Time for change – 5 tips for your ecological footprint.

1. Shop local

Buying regional products or growing them directly at home has many advantages – both for a healthy lifestyle and for the environment. The reason? Food is harvested ripe and not transported thousands of kilometers by ship, plane or truck. Less miles and time spent after harvesting also means more nutrients. When growing your own crops at home in the garden or with a Plantcube, you harvest when the food is needed and exactly the amount that will be consumed.

Furthermore, supporting local organic agriculture or growing your own food prevents harmful pollution and at the same time protects the soil through pesticide-free cultivation.

2. Drive less

Biking to the train station or taking a short walk to the nearest market – such supposed "little things" can help reduce emissions. The calculation is quite simple: one person can make little difference, but if more and more people think about it and implement it at least every second shopping trip or daily commute to work, it can make a lot of difference in total.

3. Eat more plant-based food

The per capita consumption for meat in Germany is 60 kilograms per year. Cutting this mass in half alone can have a big impact on the carbon footprint. And not just meat, in general a reduced consumption of animal products, such as milk and eggs, leads to a reduction in the footprint. With a (largely) plant-based diet, you're not only doing something good for the environment, but also for your own health and for animals. And this doesn't have to be boring at all. There's an incredible number of delicious recipes, ideas and great products.

Many small people who do a lot of little things at many small places can change the face of the world.

4. Shop wisely

Before you sort something out, throw it away and buy a new one, you should think about this carefully. Maybe it can still be repaired or you find your new old favourite clothes or furniture at a flea market?

5. Turn down the heating

A significant difference in the energy balance can be achieved by regulating the heating – even one degree can make a big difference. A household can save up to 350 kg of CO2 per year. If the heating is cooled down even further at night, this amount could be achieved again. Automatic temperature controllers are practical helpers for this. Definitely no effort and with great impact on the ecological footprint. Of course, you don't have to freeze, but is it really necessary to walk around the apartment barefoot and in shorts in winter?