Sustainability in everyday life - what does that look like in concrete terms?
The topic of sustainability has moved to the centre of society in recent years. There are various reasons for this. On the one hand, more and more people want to conserve resources and be more mindful of the environment. On the other hand, it is also because a sustainable lifestyle can often save money. Here are some tips on how sustainability can be easily and advantageously integrated into everyday life.
small things often have a big impact
It is often small changes or adjustments to habits that have a big impact. Those who adapt their routines quickly contribute to sustainability. A good example is the habit many people have of enjoying a coffee-to-go on the way to work or during their break. Mostly, unfortunately, in disposable cups, which are anything but sustainable. It makes much more sense to make a coffee at home and take it with you in a thermos flask or an insulated mug - it saves a lot of waste and is also much cheaper! Many habits can be adapted along these lines.
Sustainability and digital services - how do they fit together?
At first glance, consumers have little influence on how sustainable digital services are. It also seems as if the issue of sustainability plays no role when it comes to things like a mobile phone or internet contract. In fact, this is not true, as some providers are now prioritising the issue.
For example, some providers have now switched to sustainable mobile communications. Network operators such as EDEKA Smart deliberately use green electricity to operate their infrastructure. This makes the use of mobile communications climate-neutral and environmentally friendly.
As if that wasn't enough, EDEKA Smart also pays attention to sustainability when it comes to SIM cards. Recycled plastic has been used in production since August 2022. EDEKA Smart also supports the recycling of smartphones. This is achieved through cooperation with mobile phone collection centres. The old devices are processed, checked and, if possible, reused. Where this is not possible, they are recycled in an environmentally friendly way. Smartphones contain not only toxic substances, but also numerous valuable raw materials. These are returned to the recycling chain, which is an important step towards a circular economy.
Sustainability in the food sector
Sustainability plays a particularly important role in the food sector. Depending on the season and origin, there are major differences in terms of sustainability, particularly when it comes to fruit and vegetables. Everyone has the opportunity to increase the sustainability of their own shopping basket by making targeted choices.
Another good option is to grow your own fruit and vegetables. If you have a small garden or a plot of land, you can often cover your needs to a greater extent than expected. This is mainly achieved by preserving the food you grow yourself. For example, it can be useful to buy a dehydrator and dry the harvest. This is possible with many types of fruit. For example, apples can be cut into slices and dried - the apple slices can be kept for many months as dried fruit and can be used in a variety of ways, for example as a snack or in muesli.
Another option is to fall back on the tried and tested methods of our grandparents. They mainly stored vegetables in piles of earth and kept them fresh for months. Today, this is easily possible in the cellar if a large bucket is filled with sand. Here, for example, carrots from your own harvest can be kept fresh for up to six months if they are stored in slightly damp sand in a cool, dark place.