But how does “protect the environment” work?

Don’t worry, we don’t want to bother you with complicated data or repeat things you may have heard before. This PassionWeek is about action! This week we would like to introduce you to strong women who all live out their passion in their own way and in doing so protect the environment. There are so many wonderful ways to approach the topic and even have fun and enjoy it. Maybe you can also get enthusiastic about it.

The life of Louisa Dellert was changed by environmental protection

The 30-year-old Louisa Dellert currently moved from Braunschweig to Berlin, after graduating from high school. She completed an apprenticeship as a management assistant in office communication. Afterwards her life has changed completely in the last years. She lets us share in her passion and gave us her tips: “My friends call me Lou. My main job is influencer and together with my best friends I run an online shop for sustainable products. My heart’s desire has become environmental protection. That’s why I decided to make good use of my reach in the social networks and talk to politicians about current politics,” she tells us. With almost 390 thousand subscribers on Instagram, she reaches a wide range of people. She also has a YouTube channel and a podcast.

Each individual is capable of great things

My favorite quote is from the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig and reads: “Many little people in many littleplaces, taking many little steps, can change the face of the world”. I like to repeat it. Why? Because I think it’s very important to believe in the power within ourselves. Every citizen of the earth has the chance now, right now, to counteract the dramatic developments on our planet. It does not help to waitfor others to take action or for revolutionary decisions to be taken from above.

Through the daily exchange with my community I have found that the individual is indeed capable of great things. A good example of this are the many new petitions for which people have signed and thus achieved by their own efforts that taxes were reduced and laws changed in Germany.

A text by Carla Borthwick, who received viral attention on the Internet in the summer, has also left a special impression on me. The core message is that it cannot be the responsibility of everyone to saveeverything in the world. Rather, it is a matter of everyone at least being aware of the developments and doing what is possible for him/her, because every small effort is important and precious.

Louisa’s message for girls

I would like to give girls and young women who are about to realize their dreams of the future, the advise to never give up. As I have already tried to indicate, negative thoughts can quickly arise in environmental protection – how: What’s the point of not using plastic objects on my own anymore, or of wearing second-hand clothes on my own, or of collecting garbage on the beach? It brings luck and hope. Do your thing and don’t let others put you off. The important thing is that you know you’re doing a good job.” Louisa is not afraid to speak her mind, show emotion, ask for help, but she’s always reflected. With her curiosity and energy she has already done a great job.

But why climate protection? Charlotte has dealt withit

“In recent weeks and months, the discussion about climate change, Fridays For Future, Greta Thunberg & Co has risen. Now the UN climate conference is also on the agenda, where climate policy will be put under the microscope once again. It’s about time, because many people, especially students like me, are not at all satisfied with the current situation. But in order to really change something, the politicians must pull in the same direction.”

Climate change has serious effects, some of which are already affecting us. Examples of these impacts include rising sea levels, the gradual disappearance of forests, coral reefs and animal species, crop failures and an increase in environmental disasters. However, to prevent this from happening, a lot has to change. Charlotte (17 years old) from Pulheim has already written in a blog article about why she is participating in the Fridays for Future demo.

The responsibility also lies with us

“Many people are already committed to this, it is important to them to get involved to save nature. I myself think that’s totally great and I think that everyone can make a contribution for themselves. Because we ourselves are responsible for how we deal with our environment or what we let happen. For example, I do not eat meat, ride my bike and try to avoid plastic packaging. But I am particularly annoyed that the consequences of climate change are felt especially by those people who are least responsible for it: In Africa, climate change is already having an impact on the weather, water supply, agriculture and people’s health. And then I think of the fact that here in Germany we drive big cars or use millions of plastic coffee-to-go cups. But still I think that if everyone starts with themselves and changes a few things, you have already achieved a lot,” Charlotte.

Acting sustainably in private and professional life? How Katharina manages

Everyone is talking about sustainability. But how do you start to live “sustainably”? Katharina (29 years old) from Cologne not only tries to live sustainably in her private life by doing without unnecessary plastic packaging and, for example, shopping in unpackaged shops. There is no room for animal products on her menu and she manages to transfer this sustainable awareness to her job. She works for Ernst & Young GmbH Accountancy Company.

What can we do as a company?

“Within EYs, I am involved with a group called the Alliance for Climate. We come from all departments/age groups and career levels, yet we are united by the belief that in such a large and international company you can make big a difference even in the background. We regularly discuss what approaches are available in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, for example, how to save CO2, reduce the amount of travel on a long-term basis or plant trees with Ecosia as the standard browser and search engine. In addition, there are many dedicated colleagues at EY who, for example, have introduced Vegan Wednesday at the Berlin office, where interested parties can register and try out various vegan restaurants at a reduced price. My goal is to offer similar services in the Cologne/Düsseldorf office soon.”

Why naked products became so sexy

Unnecessary plastic wrappings are no longer a part of my life. You can try yourself and observe yourself for a day, a week or maybe even a month and notice how much plastic you consume. On one of my first plastic-free days I just came out of the supermarket without anything – apples, salad and sushi were wrapped in plastic and there seems to be no real alternative for margarine, chips, spaghetti and co. But there is!” Katharina will tell you more about these alternatives this week on our Instagram Channel. Together with you she wants to start the “Plastics Free Challenge”.

Passion Book recommendation:
“Mein Herz schlägt grün” by Louisa
Dellert

Getting into #zerowaste or #lesswaste? Integrate a more sustainable life into your everyday life? Important facts about climate change and CO2 emissions? For all who are looking for a super pleasant introduction to the topic. Without any index finger! Mein Herz schlägt grün” by Louisa Dellert – produced on apple paper. No tree has been felled for it, but done from industrial apple remains

Komplett-Media Publisher: A book publisher with a sense of responsibility

Komplett-Media as the publisher of Louisa’s book, sees itself as a publishing house that not only publishes its topics, but also lives them. Therefore they try to take over social responsibility with their work and to protect the environment.

The Komplett-Media publisher…

• does not shrink-wrap books in plastic foil.
• prints climate-neutrally with ClimatePartner and compensates for the CO2 that is produced when the books are printed in a regional project for stable mixed mountain forests in the Allgäu. In this way they are contributing to the UN goals for sustainable development.
• print on FSC or apple paper and are constantly working to make their production even greener.
• support Fridays for Future with their company and also demonstrates in the streets

Thank you for sponsoring the books for this competition.

Fun facts about environmental protection from Rwanda – Did you know?

Rwanda is probably the cleanest country in Africa. One reason for this is that Rwanda was the first country in the world to ban plastic bags in 2008. So it is forbidden to import, produce, sell or even simply own plastic bags. If this is violated, fines or even up to 12 months in prison can be expected.

For example, the ban has also led to women and young people in particular joining together in associations to produce bags from locally available and sustainable, environmentally friendly materials.

How was this PassionWeek for you? What was new for you How do you manage to live environmentally conscious?

Yours intombi team

*This article contains uncommissioned advertising.