Environmental awareness means that we consider the impact of our decisions and actions on the environment. Environmental problems are more and more on the agenda, and therefore every act that helps to save the environment is increasingly important. The fast pace of life can make us forget that the right choices can do so much for the environment. The simplest environmentally friendly options are, for example, waste sorting and green traffic. While the individual impact of these choices may seem small, when we act together we can make a big difference. Below we give some recommendations for a more environmentally friendly way of life.
Make sorting waste convenient
Garbage sorting does not start at the moment it is generated, but earlier. It makes sense to recycle as much as possible and generate as little garbage as possible. If there is already garbage, the solution is a handy and practical trash can. Therefore, it is good to start sorting garbage with a sorting bin, which does not cause additional trouble when disposing of garbage. From our wide selection of sorting bins, you can find the ones suitable for a shopping center, near an apartment building, in a park, as well as at home or in the office. The environmentally friendly urban space is equipped with sorting bins. If sorting is convenient, it will be done more, also provoking a greater change in people’s behavior.
Use alternatives instead of plastic
Sorting and recycling your waste is crucial, but not all materials can be recycled. One such material is, for example, plastic, which makes sense to replace with recycled or biodegradable materials. Prefer reusable alternatives to single-use plastic items. An environmentally friendly choice is, for example, a cloth shopping bag instead of a plastic bag or a table made of recycled materials as an alternative to plastic outdoor furniture. For example, paper tape can be used to reduce plastic waste in the office. Or follow our example – when sending letters, instead of bubble wrap, we use envelopes made from leftover sheep’s wool, which is produced by Estonia’s own start-up Woola.
Prefer recycled materials
The ideal of material circulation is that there is no waste. Choosing a product made from recycled materials also means recycling waste and also avoiding the generation of new waste. Urban furniture made of recycled materials is an extremely environmentally friendly choice, because it has a very long service life. We use recycled polymer in Dambis Rebnew products. Our selection also includes weatherproof and maintenance-free park benches, tables, trash cans and other long-lasting outdoor furniture. Keep your eyes open and always prefer products with the Blue Angel label. This label is given in recognition of environmentally friendly eco-products and is attributed to, for example, our Rom and Tic bollards, the Kuk table and the Gar plant container.
Ride a bicycle or prefer a walk
Cycling and other light mobility solutions are getting more and more attention because compared to cars, their environmental impact is minimal. Thus, every environmentally aware road user should consider cycling next to the car or instead of it. Even if cycling is difficult in an urban space, it is a worthy step for the well-being of our environment. If the design of the urban space finally turns away from car-centric planning and also takes into account bicycles and pedestrians, both the urban space and the environment will progress. The establishment of bicycle infrastructure is the key to designing an environmentally friendly urban space. This does not mean a red-painted sidewalk, but a well-thought-out and connected network of roads, covered bike parking lots, bike maintenance stands and other rider-friendly facilities.
A car makes life more convenient and saves time, but is every trip to a distant store still worth it? Look around, maybe you can choose a place within walking or cycling distance. In the end, you may find that it takes less time and your thoughts are better thanks to a refreshing walk!
Prefer local products
We are all inevitably part of the global trade network. We have to consider that every product, in addition to the price tag, also has a transport impact as a damage to the environment. When buying a local product, try to consider what it is made of and how far the material comes from. If we are aware of how the transport of goods brought from afar affects the environment and we prefer local, we can also make more environmentally friendly choices.
Use new technology
A public waste bin installed in the city is only part of the solution. The other side of the environmentally conscious approach is more economical emptying of the trash can. To make the interval for emptying the trash can longer, choose Dambis smart trash can CitySolar. The CitySolar trash can is a true flagship of the green movement. This smart trash can uses solar energy to pack up trash and thus hold more trash. This reduces the emptying frequency of the green energy bin by twenty times. Such solutions contribute to the green leap.
A living urban space is a beautiful urban space
Wastelands, parking lots and concrete hells are an inevitable part of everyday life. An urban space that is not designed for people is an exhausting distance between two points for pedestrians. A bench next to the trail, a picnic table behind the hill and a planted plant community by the sidewalk can turn a dreary urban space into a living ecosystem. Any place in the open air where you can sit freely is welcome. Playgrounds between buildings, basketball courts, other leisure installations and also benches and tables should be prioritized.
Do good for the environment!
Think about your activity and your surroundings and take action! See how you can promote free time, waste sorting and car-free movement in your surroundings or workplace. Maybe twelve bikes could be parked at your house instead of three extra cars? Or maybe a tennis table placed in the rest area would help encourage the active movement of co-workers? Perhaps trash cans with a sorting option installed in the common area would bring both green thinking and activity to the collective instead of each employee’s individual trash can? Find like-minded people and do it!
Dambis offers public space furniture for both indoor and outdoor settings. Check out our range of urban furniture and accessories and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @dambisurbanfurniture to find inspiration for organizing an eco-friendly urban life!