Vegan means refraining from fish, meat, milk, cheese and other animal foods. Unthinkable for many people, on the one hand because of the taste, and on the other hand because they consider it unhealthy. To the taste, it can be said: Among the extremely diverse vegan alternatives, something certainly tastes just as good or even better. We just have to try it - from vegan cheese to egg salad to burgers. Many celebrities and athletes are vegan. Vegan is booming. Regarding health, it must be said: Our early ancestors ate healthier than we eat today. There was mixed food with only little meat and fish and also little grain and instead more legumes. If you eat a vegan diet, you have to pay attention to two nutrients: vitamin B12 and unsaturated omega 3 fatty acids. B12 can be bought for sucking (or as an additive in foods that are no longer called organic). Omega 3 fatty acids are available in linseed and algae oil. After a few months vegan, a blood test can show whether there are deficiency symptoms. As a rule, vegans eat healthier and are fitter than others. What else does it bring: In addition to ethical reasons (keeping and killing animals), vegans help to prevent the deforestation of forests, because most areas in the world need the feed. In fact, we will not be able to feed the growing world population in the way we Germans. Vegans also prevent greenhouse gases from the methane emissions of cows, save enormous amounts of drinking water and prevent the pollution of soils, groundwater and waters.

Unlike the vegan diet, a vegetarian diet can also include milk, cheese or eggs. Vegetarian days are healthy, mean less animal husbandry and thus less consumption of land and water. People in the industrialized world consume more than three times more animal products, which according to the EAT-Lancet Commission would be healthy for us and the planet. We don't have to become vegans or vegetarians right away, but maybe just flexitarians.

Food from the region, from the weekly market and from the farm shop have not been transported far (there are of course also exceptions there) and strengthen the local economy. However, there are also inefficient short transport routes when vehicles with little load drive to the points of sale. E-mobility and cargo bikes can help here. Unfortunately, the regional is often also played out against the organic offer: regional, sprayed with pesticides food is not as good as regional organic food, and regional meat is not as good for the environment as the renunciation of meat.

Organic is extremely important for biodiversity. We have the greatest species extinction since the extinction of the dinosaurs and the consequences are greater than those of climate change. Pesticides and mineral fertilizers endanger our future. In addition, soils from organic farming usually store more carbon and thus help against the climate catastrophe. The counter-argument is often that the yields in organic farming are lower than in industrial agriculture and therefore more forests have to be cut down. This is true, for example, with cereals that are not unrestrictedly healthy. But if we eat less meat, waste less food and eat more healthy legumes, we have plenty of additional space available and can feed the entire world organically and even plant a little more forest. Organic in the canteen or at the kiosk or at company events is of course more expensive - but if it is not exemplified somewhere, what do we expect in the private sector.

Which is better - the organic apple from New Zealand or the sprayed apple from the region? Answer: both wrong. Organic food from the region means less transport and is therefore even better than organic food with wide transport. Organic in the canteen or at the kiosk or at events is of course more expensive - but if it is not exemplified somewhere, what do we expect in the private sector. Sometimes a direct delivery from providers from the region is a way to save costs.

Seasonal organic products in addition to regional organic products also have less energy expenditure for storage. In the respective months, other products are available seasonally, so that we can eat healthy and tasty all year round with little transport and storage effort with regard to a seasonal calendar.

Food is wasted from the field to the factories and transport routes to the throw away by us, the restaurants and the supermarkets. This ultimately means that more areas are needed for cultivation and thus forests are cut down and biodiversity is endangered with sprays and fertilizers. We can shop more specifically, throw away goods not only because of the best before date, save food in the household (e.g. freeze bananas or make durable spreads and soups from leftover vegetables yourself), save specifically rescued food (e.g. too small or wrinkled goods) and also donate leftover food in many places, e.g. to the food banks. Canteens and kiosks and also events can query the demand in advance and thus prevent food from being thrown away. A dish can also be deliberately offered the next day, which advertises the utilization of the leftovers from the previous day.

Despite the claim to do without your own company car or to share cars in the pool with others, allows you to save a lot of money and is good for a better world.

