Surprisingly Sustainable
Climate change was always a topic I made sure to incorporate in my lessons as a teacher. The environment that students are inheriting will need some serious help.
Helsinki is a very walkable and bike-able city.
As a young couple, Jon and I are aware of our contributions to global warming. We do our best to be responsible. We recycle, shop with reusable bags, and buy locally when we can.
Living in New York, we came across many barriers to being sustainable. First of all, we both commuted 30-40 minutes to work each day. Taking separate cars in opposite directions was not ideal. Visiting family and friends on weekends led us to spend more and more time in our cars. We made an attempt at composting but stopped when our town didn’t provide pick-up services or drop-off locations. My addiction to Amazon package deliveries and shopping at big-box stores only worsened our carbon footprint.
I knew the problems, but as our lives got busier and busier, I only grew more embarrassed of our excuses and too tired to make a change. Fast forward to now: life in Helsinki.
With systems and structures in place to encourage sustainability, it is almost effortless. We went from being a couple frustrated by their options to one excited about our new sustainable actions.
Composting is basically a non-negotiable here. In our apartment complex, everyone is provided with a compost bin. The garbage and recycling room provides multiple bins to dump your food waste as well as clearly divided spots for other recyclable products. The bins for recyclable products outnumber those for trash.
Newer buildings have a color-coded system of doors built right into the side of the facade for trash collection. On the residential island of Jätkäsaari, chutes funnel the trash underground to a central facility so that trucks don’t have to drive from place to place.
The color-coded waste chutes in Jätkäsaari.
Right now, we have a washing machine but don’t have a dryer. I was used to this from my time abroad in South Africa and the UK but never thought about how much more energy efficient it is to hang our clothes to dry rather than running another machine. Although I still complain about the feeling of my crunchy jeans, I appreciate the long-term effects.
My favorite mode of transportation is the cute green and yellow tram which hums down city streets on a cable.
Additionally, we walk, bike (rarely), and take public transport to almost every location. Not driving has dramatically decreased our carbon output. The bike paths here are incredibly maintained. You can bike almost anywhere without being in the street or in the way of pedestrian traffic.
Another Finnish sustainability effort that I have embraced is thrifting. It is normal to check the shops often for things you need. Finns tend to buy higher-quality goods that last longer rather than stocking up on cheaper goods, so the selection is great. Thrift stores, vintage and flea markets, used furniture stores are sprinkled all over the city. Both Jon and I have had success finding thrifted warm clothing to help us through the winter.
Of course, there is always more that we can do, but we are happy at how surprisingly sustainable our life has become in Helsinki. I hope we can continue this effort no matter where we live next.
