Jena acts sustainably

The DRK facility "Sternschnuppe" was the first kindergarten in Jena to officially receive the "Fair Kita" certificate on 13.06.2019. This also makes it the first fair daycare center in Thuringia. The title is awarded by the "Faire Kita" project office of the "Faire Metropole Ruhr" network for an initial period of three years. The "Sternschnuppe" daycare center was awarded the "Fair Daycare Center" certificate again in 2025 after 2022 and may bear this designation for another three years. The award as a "Fair Daycare Center" recognizes the commitment and work of the educational staff, who address the topics of environmental and climate protection, fair trade and global peace and bring them closer to the children.

The "Sternschnuppe" daycare center has also maintained a partnership with the "Maribel Molina" preschool in San Marcos/Nicaragua for several years, which further enriches the more than twenty-year town twinning between Jena and San Marcos. The employees of Eine-Welt-Haus e. V. made a significant contribution to this successful project and certification through their work.

Further information on the first Fair Daycare Center in Jena can be found here.

The DRK facility "Bummi" also received the "Fair Daycare Center" certificate in 2019 and was successfully recertified in 2023. Together with Eine-Welt-Haus e. V., they develop projects, implement their own ideas for climate protection and promote awareness of sustainable and fair living. For example, the children take part in their own children's council or have set up their own "electricity police" to save electricity.

You can find more information here.

School year 2014/15

Starting with the 2014/15 school year, a joint sustainable homework booklet (Möhrchenheft) was offered free of charge to all primary school pupils in the cities of Erfurt, Weimar and Jena. In Jena, 3700 booklets were distributed to the schools that wanted to use it. Child-friendly topics in the areas of sustainability, climate protection and fair trade are designed to inform, sensitize and inspire. The children can link these topics to their everyday school life and pick them up there or at home. The mascot "Kiki Karotte" guides them through the booklet.

In June 2014, the booklet received the Climate Protection Award from the Jena-Thuringia Climate Protection Foundation. The project has also attracted interest at a national level. As an exemplary educational project for sustainable development, it received the "Werkstatt N quality seal" in 2015, which stands for excellent sustainability initiatives. The seal of quality is awarded by the German Council for Sustainable Development.

School year 2015/16

Another edition was realized for the 2015/16 school year, this time with a focus on "Fair Trade".

School year 2016/17

In addition to the cities of Erfurt, Jena and Weimar, the Ilm district and the city and district of Nordhausen also took part in the third edition on the topic of "Energy and climate", which was produced for the 2016/17 school year. This means that the "Möhrchenheft" is reaching more and more elementary school in Thuringia.

School year 2017/18

The fourth edition on the topic of "Biodiversity" has now been realized for the 2017/18 school year. In addition to the cities and districts already involved, the city and district of Gotha also took part. There are also interested teachers and parents from other places who have seen the booklet at friends' homes and are keen to have it.

School year 2018/19

For the 2018/19 school year, there was another edition on the topic of "Environment". The Möhrchen booklet was nominated for the 2017 Audience Award of the German Local Sustainability Award (ZeitzeicheN Award) and also received its own website.

School year 2019/20

The new edition for the 2019/20 school year was produced on the topic of "Fair Trade" and could only be delivered before the start of school and not before the vacations as usual. There were production-related delays that we were unfortunately unable to influence.

School year 2020/21

Another edition on the topic of "Energy and climate protection" has been produced for the 2020/21 school year and has already been distributed to the schools in Jena that requested it. This enables children to learn how important a good climate balance is, what energy is needed for everywhere and how it can be saved.

School year 2022/23

For the 2022/23 school year, the booklet also contains a special page on "Moors", a topic of the Thuringia Nature Conservation Foundation. The content is presented in an appealing and fun way on 10 illustrated themed pages. Children can find out where chocolate comes from, how electricity gets into the lamp, what happens to a plastic bag in the sea, or which regional and seasonal fruit and vegetables are ripe in which month. Topics such as "Animal husbandry and conscious nutrition", "Mobility and the way to school", "Urban gardening" or "Owning, sharing and giving" should also lead to new insights and lively discussions. Many elements are also designed to encourage people to paint, do handicrafts, discover and browse. In this way, sustainability can be experienced and also involves the environment, teachers and parents.

