Blåslampan is awarded by the Swedish Consumers’ Association and consumer magazine Råd & Rön, and goes to an individual, business or organisation that has made significant contributions to boost consumer power. The Centre for Consumer Science (CFK) was one of four finalists.
The idea behind the award is to recognise and highlight important contributions and to inspire others to work with, and pursue consumer issues. The award is presented on 8 November in conjunction with the seminar, “How companies can save the world”, at Näringslivets hus in Stockholm.
The explanation for the short listing reads:
“Research into consumers and the market is often conducted from the perspective of companies. For ten years, the interdisciplinary Centre for Consumer Science at the University of Gothenburg has pursued pioneering work, which has been based on the everyday needs of the consumer. In so doing they have produced important findings about food and children, sustainable consumption, fashion and design and interior decor, and been a source of inspiration for research both within and outside Sweden that can strengthen the position of consumers. Professor Karin M Ekström, now at the University of Borås, has played a key role in the establishment and development of CFK.”
Other finalists include journalists Daniel Öhman and Malin Olofsson, who wrote the book “Matens pris” about the food industry; Katarina Johansson with her book “Badskumt” about cosmetics and toiletries, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation’s campaign against king prawns.
The consumer prize jury is made up of Alice Bah Kuhnke (sustainability manager, ÅF), Annika Wilow Sundh (chair of the Association of Local Consumer Advisors), Mats-Eric Nilsson (author and journalist and winner of Blåslampan 2010), Stefan Edman (environmental campaigner and author), Sverker Olofsson (TV journalist from Plus) and Örjan Brinkman (chair of the Swedish Consumers’ Association).