MAINSTREAMING SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES IN NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA

Each and every one of us makes dozens of large and small decisions every day. Should we buy locally grown apples or rather strawberries shipped from far away? Should we repair our old bike tire or buy a new one? Do we shift to an energy provider that offers renewable energy? These decisions shape our lifestyles and determine the environmental and social impacts that arise from our choices. The NRW Sustainable Lifestyles project aims to help people make informed decisions while at the same time showing that sustainable choices can be fun as well.

 

Addressing consumers individually

Using an online platform we aim to bridge the information gap between current behaviour and the opportunities for sustainable shopping, mobility and lifestyle choices that are readily available in North Rhine-Westphalia today. Consumers can get lost in the jungle of eco and fair-trade labels. Others still can be unaware of the potential of local community garden projects or alternatives to high impact choices like owning a private car. Building on the many positive and sustainable options that exist today, this project aims to inspire to positive changes in personal behaviour. Through the online platform  consumers can gain access to information and inspiring ideas to support positive changes.

 

Interactive Website to explore all aspects of sustainable lifestyles

 

Mainstreaming innovative concepts

By interviewing almost 20 experts on sustainable lifestyles in NRW we identified lifestyle aspects that offer the greatest potential for consumers to live more sustainably. Many of the most innovative concepts that are rather new require stakeholder dialogue before a broader roll out can be considered. To explore these concepts, we will conduct a series of workshops in the coming months to bring together entrepreneurs, NGOs, public and private initiatives and consumers to discuss the mainstreaming potential for these emerging concepts.   

 

Areas of particular focus include:

 

• meat and dairy consumption,
• food waste,
• urban gardening,
• collaborative consumption,
• economic lifetime,
• individual mobility,
• communications and target groups,
• motivating behaviour change, and
• working with municipalities

 

 

The workshops aim to develop solutions and tools to identify the most effective means to mainstream sustainable living among consumers across NRW. There are opportunities for participation in these workshops. For information please contact us directly.