Vegan means avoiding 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.

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 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.

For most people, flying is a great experience like experiencing distant places. Flying short-haul routes should rightly lead to 'flight shame' - some countries are planning to ban domestic flights altogether. The problem with flying is, on the one hand, that we cover a lot of kilometers, even if the energy requirement per kilometer and person is not that 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 stay longer in the places. Unfortunately, flying is even subsidized and is often cheaper than train or car. Nevertheless, school trips should avoid air travel.

Consistently separating waste, including green waste, glass and paper, is not as self-evident as one might assume. Many make little effort here and don't really know what belongs in which bin. The residual waste bin also costs the school authority a lot of money, while the recycling and green waste bins are free of charge. Schools should set up separation containers in the classrooms, but also in the corridors and the schoolyard. Most of the time, the argument is that the cleaners only have a garbage bag available and no time. That can definitely be solved. The second argument is that the students do not separate properly. Here, for example, weekly 'environmental services' can be held responsible for the separation, which will certainly sooner or later lead to insight among everyone.

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.

Much is actually thrown away, although others could still do something with it. It is more convenient for us not to repair it than to have a stall at the flea market or to have to ship it for little money. But the good feeling of doing the right thing motivates. A school can raise awareness here and make appropriate offers, something together with a club or craft lessons. At a school flea market with repair offers, parents and other stakeholders from the region can of course also be involved.

Do we harm regional organic farmers if crops, such as orchards, grow on public land? No, because hardly anyone will be able to take care of themselves. Rather, the main problem is the use of land. English lawns, ornamental plants, weed killers, etc. damage the soil and biodiversity. Instead, nature-friendly crops are needed. If a school shies away from the maintenance effort, permaculture and the cultivation of perennial plants may make sense. The cooperation with beekeepers and school classes, the possibility of public gardening and sponsorships of e.g. senior citizens who take care of the plants during the holidays are also great measures for a better world. Urban gardening is also popular, when schools have raised beds not only on their roofs.

Social department stores are usually organized as a private sector or as an association. A company can support them with material and financial resources.

Many schools organize charity runs, charity campaigns (Advent markets) etc. or/and they have partnerships with schools in developing countries. Donations have a double effect - they help the recipients and they reduce the consumption of the givers.

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. This means that the caretaker's office can also buy refurbished.

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.