School year 2023/24

How do you inform primary school pupils about sustainability issues? What exactly is fair trade? Where are my jeans made and where do bananas come from? Pupils at elementary school in Jena were given comprehensive information on these and other questions in the 2023/24 school year through the sustainable homework booklet "Möhrchenheft".

School year 2024/25

The focus of this edition is on the environment. The booklet explains what sustainability is, why plastic is bad for the stomach and why cows also want to go for a walk. In addition to the typical functions of a homework booklet, the "Möhrchenheft" also contains ten topic pages with a variety of tips and regional contact points as well as ideas for games and crafts to further deepen the content.

School year 2025/26

This year, the focus of the "Möhrchenheft" is on the topics of "climate and energy". In addition to plenty of space for homework, children will find numerous tips on saving electricity, information on the difference between weather and climate and practical suggestions for a climate-friendly journey to school.

The fair-trade coffee "San Jena" is the city coffee of Jena anda visible sign of the town twinning between the cities of Jena and San Marcos in Nicaragua.

• Origin: Cooperatives in the north (Boaco) and in the center of Nicaragua
• Cultivation altitude: 700 - 1,200 meters
• Variety: Arabica (Burbon, Caturra)
• Flavor: nutty, chocolate
• Availability: ground, whole bean, espresso

The project was initiated by Eine Welt Haus Jena e. V. The cooperative Cafe Chavalo from Leipzig imports the twinned coffee. As "San Jena" is sourced directly from the producers, there is no intermediate trade. This ensures that as much of the sales proceeds as possible go directly to the producers.

In addition to these advantages, those responsible for the project are pursuing a high social standard: with the town twinning coffee, consumers not only receive a product with a convincing taste, but also a beverage that is produced fairly and sustainably and transported in an environmentally friendly manner. In addition, the purchase of "San Jena" supports the school education of young people in San Marcos (Nicaragua).

Further information can be found here.

On November 4, 2016, the Jena City Chocolate was officially presented at the Jenaplan School. At the inauguration, the branch manager of the CONTIGO Fairtrade Shop presented the new chocolate bar, which has been produced under fair trade conditions right from the start.

The idea of a city chocolate, which has already been successfully implemented in other cities in the CONTIGO Group, was also to be realized in Jena - but with a special local touch. CONTIGO therefore approached the Jenaplan School with the request to have the packaging design created by pupils. Despite the tight time frame between the fall vacations and the Christmas shopping season, the young people accepted the challenge with great commitment and even continued to work in their free time.

Floris Hansberg's design was finally selected from numerous creative drafts. Her design shows Jena as she sees her home town: young, lively, full of life - and with the Paradiespark as a green oasis at its heart. The winning picture has since adorned the packaging of the Jenaer Paradies chocolate bar.

The chocolate is made by the Austrian manufacturer Zotter, which has developed a special composition especially for Jena. The Paradies chocolate thus combines fine taste, artistic creativity and the values of fair trade - a sweet calling card for Jena.

Sustainability means taking into account the long-term consequences and effects of one's own actions when making decisions. Sustainability means respecting and taking responsibility for our future. The city of Jena has also committed itself to the goal of acting sustainably. For this reason, fields of action and measures have been developed to help promote sustainability. Jena has also been a Fairtrade city since 2012, a title that constantly gives us new incentive to make the world a fairer place.

Our everyday actions not only influence local life, but also have an impact on the climate, nature, animals and the living and working conditions of people around the world. Through our individual sustainable consumption, taking into account social and ecological aspects when buying and using products and services, we can contribute to global, sustainable development on a daily basis. Among other things, this means buying consciously, fairly, seasonally and regionally and using consumption alternatives such as food sharing or repair initiatives at . Responsible and sustainable consumption also means living and shopping in such a way that we and others will continue to be well off in the future.

