Is it important to follow a vegan diet to protect the environment? What about traveling by train? Do you know which decisions contribute the most to protecting the environment? We have collected the 10 most effective eco-tips for you. You can also start small and work together with others to find solutions to tackle the biggest challenges. All you have to do is get started!

1. 10 effective eco-tips to protect our climate
Is it important to follow a vegan diet to protect the environment? What about traveling by
train? Do you know which decisions contribute the most to protecting the environment? We
have collected the 10 most effective eco-tips for you. You can also start small and work
together with others to find solutions to tackle the biggest challenges. All you have to do is
get started!

2. 1. Vote with the future in mind
When exercising your rights as a citizen, do so with the environment in mind. On
ecorating.ch you can find out which politicians are the most committed in this field. It is also
important to take action at the local level: in the smallest municipalities, in fact, a few votes
are enough to make a difference. Start by participating in municipal assemblies: this way you
can help make community infrastructure (such as roads, schools, sports and other facilities)
and services (such as population protection, food and energy and waste disposal services).
You can find more information on the subject here.

3. 2. Together we can do a lot
Together with family, neighbours, friends and acquaintances, you can do much more for the
environment than you can do alone. Share your passion for the beauty of our planet with
those around you and motivate them to do something to protect our natural resources. Here
are some ideas: watch documentaries together (for example:Our Planet), organize
discussion circles before elections and referendums andorganizeclothes swaps. There are
so many activities to organize, all you need is a little imagination.
3. Machu Picchu? No, Matterhorn!
If you choose to spend your holidays in Switzerland or a neighboring country, your CO2
footprint will improve significantly. A business class flight to New Zealand and back, for
example, causes climate pollution equal to approximately the average daily consumption of
one person in Switzerland in 2015 , including accommodation, food, travel, etc. The
comparison between kilometers traveled by plane and by train is also impressive : one
kilometer by plane pollutes the climate from 4 times (diesel locomotives) to 45 times (electric
locomotives in Switzerland) more compared to the train. Fortunately , many holiday
destinations can be easily reached by train!
Learn more about:
Leisure and activity holidays in Switzerland
Big trips, small ecological footprint
Air traffic

4. 4. Move smart
Make an intelligent choice: use public transport ! For example, traveling 20km to work by
train instead of a petrol- powered car emits 1.7 tonnes of CO2 less each year. This amount
corresponds to about one eighth of the per capita reduction that we must commit to
achieving in Switzerland in the shortest possible time to meet international climate goals.
Public transport in Switzerland is one of the best in the world: it is fast, reliable, comfortable
and environmentally friendly. Take advantage of it both to go to work and for leisure. Another

5. advantage: compared to private traffic, public transport has a decidedly lower impact in
terms of gas emissions responsible for the greenhouse effect, fine dust and noise.
You can find more information on the subject here.
5. A daily ally: nutrition
Even with our food we can reduce CO2 emissions. For example, reducing the consumption
of meat from 2 kilos to 300 grams per week saves a ton of CO2 per year. Naturally, those
who follow a vegetarian and vegan diet have an even better ecological balance. If a Swiss
citizen with an average consumption of meat switched to a vegetarian diet, his ecological
footprint would be reduced by around 25 percent, and up to 35-40 percent in the case of a
vegan diet. What are you waiting for? There are delicious vegan recipes, you just have to
find your favorite. Enjoy your meal!
Here you can find more information on meat and dairy products.
And here you will find the answers to the main questions about nutrition and sustainability.
6. Less is more
Look around: are there any objects that you have owned for a long time? Good! Use items
and outfits for as long as possible! From 2000 to 2014 , global consumption in the clothing
sector doubled : the production of clothes and objects , but also the provision of services ,
generally require a lot of energy and raw materials. So try to direct your consumption in a
sustainable direction and buy only what makes you really happy.
Carefully examine an item you would like to buy and think about it: will it really make m
happy? Maybe yes, but for how long? Could I also borrow it? Or do I actually not need it at
all? If an item is broken, can I try to fix it myself or have someone fix it? In Switzerland today
there are over 160 Repair Cafes , for sure there is one near your home too.
If you have decided to buy a household or electrical appliance anyway, you will find products
on topten.ch that are environmentally recommendable. The by now famous Swiss platform
Topten offers products that ensure the lowest energy consumption and a reduced impact on
the environment.
Finally, you can also optimize your ecological footprint through your work rate. If you earn
less, you also consume less and therefore have less impact on the environment. If you can
afford it: why not? You can try to clarify whether you have the option to reduce your work
rate.

6. 7. No to food waste
Stop expired and moldy foods ! In Switzerland, from the fields to the plate, about a third of
all food is thrown away. If we only produce and buy what we actually want to eat, we avoid
large amounts of CO₂. The amount of savings corresponds to 500 kilograms of CO₂ per
person per year. How to do? Buy consciously and ask yourself first which foods you really
need. Often even foods whose expiry date has passed can be eaten without problems.

7. However, you should definitely stick to the expiration date marked «Best before…». Find out
more about food waste
here .
8. Organic is better
When you go shopping, favor organic products and, if you can't find them, ask for
information about them. Organic crops do not require the use of pesticides and chemical
fertilizers, therefore the pollution of water and soil is much lower, and the fields remain fertile
for a long time and suitable for hosting a large variety of flora and fauna.
More information:
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
Overview of food brands in Switzerland
9. Heat less, heat better
For heating your home, count on heat pumps bearing the " PdC-system module " label ,
solar collectors, photovoltaic systems and " naturmade star " ecological energy . Modern
wood-burning systems are a good alternative from a climate point of view, especially for
multi-family houses.
Electric and oil boilers should be replaced as soon as possible with one of the solutions
mentioned above. Compared to district heating or solar collectors (e.g. in combination with
wood heating) an oil-fired system causes about 10-12 times more greenhouse gas
emissions, while an electrical system, compared to heat pumps, it has an energy
consumption even six times higher.
Find the best heat pumps and lots of tips for buying them at topten.ch (incl. tips with
checklist). topten.ch also shows which pellet heaters, heat pump boilers, heat pumps and
windows are the best and provides an overview of Swiss green electricity suppliers.
You can find more information about solar energy here.
10. Invest your money ecologically
The money you invest can be used not only to generate a financial surplus, but also for the
good of nature, the environment and society . Inquire with your bank about the opportunities
to invest your savings or pension funds with an eye to sustainability .
You can find more information on this here (in German).
Find out more about Sustainable Finance here .
All the contents of this eco-advice are for informational purposes only and are not to be
understood as advertising or offers, financial services, investments or any other type of
advice. The information presented herein does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell any
securities, derivatives or other financial instruments. WWF assumes no responsibility,
implied or express, for the currency, correctness, completeness or quality of the information
or opinions provided herein. In no event shall WWF be liable for any loss or damage of any
kind, including financial damages.