Living sustainably in Sweden - Goal 11

Meet Isabela, a Geography and Environmental Science student studying for a semester abroad at Umeå University in Sweden, who shares with us her perception of the nordic perspective on sustainable living and how she is contributing to Sustainable Development Goal number 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

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As a Geography and Environmental Science student, I have become aware of our impact on the planet. Heavy air pollution and tons of waste are characteristic challenges many cities around the world are currently facing, and us, we have the power to create change. On this article I will explain 4 sustainable practices that make up an important part of my lifestyle while on exchange in the most populous city in northern Sweden, Umeå.

Eco-friendly transport

Umeå University campus

Cycling culture is characteristic across all of Sweden. People cycle to work, to school, to go grocery-shopping all year round. Yes, even on winter. When I first arrived to Umeå, on an average winter day with temperatures way below zero, around -20 degrees Celcius to be precise, I saw how people can adjust their daily-lives to such extreme climatic conditions. And this includes also riding a bike to work at -20 degrees ºC while the streets are covered in snow.

Umeå, like many cities in Sweden, is a bike-friendly place, with many bike lanes, where drivers have great respect for bikers and cycle ranks are all over. But it is also a city with many students, who normally commute by bike to most places. After arriving, it didn’t take too long until I got a bike. I bought a pretty decent second-hand bike that I use to go everywhere, literally. As campus and the shops are a stone’s throw away from where I live, either walking or cycling are great choices, and in some other cases the good bus service here is too. This saves me from contributing a large proportion of transport emissions that so negatively influence on air quality, and, in turn, people’s health.

Most students I know here got a second-hand bike. Many use them on a daily basis. This means this widespread cycling culture does not only promote a daily form of eco-friendly transport, but it also empowers reusing bikes, thus, there is a big second-hand bikes market available that also contributes to developing a green economy in Umeå.

Plastic-free grocery shopping

Plastic-free grocery shopping

Cities face challenges of waste management and there is a way we can help on this – by reducing our waste, particularly when grocery shopping. On every grocery shopping I try my best to go plastic-free. This can be easily done by choosing loose veggies instead of packaged ones.

Reuse

On the fight against unnecessary waste, reusables play an important role. My tote bag is my best friend. For grocery shopping, for carrying books, clothes and pretty much anything else I need. Tote bags are easy to carry as an extra as you can fold them and keep them in another bag. Just in case, because you never know. They are definitely a life-saver when fighting unnecessary plastic use.

Tote bags are lately a trend, they’re also aesthetic and can be a nice souvenir from a holiday, a visit to a museum or a festival.

As well as tote bags, other reusable items are equally essential and used among many students in Umeå. For example, lunch boxes, cutlery and reusable water bottles.

There is yet more fun when it comes to reducing waste. Second-hand shopping. Umeå has multiple second-hand shops and second-hand markets are frequently organized. On these, one can find home décor items, clothes, books, electronic devices and other useful stuff deserving a second chance. This is particularly useful for exchange students, who generally look for inexpensive winter clothes and other stuff for temporary use.

Second-hand market at Umeå University.

Recycling

Umeå counts with a careful recycling system. Metals, cardboard, glass, plastics and compostable waste must all be disposed separately. On top of that, there are also clothing recycling containers around. But the most characteristic recycling system in Sweden is that in the recycling of cans and bottles. When purchasing these single-use containers one must also pay a refundable deposit. This is called "pant". Pant machines, usually located next to supermarkets, are for depositing aluminum cans and PET bottles, then you get the pant returned and containers are kept until collected to be recycled and turned into new ones. Easy.

This innovative system aimed to reduce waste is worthy to admire as it has shown great effectivity in Sweden – almost 90% of all aluminum cans and PET bottles are today recycled – and, thus, it has contributed to the building of sustainable cities.

Deposit for small cans is 1 Swedish kronor.

All in all, these practices greatly contribute to developing of a sustainable city. In Umeå, a sustainable lifestyle is not only facilitated by the status quo, such as the recycling system, but it is most importantly achieved through our every day practices -riding our bikes or walking, reducing our plastic consumption, buying more second-hand items and going for reusables instead of disposables.