The free Jena Change Mapoffers one way to do this . The digital city map provides a comprehensive overview of sustainable, fair and community-oriented initiatives, stores and meeting places in Jena. The map thus contributes to the sustainable transformation of the city and supports Jena's path to climate neutrality by 2035 - in a very practical way in everyday life. It shows ways to meet personal needs in a resource- and climate-friendly way and makes sustainable consumption more accessible. To achieve this goal, initiatives and offers, places and exchange opportunities are recorded and mapped. The Wandelkarten were devised by a group of young people on a voluntary basis back in 2016 and produced in print for the cities of Erfurt, Weimar and Jena. Inspired by this, the now nationally known "Map of Tomorrow" was created shortly afterwards. The new map of change is part of a networked map ecosystem. The digital change map project is essentially being created together with the Thuringian sustainability map, the "Map of Tomorrow" and the city of Erfurt and the city of Weimar.

Who makes my fashion? What does my fashion do to me? Do we have to follow every fashion? Where are my clothes made and what are the working conditions there?

The Eine-Welt-Netzwerk Thüringen e. V. and the agency Nachhall try to answer these questions at various events with lectures, films and discussions.

In 2015, at the beginning of the 4-month "Fashion Protest Jena" campaign from January to April, a thematic introduction to the topic of "Global Textiles" took place on 19.01.2015 in the Haus auf der Mauer. After an input from UNICEF Jena on the topic of children's rights and child labor in the textile industry, Anke Günther (FemNet e. V.) gave a presentation on the topic of Sumangali. Interactive elements and a stimulating discussion rounded off the event.

• The biggest activity, however, was the "Clothing Cure", which is intended to help people reflect on and reduce their personal habitual over-consumption of clothing. The recommendation from"modeprotest" for this reduction exercise is to pick out 50 items of clothing from your own wardrobe and pack the rest away for just under 7 weeks. The aim is to create an awareness of your own needs. Let's challenge ourselves: can we resist the fashion dictate of changing outfits every day?
• On 05.02.2015 at 16:00, the "Clothes Cure" kicked off at the "Nähcafé - Kombinat für textiles Recycling"(Kassablanca Gleis 1). After a short introduction to the topic of clothing consumption, the participants had enough time to talk about clothing overconsumption and minimalism.
• On 09.03.2015, an interim evaluation of the "Clothes Cure" took place at EWNT. Afterwards, the participants were able to watch a documentary showing the terrible production conditions in Asia.
• On 14.03.2015, the women's flea market was held at SOBAEXA Coworking at Carl-Zeiß-Platz 3.
• As a moving finale, a flash mob took place on the Holzmarkt on 24.04.2015 to mark the international Fashion Revolution Day.

As part of the Intercultural and Fair Week, a cinema day took place on 23/09/2016 from 20:00 in the Kino am Markt with the documentary "The True Cost" and on 27/09/2016 at 19:30 in the Ernst-Abbe-Bücherei with an author reading with Gisela Burckhardt on the topic "Todschick-Edle Labels, billige Mode-unmenschlich produziert" (further information can be found under Links).

As part of "Fashion Revolution Week 2019", the One World Network Thuringia and its partners once again organized an interesting series of events. For one week, various activities, offers and formats were used to draw attention to the human rights situation and conditions in the global textile industry.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, "Fashion Revolution Week 2020" took place primarily in the digital space. Every day from April 20 to 26 was dedicated to a different focus topic in order to draw attention to the various aspects and effects of the global textile industry.

Switching from disposable to reusable packaging for food and drinks to-go

Together with fourteen other Thuringian municipalities, Jena is taking part in the Thuringia-wide information campaign MISSION MEHRWEGfrom June 1, 2022 to switch from disposable to reusable packaging for food and drinks to-go and help raise awareness among restaurants and consumers in order to conserve resources and make our environment cleaner. MISSIONMEHRWEG is backed by the association Zukunftsfähiges Thüringen e. V. The association is a state-wide umbrella organization for sustainable development and sees itself as a working and action platform for the initiation and implementation of sustainability processes and corresponding participation opportunities.

