustainable consumption in a playful way!

Introduce children to sustainable consumption in a playful way!

On March 19, 2025, Dr. Claudia Plinz, a scientist from the European University of Flensburg, and Daniela Hartmann from the Schleswig-Holstein Consumer Center won first prize in the “Rethinking Consumption” competition. The competition is organized by the German Section of the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) and aims to promote innovative approaches to changing consumer habits. Good practice examples were sought that reflect the motto of World Home Economics Day.

With their project “KonsumChecker”, a board game for primary school children, Plinz and Hartmann have made a significant contribution to the topic of sustainable consumption. The game was developed with fourth-graders at a primary school in Kiel and teaches children in a playful way how they can have a positive influence on the world through their actions. It promotes awareness of sustainable behavior and shows scope for action - a goal that the Schleswig-Holstein Consumer Center is also pursuing with its project “Conscious and sustainable consumption – from knowledge to action”.

The concept of the game

As part of “KonsumChecker – Exchange. Trade. Change the world.” Students not only learn to question their own consumer behavior, but also to develop alternatives. The game development process included a student group lasting several weeks in which the children were actively involved in the content. This participatory concept shows how important it is to introduce the younger generation to the topic of sustainable consumption. Teaching materials on the topics of “sustainable consumption” and “limited resources” complement the board game and are accessible to teachers.

Dr. Claudia Plinz supported the development scientifically and ensured that the content was both educational and appealing for the young players. The board game is designed as an educational tool that can be used in primary schools to increase awareness of consumption and sustainability.

National measures for sustainable consumption

The award to the two scientists falls into the larger context of sustainable development in Germany. The National Program for Sustainable Consumption (NPNK), which was approved by the federal government on February 24, 2016, aims to strengthen sustainable consumption in various areas. This program was created under the leadership of the Federal Environment Ministry, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection.

The NPNK specifies the German sustainability strategy in the area of ​​consumption and includes six key consumption areas with great environmental potential: mobility, nutrition, living and household, office and work, clothing as well as tourism and leisure. A central goal is to establish sustainable lifestyles as a standard and to promote shared responsibility between politics, business and individuals. Cross-cutting approaches include education, consumer information and research to support sustainable consumption decisions.

For their outstanding achievements, Plinz and Hartmann will also receive free participation in the third German Home Economics Congress, which will take place in Cologne on June 2nd and 3rd, 2025. This congress offers a platform to discuss further topics related to sustainable consumption and to present innovative approaches. It remains to be hoped that the “KonsumChecker” project will provide far-reaching impetus for a sustainable future in education.

Efforts to promote more conscious and sustainable consumption are not only increasingly important, but also urgent given the global challenges we are currently facing. While projects like “KonsumChecker” set standards, the integration of such innovative approaches into school education will be essential to prepare the next generation for the challenges of a sustainable lifestyle.

Further information about the competition and the project can be found on the website University of Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein consumer advice center and sustainableconsumption.info.