There are almost hostile prejudices against electric cars: child labor, coal power, risk of explosion, farmers are expropriated, fear of range, loss of value, etc. It is true: Like every car, electric cars are also a waste of raw materials and energy. But if car, then the electric car is the best solution, because gasoline and diesel perform even worse in all areas. Many studies or Statements by laymen make a mistake: The controversial lithium must not only be counted with its footprint from mining, but this must be reduced by the many times that lithium is recycled again and again in the decades. In addition, what few know: Gasoline contains almost as much electrical energy on 100km for production and transport as it is needed in an electric car for the journey. E-cars would not have to be so expensive and batteries not so big - charging options are more important. Electricity at public charging stations is currently surprisingly expensive, although it would clearly be more important to add the costs of the climate disaster and air pollution to the price of gasoline and diesel. http://www.imodeler.info/ro? key=Col-EWhyCbIR_KGGP7mXbLw Hydrogen and synthetic fuels in cars are nonsense. There are so-called memes fuelled by individual interests (keyword "Lex Porsche" https://www.cleanthinking.de/lex-porsche-lindner-wissing-e-fuels/), 'ego trolls', which are picked up by 'Troll-Lemmingen', who simply like to be against something and do not want to change. With both fuels, green electricity is first generated and then with loss of efficiency to hydrogen or e-fuel. For e-fuels, carbon is also missing - already today, few airlines that have started with it have a problem buying carbon on the market. Consideo has also gained important insights about hydrogen: https://www.imodeler.de/a/ConsideoPaper-BEM-Dt.pdf In companies, of course, electric cars are also associated with additional expenses. However, if the electricity itself is produced, the self-consumption of electricity can be maximized and the costs are even lower in the end.

A premium SUV can weigh well over 2.5 tons and consumes more than twice as economical vehicles. Van, buses are similar - but sometimes have an authorization, for example as then actually used 7-seaters or for regular transports. For rare transports, there should be rental cars nearby or trailers. There is a global trend towards SUVs. These unconsciously give us the feeling of robustness, of getting through. They reinforce the so-called attribution or distinction need. We think we are the great car.

Flying is a great experience for most people like experiencing distant places. Flying short distances should rightly lead to 'flight shame' - some countries are planning to ban domestic flights completely. The problem with flying is, on the one hand, that we travel a lot of kilometers, even if the energy requirement per kilometer and person is not so high. On the other hand, greenhouse gases are transported directly to the heights where they harm us. So we should only use the plane for rare long-distance trips and then rather stay longer in the places. Many, on the other hand, fly several times a year, partly within Europe - some even to sustainability conferences or just to spontaneously escape the harsh weather in Germany. Unfortunately, flying is even subsidized and is often cheaper than train or car.

What has recently been a successful model in some countries and cities is still a problem in Germany: to give cyclists priority over car traffic. The willingness to ride a bike, even in bad weather, is higher than ever. E-cargo bicycles make it possible to at least do without the second car. A company can do a lot from the bicycle shelter with charging possibility via the company bicycle.

Especially older e-bikes have to be charged more often and in many families the bikes are simply not in order because no one has tools or even a functioning pump. The employer could also set up a repair station here.

No question - leaving the car and taking the bike is a proud feeling and healthy. If you don't want to exhaust yourself - for example on the way to work, you can consider an e-bike. If you have a lot to transport, a cargo bike. Often we can also share a cargo bike with others. And if you shy away from bad weather, you will find great cycling clothing today, which completely refutes the argument. Here, companies can promote their employees.

Many routes and times are not served by public transport. It is often worthwhile to drive in the car together with others. Even if the car is left at home and the times have to be adjusted, it can make us proud to do the right thing with a view to a better world. In addition to carpooling in the circle of acquaintances, there are also portals that organize carpooling - often also for longer trips. As an employer, the municipalities can organize something for their employees here.

We are used to the fact that everything is packed and we don't care much about the packaging. For some foods, the packaging is more expensive in the production than the content. Paying attention to the packaging sends a signal to manufacturers and retailers. For food, there are so-called unpackaged shops or at least the possibility of using deposit containers (own step) or cotton bags brought along for loose vegetables and fruit. To fill up the pantry or to cater for events, attention should therefore be paid to the packaging. Office supplies can be delivered unpacked in deposit boxes (e.g. from Memo).