Jena's participation in MISSIONMEHRWEG is part of the city of Jena's municipal commitment to greater environmental and climate protection. The aim is to further reduce the consumption of disposable packaging and to raise awareness of the use of reusable packaging as a simple and effective measure in everyday life. With the campaign, the city has been supporting the transition to a sustainable circular economy since 2023 and is placing a greater focus on climate-friendly alternatives.

Rising volumes of waste due to disposable takeaway packaging

Takeaway food and drinks have enjoyed great popularity, and not just since the coronavirus pandemic. According to information from the German government, 770 tons of packaging waste are generated every day in Germany by disposable takeaway packaging. The disposal costs of disposable packaging for takeaway food and drinks in public places and parks are also increasing, as are the energy and resource consumption and the impact on the environment and climate.

Reusable use instead of single-use plastic

One answer to the increasing amounts of waste is environmentally friendly reusable packaging. Reusable use instead of single-use plastic has an impact on CO2 emissions, protects against the unreflected consumption of resources and saves non-recyclable composite material.

The promotion of reusable packaging is therefore a significant contribution to environmental protection at municipal level. A reusable system systematically supports consumers in making environmentally friendly decisions. According to research by NABU, reusable products are used over 50 times more and therefore cause less waste and emissions.

"Thanks to the success of the MISSION MEHRWEG campaign throughout the city, we hope that reusable systems will meet with greater acceptance in the future and can be established permanently, and that many businesses in Jena will agree on a pooling system to make returns as easy as possible for customers," says Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of the Department for Urban Development and the Environment.

Measures in Jena

The city of Jena has had a plastic-free concept for its markets and festivals since 2020: "Jena's markets and festivals plastic-free - support for reusable systems and degradable materials" (19/2240-BV). The administration and the city of Jena's own companies make a significant contribution to the avoidance of plastic waste with their options as a licensing authority for markets and events.

Furthermore, a website on the topic of plastic-freewas also published, which explains the problem of plastic use, gives citizens tips on how to reduce plastic consumption and shows alternatives to plastic products.

In addition, Jena, together with Erfurt and Weimar, has been offering updated Wandelkartensince 2023 . The aim of the Wandelkarten is to be able to meet needs and requirements in a resource- and climate-friendly way, thus enabling sustainable consumption in everyday life and across the board. To achieve this goal, initiatives and offers, places and exchange opportunities are recorded and mapped.

Pigeon houses reduce the animal population and pollution

Since 2012, a concept has been implemented in Jena to reduce the population size of urban pigeons and the associated pollution caused by pigeon droppings. Supervised pigeon houses enable birth control by exchanging eggs for dummies, professional disposal of droppings and care for the animals.

The urban pigeon project is a sustainable, animal-friendly and effective solution for local authorities and property owners. The operation of pigeon houses is a proven and animal-friendly approach to a problem that cannot be solved by deterrence measures. Further information can be found on the volunteer-run project website.

Pigeon houses in Jena

The third pigeon house was opened in Jena's city center in autumn 2024. This cooperation model is financed by the city of Jena as well as local institutions and companies.

In addition, there are five other pigeon houses in Jena's urban areas that are run by private companies or volunteers. An overview of all managed pigeon lofts is published on the project website.

Successful implementation

The concept for reducing the urban pigeon population in a way that protects animals is being successfully implemented in Jena. In recent years, a drastic reduction in pigeon droppings and a reduction in the number of pigeons on roofs, in pedestrian zones and shopping arcades has been achieved. This has also reduced the costs of deterrence and cleaning measures.

Since the start of the project, a total of over 18,600 pigeon eggs have been replaced with dummy eggs in Jena. Several tons of pigeon droppings are disposed of from the pigeon houses every year, which noticeably relieves the environment.

The Jena city pigeon project is seen as exemplary throughout Germany. Numerous cities have already learned about the approach and expertise in Jena.

