I can say that it is a privilege to live in a place that has been called one of the most sustainable countries in the world. I've lived in Sweden since 2002 and I've learned to live as close to a sustainable life as possible, with conscious consumption practices, such as buying from second-hand stores, a common habit here in an attempt at a "Circular Economy", where materials, instead of being discarded as waste, return to the production cycle. It's no wonder that in Sweden we found the first shopping center 100% dedicated to recycled products, the ReTuna Återbruksgalleria, or ReTuna Recycling Galleria, which is located in the city of Eskilstuna and has 14 stores and 1 organic restaurant. Retuna link https://www.retuna.se/english/
It's common to adopt sustainable habits, such as using bicycles and efficient public transport, reducing carbon emissions. For many years, while I lived in the city, the bicycle was my means of transportation, until I was forced to buy my first hybrid car in 2015 when I moved to the countryside. Because it's an eco-friendly car, I received some benefits from the government, such as tax breaks.
Strict separation of waste for recycling has also been commonplace for many years. When I arrived in Sweden in 2002, I was given government books with basic information that helped shape me as a new citizen, learning how to manage my household waste more efficiently. Seeing my Swedish husband carefully remove a bee from the house, worrying about buying food for the birds that live free in the wild so that they can survive the harsh Swedish winter, or convincing me not to disturb an anthill in our garden, making it easier for the bees to drink water by placing a container with pebbles in it, are all small but extremely important attitudes for the balance of fauna and flora on our farm. All this made me realize how much the Swedes care about nature and seek to live in communion with it.
Of course, although Sweden is at the forefront of global sustainability, like all rich and developed countries, there are still major challenges. Consumerism and dependence on fossil fuels, which have an impact on the environment, persist. In addition, the difficult task of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability is a constant challenge for all developed countries, and no different for Sweden.
Josi Svennigson
Comments