Consistently separating waste, including green waste, glass and paper, is not as self-evident as can be assumed. Many make little effort here and don't really know what belongs in which bin. The residual waste bin also costs the public sector a lot of money, while the recyclable and green waste bin are free of charge. But also special waste, such as batteries, incandescent lamps, electrical appliances, etc. must be disposed of properly.

Non-recycled paper is often cheaper, but means cutting of forests, contamination of water during production and a high energy requirement. Recycled paper for toilet paper, writing paper, packaging, envelopes, wrapping paper, etc. should be a matter of course today. But we have to pay attention to it and choose it. Recycled paper is also snow-white, but it should then not be bleached with chlorine but oxygen.

Saving paper helps to protect forests - recycling paper also ultimately means more demand for fresh pulp from trees. We don't even need to print many things in the first place, but can save them on devices that we already have. For internal processes but also for dialogue with customers, digital forms should continue to prevail.

Garbage collection as an event also for the clubs with subsequent meeting, possibly sponsored by the local economy, helps to get nature clean and to raise awareness. Companies can sponsor or participate as a team.

Basically, there are three types of banks - the inexpensive online banks with great conditions, the local savings banks and cooperative banks or branches of the major banks, and a very few real eco-banks (GLS Bank, Triodos, ....). The savings interest rates of eco-banks are quite decent, while the short-term interest rates and fees are less attractive. But all sorts of things are not financed without regard to ethical and ecological standards. Even the local banks focus on the maximum return here. Globally, Green Finance already plays a huge role. Investors pay attention to ethical standards and thus put pressure on the industry to adhere to standards or even become a pioneer.

Actually, it is logical that green investments have to yield the most return - but to be fair, it must be said that at least in the short term, bad fluctuations also happen here. With the Ukraine attack by Russia, money was withdrawn from renewable energies and relocated to the old oil industry and weapons production. Due to homemade problems, e-mobility does not get going and suddenly the prices of lithium suppliers are swaying. (not every lithium supplier is sustainable) On the other hand, investments in wind and solar parks or crowd financing of other sustainable projects, such as energy renovation, are solid. Companies can also take sustainable criteria into account when investing as far as permissible or also accompany citizen energy projects.

Sustainable insurance is still a young development and yet there are now some.

This is about living and working in the region, about strengthening the community. The birdhouse from a social workshop or the PV system from the electrician on site (if he has further training). The award criteria of the municipalities must of course be legally secure. If the work is good, a discreet advertising sign can also draw attention to the craft business in return.

Many people who earn above average can only do this because others earn below average. The gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger. Consumers complain about cheap wages, but the price increase by 50 cents is rarely accepted. What we deserve is not, as liberals or neoliberals like to think, just a question of diligence. It is the product (!) Out of diligence, skill and the right framework conditions. Anyone who knows many talented and hard-working people who are simply not lucky develops empathy and is willing to pay more, even if it is through tips. Companies can set an example in the case of remuneration, in particular for less well-paid activities within the scope of their possibilities.

Volunteering, whether at the fire brigade, in the sports club or the help in the neighborhood, is enormously important for togetherness and society. Companies can help here to honor volunteering and accompany it through donations.

Support of clubs, squares and halls for the gathering of citizens

Cultural promotion can take place in all facets - from young people who make music to exhibitions to the care of traditional festivals.

Educational trails, information boards, exhibitions, excursions, etc., if necessary also together with schools and nature conservation organizations.

Green IT starts with the devices and goes on to the power consumption from streaming to the use of IT to increase efficiency. The devices are about the use of used or refurbished devices, repairable devices, the recycling of materials and the minimization of questionable raw materials.

Many devices from vacuum cleaners to cordless screwdrivers to TVs are amazingly inexpensive today. Relying on valuable devices that last a long time, or even buying used devices, helps to save raw materials and energy.

Unfortunately, many devices can no longer be repaired at all, for example if the control unit breaks down from the washing machine and costs more than a new washing machine. And yet there are workshops that also repair mobile phones, washing machines, lawn mowers, etc. - and even if it is as expensive as a new device, it is the good feeling of having done something for a better world again.