Contribution to animal health

Supervised pigeon houses offer the feral domestic pigeons clean, weather-protected accommodation and a species-appropriate supply of grain food and drinking water. Hygienic measures support the goal of a healthy pigeon population that is compatible with the city.

Wenigenjena community garden

The "Wenigenjena Community Garden" project has been under construction since May 2021. The city has made approx. 1500 m² of an area next to the KGA Talstein available for this purpose (Wenigenjena-17-6/11). The area was originally prepared for replacement gardens, but due to a lack of demand it was leased to someone else and put to horticultural use.

Other urban gardening projects in Jena

• Schillers Gartenhaus: A student urban gardening project at the University of Jena, which is based on a seminar paper and uses empty beds to grow healthy food and create meeting spaces. New participants are welcome; cooperation with Flussland is planned. Further information can be found here.
• Flussland: A paradise for urban gardening with plots on vegetable fields where you can harvest directly on site - ideal if you don't have your own garden. You can pick and pay for your own bouquets. Further information can be found here.
• Intercultural garden at the adventure playground in Jena: The intercultural garden "Colorful Vegetables" was founded in 2015 at the adventure playground. We cultivate it together with our children and residents from the immediate vicinity. There is always something to hoe, weed, harvest, sow, nibble, smell, taste, feel, enjoy... Further information can be found here.
• Polaris: The Polaris youth education center in Jena integrates urban gardening as a central component of its open space offerings. In the garden, visitors can plant herbs, start upcycling projects, build furniture or simply relax - with support in procuring materials and know-how. Further information can be found here.

In total, around 11 million tons of food waste are thrown away along the food supply chain in Germany every year.

According to the German government's first report on food waste from 2022, the majority of discarded edible food, such as peelings, leaves, bones or coffee grounds, was produced in private households (around 59%). A further 17% of food waste was generated in restaurants, communal catering or catering, followed by around 15% in food processing, around 7% in retail and around 2% in agriculture. According to a study by the Thünen Institute, surplus and spoiled food in agriculture is not usually disposed of as waste, but is instead recycled on the farm (source: Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture).

The report to the EU Commission was compiled by the Federal Statistical Office and several research institutes on behalf of the Federal Environment Ministry, which is responsible for waste legislation, and the Federal Environment Agency. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture closely monitored this process (source: Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture).

Foodsharing movement

Foodsharing is an initiative founded in 2012 that promotes the responsible use of resources and a sustainable food system. Its top priority is to end food waste.

Why? Because it's not just about the food that is thrown away, but also about the waste of energy, time and resources required for cultivation, harvesting, packaging, transportation and storage, for example. According to an estimate by the WWF, 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are caused by throwing away food alone. This waste occurs along the entire value chain: During cultivation, harvesting, further processing, sale and at the end consumer.

foodsharing raises awareness of the issue among all stakeholders with whom the initiative is in contact. In various campaigns, we draw attention to the incredible waste in society and offer solutions. The aim is to initiate education, rethinking and responsible action on a personal and political level for the appreciation of food and more sustainability.

Over 450,000 registered users and more than 100,000 volunteers, known as food savers, have turned the initiative into an international movement. More than 11,000 businesses are cooperating and 65 million kilograms of food have already been saved from going to waste. Around 5,000 more collections take place every day.

The foodsharing.de platform is based on voluntary work. Food is saved and shared free of charge. As the umbrella organization and operator of the website, the non-profit foodsharing e. V. ensures that it remains non-commercial and without advertising (source: Foodsharing e. V.).

Foodsharing in Jena

In Jena, around 150 people organize 250 pick-ups per month. The so-called food savers save almost 1 ton of food per week and bring it to the fair sharers. At the same time, various working groups are set up to encourage new businesses to join, provide education and train new members.

