New Year’s resolutions for the environment

We didn’t just learn this yesterday and yet there is still a long way to go, which requires reflective, sustainable rethinking. But too often it’s just about telling us what NOT to do. Much more we would like to demonstrate the specific measures each and every one of us can implement in our daily lives to, as a society, make headway on this urgent topic. We are dedicating our New Year’s resolutions to the environment in the form of tips. Because even the small things are already leading to the reduction of our collective footprint.

Nathaly Bachmann’s resolution: Unique pieces instead of mass-produced fashion

Every year 100 billion articles of clothing are sold worldwide. The bottom line: The textile industry causes more greenhouse gases than the airline and shipping industries combined. It starts with the raw material, continues through production and culminates in the transport of the garments.

Fortunately, there are great alternatives to Zalando’s mass-produced goods (including from Zalando itself): Here you will find a list of online platforms for vintage fashion. And best of all: Each piece tells a different story, and you don’t have to worry about running into someone with the same blazer at the next party.

 

 

Naëmi Rickenmann’s resolution: A meatless generation

Giving up meat is much easier today than it was 10 years ago. Not only have the common meat alternatives such as tofu turned into something tastier, seitan wings are now lined up with tempeh balls and jackfruit burgers in supermarkets. And with Planted, the “chicken” made from pea protein, meatless enjoyment has found its master. The huge selection likewise makes it easier to say goodbye to the wieners in barley soup, as well as great fun to try new things. Certainly, a meatless society is a utopia, but also an ideal that is worth striving for. If you still don’t want to skip your trip to the butcher’s, you can swing by the Hiltl Vegimetzg for inspiration.

 

 

Corinne Burbo’s resolution: Market-fresh instead of packaged

 While it may be easier and less time consuming to buy tape, vegetables, toilet paper and mustard in the same place, nothing beats the experience of strolling through the farmers’ market in the morning and being inspired by never-before-seen vegetables for dinner. Water asparagus, stachys and tree onions are not uncommon. By going to the market, you are not only declaring war on the disappearance of biodiversity, you are also supporting local suppliers.

 

 

Karin Vogt’s resolution: Local, local!

No superfood is available as a local, seasonal version. Flax seeds instead of chia seeds, rose hips instead of goji berries, red currants instead of pomegranate seeds — every superfood that is made palatable to us as a nutrient bomb by influencers (aka nutrition experts) can be replaced by an environmentally friendly substitute that not only contains at least the same number of nutrients, but is also available as a pesticide-free version in health food stores and organic grocery stores. It doesn’t get any better than this!

 

 

Ilse Held’s resolution: Reduce … laziness

Don’t reduce just plastic, but also a bit of laziness. Integrated with daily life. For example, turn off the water while scrubbing your hands. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Or carry your PET bottle with you to the nearest recycling bin instead of throwing it in the nearest trash can. Reuse plastic bags multiple times. Very little effort, plenty of karma points!

 

 

Alexandra Gygax’s resolution: Get rid of the disposable cotton!

Cotton pads, cotton swabs and wet wipes — there are many items in the bathroom that are disposed of after a single use. The more sustainable alternatives are reusable pads made of cotton, polyester or bamboo. You can even make the pads yourself with old cotton shirts. You can use these pads as usual. After use, the pads can be either washed by hand with hot water and soap or tossed in the washing machine at 60 degrees. The LastSwab “cotton” swabs have a nylon handle and a TPE (synthetic) tip. These can also be easily cleaned with soap and water after use.

 

 

Our tips are not only suitable for everyday use, but also enrich daily life. They make it possible to minimize our own footprint — and thus the footprint of our society as a whole — without major restrictions in our lives. We wish you green success!