Live sustainably

How can you live sustainably? How can we ensure that our grandchildren and great grandchildren also have a future worth living on planet earth? Of course, there is more than one right answer to these questions. Because everyone can do something every day that protects the earth’s ecosystem and protects it and with it the habitat of us humans. Acting sustainably is important today and in the future – it’s about critically questioning our own consumption and reducing it. This is done, for example, by saving on unnecessary packaging, by consciously choosing resources and material, through less meat consumption and through environmentally friendly behavior in everyday life.

In this article, we have put together 10 tips on “living sustainably” for you which you can use every day to make a small contribution to environmental protection.

With the To Go series products from Villeroy & Boch, you can easily save packaging waste when you are on the go.

What you can do to protect the environment

Almost every day on the news you see new terrible stories about the impact of climate change: Bush fires and forest fires that are out of control. Species that are dying out every minute, because their habitat is endangered. Storm disasters that destroy entire livelihoods in a few seconds. All of this is happening right now – and not just far away from us, but also right here in Europe and in Germany. We don't feel all of the effects of climate change, environmental pollution and overexploitation of nature directly. But we are affected nevertheless, even if it is indirectly.

That is why many people ask themselves: What can we do to protect the environment? The answer is often simpler than expected: There are a lot of things that can add up to have a big impact. That is why environmental protection and living sustainably really concerns everyone.

A sustainable alternative to plastic straws - Villeroy & Boch Artesano Hot & Cold Beverages glass straw.

Live sustainably:

10 simple tips for everyday life

10 simple tips

For everyday life

1. Reduce plastic

When shopping, it is still hard to do without superfluous plastic, because a lot of food and other daily use items are packaged in plastic. But you should at least do without the plastic bag when shopping and instead bring a reusable fabric bag or the tried-and-true shopping basket. There are also sustainable options for when you are on the go - such as bowls from the To Go series from Villeroy & Boch. And if you can choose, you should consciously avoid plastic and, for example, buy fruit and vegetables at the market that are completely unpackaged.

2. Make it yourself instead of buying it

Sustainability means that we replace what we take from nature. The term originally comes from forestry, but now there are many ways to act sustainably in everyday life. For example, you can do a lot of things yourself, instead of buying them. This starts with food, which is not only more sustainable and cheaper when you cook it yourself, but it also tastes better, and extends to upcycling old furniture or making your own cosmetics and cleaning agents. Packaged right out of the oven to bring along in an environmentally friendly way - this is possible with a form pan with lid from Villeroy & Boch Clever Cooking.

1. Reduce plastic

2. Make it yourself instead of buying it

3. Environmentally friendly household remedies

Grandmother’s tricks are experiencing a comeback today, especially when it comes to the household. Because 100 years ago there were only a few cleaning agents and yet they removed all sorts of spots and contamination. Instead of aggressive cleaners, simple means such as soda or baking soda, acetic or citric acid and soft soap still work today. They can be used to remove limescale, grease, burnt on food residue and all other types of contamination in the household very well. Instead of toxic disinfectant for the toilet or sink, you can use denatured alcohol. You can pre-treat stubborn stains on spots with gall soap and instead of fabric softeners, just use a little bit of vinegar in the fabric softener compartment to make the laundry soft and fluffy. You can find more tips and tricks about environmentally friendly household and cleaning agents here.

4. Change your diet

Consuming meat, but also other animal products like milk and eggs, has a particularly bad eco-balance. A single steak requires about 4,000 liters of water, which corresponds to the amount of water of more than 20 full bathtubs. Agricultural animal husbandry causes a large portion of greenhouse gases and, like in South America, is mainly responsible for the deforestation of the rainforest. One possible way out of this dilemma is a vegan, or purely plant diet. Or at least to reduce meat consumption and combine this with a switch to high quality organic meat raised regionally. While organic food does cost a little bit more, it is not only healthier, but usually also tastes better and is definitely more sustainable. Get inspired by our meatless recipes - served here in the it‘s my match Blossom bowl.

3. Environmentally friendly household remedies

4. Change your diet

Clever Cooking baking dish

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5. Travel in an environmentally friendly way

You have the least amount of impact on the environment when traveling if you move on your own power, i.e. by bicycle or on foot. But even if you don't want to or cannot sacrifice your car, there are ways to make driving a car more sustainable. Car sharing or forming car pools can significantly improve your personal climate balance. And if you are go on vacation not by plane, but rather by train in a more environmentally friendly manner, you are making an important contribution to environmental protection and will probably arrive even more recovered and relaxed too. And to sweeten the ride a little more, you also don't have to go without your morning coffee or tea: The porcelain To Go coffee mugs from Villeroy & Boch keep your hot beverage warm and delicious for hours – all without plastic.

6. Save energy

Modern electrical devices are much more energy efficient and therefore better for the environment. Kettles with a temperature setting function heat water directly to the perfect temperature for filter coffee, 80 degrees C, and not first to 100 degrees C, therefore saving energy in the long term. Whether a vacuum, refrigerator or washing machine: When you buy a new appliance, you should note its energy balance or choose a model with an energy efficiency class of A or better. And by replacing light bulbs with modern LEDs, you can save up to 80 percent of energy for light. LEDs also last a great deal longer and are much more environmentally friendly to dispose of than energy-saving bulbs. Porcelain coffee filters and other products for sustainable coffee enjoyment are available from Villeroy & Boch.

5. Travel in an environmentally friendly way

6. Save energy

7. Avoid waste instead of separate waste

We have known for a long time that we need to separate our trash in order to reuse and recycle the individual materials as best as possible. It is important and right to separate trash, but the goal should nevertheless be to avoid waste as much as possible. Use your own vessels and containers to buy bulk good foods. Don't use packaging that can be avoided and deliberately choose products and goods that do not require additional packaging. Aromatic loose leaf tea is a good example - The Tea Passion tea canister with cover is a sustainable helper here.

8. Save water

By changing your diet and especially by reducing the amount of meat you consume, you can save considerable amounts of water. But you can also ensure that the vital resource of water is saved when showering, bathing and washing too. A toilet with a water-saving button consumes much less water in a small business. Waterless urinals do not require any water at all. And a new aerator in the tap reduces the water flow without having to forgo comfort and cleanliness.

7. Avoid waste instead of separate waste

8. Save water

9. Heat and ventilate properly

A great deal of energy is consumed for heating, especially in the winter. This is not just noticed in your bill, but also in the eco-balance. You can use a smart thermostat for your heating to automatically control the heating and, for example, turn the heat down at night or when no one is home. And when ventilating you can ventilate intensively for a few minutes while the heat is completely off. This way you provide fresh air without completely cooling down the room.

10. Shop more consciously

When making any purchase, you can advocate for more environmental packaging by buying seasonal food from the region. These come from farms in the area, which means they are particularly fresh and have a better eco-balance than fruit and vegetables that travel to us from far away by airplane or truck. This means you are also making an important contribution to species protection, because fields and meadows at home are also where animals and insects find their food and a home. And it often also feels better when you can get to know the farmer personally who provides you with your food.

9. Heat and ventilate properly

10. Shop more consciously

10 tips for your contribution to environmental protection

What you can do to protect the environment