One Fair Divider is located in the Green House (Schillergäßchen 5), and there are also public distributions on weekdays:

• Tuesdays from 4:15 p.m., DRK Seniors' Center, Ernst-Schneller-Straße 10
• Wednesdays from 16:30, Wenigenjena district council, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 30
• Thursdays from 4:15 pm, Winzerla district office, Anna-Siemsen-Straße 49
• Fridays from 4:30 pm, Magdelstube, Magdelstieg 23

Further information can be found on foodsharing Jena.

The city of Jena is committed to a higher appreciation of food and to reducing food waste. As a symbol of the partnership between foodsharing Jena and the city of Jena, the two partners have signed a declaration of motivation (see downloads).

Foodsharing media reports

The foodsharing initiative can be seen and heard from time to time in the local media. The corona pandemic also presented the foodsharing initiative with major challenges. Under Links you will find various media reports on the foodsharing Jena group, including articles on the activities during the Corona restrictions.

foodsharing Fair-Teiler am Magdelstieg

© foodsharing Jena

Since 2025, the city of Jena has been supporting the association fairwertbar e. V. in setting up an urban food sharing café. A new place for sustainable encounters, exchange and joint action against food waste has been created at the Fichteplatz meeting point.

Rescued food is regularly shared in the café. In addition, cooking events, workshops and discussion formats on climate-friendly and resource-saving lifestyles take place.

With this funding, the city of Jena is consistently implementing its sustainability strategy and climate action plan. Both provide for the support of sharing initiatives and the provision of spaces for sustainable projects.

"With the Foodsharing Café format, we are not only creating a place where rescued food can be put to good use, but also a space for people to meet, exchange ideas and act sustainably," says Dirk Lange, Head of Urban Development and Environment for the City of Jena. "In this way, we are combining sustainability with a lively neighborhood and strengthening togetherness in our city."

Why plastic is a problem

It is hard to imagine our everyday lives without plastic - but it is often only used once. Over 40% of all plastic products are disposable. This leads to enormous amounts of waste worldwide. In Jena, around 34 kg of lightweight packaging was generated per inhabitant in 2020. Kommunalservice Jena collected a total of 3,721 tons - enough to cover the entire marketplace.

Plastic does not rot. Decomposition produces tiny particles, so-called microplastics (smaller than 5 mm), which are released into the environment via wind, rain and rivers - even into snow samples in the Arctic. If plastic gets into bodies of water, it damages animals and ecosystems. Many marine animals and birds mistake plastic for food. Microplastics can also bind pollutants that enter the food chain via animals.

Long-term consequences for humans have hardly been researched to date. One thing is certain: the less plastic we use, the better it is for the environment, animals and ourselves.

Alternatives to disposable products

Paper instead of plastic?

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Paper bags do not have a better eco-balance:

• Manufacturing consumes a lot of water and energy.
• New fibers are usually used instead of recycled paper (tip: look out for the Blue Angel ).
• Stability requires more material and chemicals.

A paper bag has to be used at least three times as often as a plastic bag to be on a par.

Bioplastic" is not a solution either - it rots too slowly and competes with food production because these bags are often made from corn starch. Although maize is a renewable raw material, there is a risk that the cultivation of renewable raw materials will compete with food and animal feed production. And their production requires a considerable amount of energy. In addition, bioplastic bags take too long to decompose in the composting plant and are therefore not actually composted or recycled.

Conclusion: disposable bags - regardless of the material - are best avoided or reused.

Reusable instead of disposable

By introducing a deposit on disposable cans and bottles for certain beverage groups, the German government wanted to increase the reusable quota. This goal has not been achieved. On the contrary: the proportion of drinks in reusable bottles is falling year on year. At 42%, the reusable rate reached a new low in 2017. Yet reusable bottles are an environmentally friendly alternative, and not just for disposable drinks bottles. Reusable nets are now also frequently offered for loose fruit and vegetables.

According to the Society for Packaging Market Research (GVM), disposable products such as to-go packaging and disposable tableware are the cause of high and increasing volumes of waste. Packaging and tableware made of paper or cardboard are not an environmentally friendly alternative here either. Here too, it is better to avoid rather than replace.

