vol.109 Sustainability Abroad: Reflections from Germany 🇩🇪

Hi! I’m Marisa and over the past year, I’ve been taking German classes at university. That interest eventually led me to spend part of last summer in Germany. It was a trip full of wonderful memories and experiences, but one thing that especially stood out to me, particularly as a REF member, was how sustainability seemed to quietly shape everyday life 🫶🏻

In this blog, I want to reflect on a few of the sustainable things I noticed in Germany. From community-centered initiatives to how supermarkets handle packaging, these small moments made me rethink how sustainability can be built into the ordinary 🪴

(The view from a small bridge I was walking on in Bremen one afternoon☁️)

One of the first places I visited was a local supermarket. What stood out immediately was how packaging was handled. While there were still some plastic-wrapped items, a large portion of the product had no packaging at all—customers could freely pick the quantity they needed. I felt that being able to select your own portions not only reduces waste but also encourages more mindful consumption. Even though there’s still room for improvement, there was a noticeable balance, about a 50/50 split between plastic-wrapped and unpackaged items, which felt like a solid start!

(I liked that the bag to put your vegetables into was paper as well 🍅🥒)

At the entrance of most supermarkets, I also came across these large machines called Pfandautomaten. At first, I thought they looked like vending machines—and it turns out they sort of are, just in reverse! In Germany, when you buy a beverage, you pay a small deposit a.k.a ‘Pfand’. When you return the empty containers to these machines, you get your deposit back, and the bottles are recycled; I thought it was a great incentive to encourage people to recycle more. What’s even better is that many beverages come in glass bottles rather than plastic, with both options often available.

(The bottle is made of 100% recycled material too ♻️)

It was a fun surprise to see that even 1-liter bottles of water—usually plastic back home—came in large glass bottles here!

(Me holding one such 1L bottle of water, on my way to a walk💧)

As I explored the grocery store aisles, it was refreshing to see so many vegan and plant-friendly options. This was even more noticeable when I visited bigger cities like Berlin. Cafes and restaurants also offered a lot of flexibility with eco-friendly alternatives, which made sustainable eating feel really accessible 🌱

(The yellow circle marks the vegan options!🥪🟡)

(Green mark is for the plant-based options 🍟)

(Even disposable hand wipes came in paper packaging!)

Close to where I was staying during most of my time in Germany, I came across little community-driven things like little free libraries and a house selling honey from their beehives. While such actions are not exclusive to Germany, they were new to me, as someone who’s always lived in big cities. These small touches felt so meaningful—nurturing both community and sustainability culture.

(A book from the neighbourhood free library📚 this one’s a maths textbook from 1933)

(The house selling some honey 🍯 the box with the jars of honey is by the door and you pay by putting money into the little pink tin) 

As I walked through many neighborhoods, I also discovered public clothing (and shoe) collection bins. I’ve only ever seen donation bins in stores or private spaces, so seeing them easily accessible in public felt like such a good idea. I could see them being really useful during things like house moves, where you often have a lot to give away but end up throwing things out due to time constraints or not knowing where to take it all.

(Right next to the clothes donation bin are bins for recycling glass, separated by color 🤎🤍💚)

Another thing I loved about the German culture around reuse was the lovely habit focused on resolving the niche but relatable issue of what to do with items no longer needed but that were still in good condition. Across different cities and towns, I saw boxes of household items, sometimes even larger things like lawnmowers, left outside homes with the label ‘zu verschenken’ (meaning “to give away”), often with a note describing details of the item. Anyone walking by is free to take these items. It struck me as such a simple yet thoughtful way to reduce waste and foster a sense of community sharing.

(Often having random knick knacks I’m unsure of what to do with, this idea especially appealed to me 🎀)

(A quaint little field I loved near my house 🌳)

I was only in Germany for a few weeks, and I hadn’t planned to intentionally seek out sustainability-related things, but they were all around me—and that made the trip feel even more impactful. It was comforting to see environmental consciousness woven into everyday life, and it gave me a fresh perspective on the small, meaningful actions we can take as a community. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to Germany, this time with the goal of learning even more about the sustainable systems in place there.

Now that a new semester is starting, many of us are returning from spring break travels with new perspectives and stories. Whether you spent time abroad or stayed close to home, it’s always worth taking a second look at the little things that shape our daily lives 🌼

I hope today’s blog inspires you to reflect on your own routines—what small changes might be possible at home, and how eco-friendliness shows up in the places you explore.

To wrap up, here’s a photo of some cute little ducks I saw during a sunny afternoon walk in a quiet Bremen neighborhood 🥰☀️

Until next time, 

Marisa x