Conclusion: If a replacement is needed, then bring your own coffee cup for to-go coffee or use reusable tableware/reusable containers.

Verpackungsmüll auf Mülltonne

© KSJ

What we can do in Jena

1. shop unpackaged

Whether large supermarket chains or small stores around the corner, many stores now offer products completely without plastic packaging. This saves vast amounts of packaging materials for everyday products. There are also many opportunities to shop without packaging in Jena.

Simply leave the outer packaging for fruit and vegetables or other products in the store. Retailers must provide appropriate collection boxes for this purpose. This way you do not become a waste transporter and both retailers and manufacturers have to face up to the problem.

Lebensmittel in Gläsern verpackt

© Pexels

2. sustainable shopping with durable textile bags

Don't forget your cloth bag when shopping - reusable bags are a simple contribution to environmental protection. Every use saves resources and waste.

Bags that remain in use for a long time are particularly environmentally friendly: A cloth bag only becomes more climate-friendly than a plastic bag after around 131 uses - so it pays to take it home regularly!

If you have unused cloth bags at home, you can also donate them and help to reuse them.

3. refill stations

Taking a reusable drinking bottle on the go not only saves plastic, but also money. The concept of Refill Germany is simple: all stores with a Refill sticker fill tap water into bottles you bring with you free of charge.

Under the motto "Have your water bottle with you! Protect our environment! Drink enough water! Live healthy! Save money!", the aim is to avoid plastic waste and protect our environment. Many stores in Jena are already taking part. You can finda map of all refill stations in Jena under Links.

Refill-Aufkleber

© Refill Deutschland

4. reusable packaging

Whether for coffee on the go, a lunch snack or shopping: reusable packaging is always the better choice. In Jena, you can use your own cups or reusable systems such as "RECUP", "Vytal", "FairCup" etc. in many cafés and bakeries - so less waste ends up in the garbage cans. A lot of packaging can also be saved in the supermarket with reusable bottles and returnable jars. Consistently opting for refillable alternatives protects the climate and strengthens regional cycles. Of course, it is best to use your own reusable cups and containers.

5. cook fresh: Ready-made products avoid plastic packaging

Cooking your own food is not only healthier, but usually also more sustainable. Fresh ingredients are available at the weekly markets in Jena, in farm stores or in unpackaged stores without any single-use plastic. By avoiding ready-made products, you save on packaging waste, reduce transportation costs and support regional producers. Cooking together is also fun and raises awareness of what we eat every day.

6. wear clothes for longer: buy consciously, use second-hand clothes

Fashion doesn't always have to be new - wearing clothes for longer saves resources and waste. In Jena, there are numerous second-hand stores, clothes swap parties and online platforms where well-preserved items can find a second life. When buying new items, look out for durable materials and fair production conditions. Small repairs or upcycling projects extend the life of your favorite clothes and make them truly unique.

7. cosmetics without microplastics

Avoid cosmetic products that contain tiny plastic particles (known as microplastics) or liquid plastics. These are used, for example, in scrubs, shower gels or skin creams. To recognize and avoid cosmetics with plastic particles, downloadour free ToxFox app, which recognizes harmful substances and microplastics in products with a simple scan of the barcode.

8. collect waste

Take part in the annual SaalePUTZ or organize your own collection campaigns. Kommunalservice Jena (phone: 0049 3641 4989-250; E-Mail:vertrieb@jena.de) will be happy to support you with:

• Loaned tongs, bin bags and gloves
• Containers and collection of waste
• Environmental education programs
• Public relations work for collection campaigns

Plastiktüte liegt in der Natur

© Anastasia Gepp auf Pixabay

Commitment and education

The Children & Youth Environmental Award 2021 focused on eleven creative projects under the motto "Less is more - this is how we avoid waste". Kindergartens, schools and clubs from Jena showed how resource conservation and environmental protection can be practiced from an early age. Press reports can be found under Links.

Together we are making Jena plastic-free - step by step towards a clean, sustainable city.