The experts on our team regularly bring you a selection of recommendations and insights related to environmental and social responsibility. Whether it's an enticing book, an intriguing article, a project supporting a great cause or a helpful tool, we'll share our thoughts on why this particular piece spoke to us and why we think this particular topic is important.
Let us know what you think about our recommendations and insights, or whether you’d like to share some of your own tips with us - we’d love to hear from you.
This year, make a positive impact while exploring the world—try home swapping! By exchanging homes with other travelers, you avoid large hotels, reduce overdevelopment in tourist hotspots, and minimize your carbon footprint. Some of the biggest benefits? Resource sharing and support for the local. Staying in a fully equipped home means you use existing spaces, avoid single-use toiletries, and often share essentials like kitchen supplies and toys for kids—cutting down waste. Plus, it fosters a deeper connection with local communities, supporting small businesses instead of global chains. Home swapping makes travel more personal and sustainable, where both guests and hosts can enjoy mutual benefits. Check out for example Homeexchange.com or Green Theme International.
I have a few intentions for this new year. One of them is to spend more time outdoors. It can be hard to keep that in mind during busy weeks. So I came up with the idea to infiltrate short outdoor activities and try to be mindful of them. If I work from home on a specific day even a short walk to the supermarket or taking out the trash can be enough. When I am having my own lunch in the office I am still trying to get out for a short walk in the streets. When I am thinking about going for a run I try to do it in the morning or during lunch so its more enjoyable with daylight. The key is to look on those activities as positive opportunities to get fresh air and sunlight. Instead of getting frustrated by the well known boring route to the supermarket or trash bins, it's makes it much more enjoyable when I remind myself - this is my way how to spend more time outdoors.
I always try to buy local and seasonal products, as it helps reduce the environmental impact of transportation and supports nearby farmers. For this reason, for example, I limited buying avocados—they're delicious but come with a high environmental cost due to water consumption, deforestation and long-distance shipping. I’ve also limited buying new clothes, focusing on reusing what I already have. Instead of throwing away old clothes, I revisit my wardrobe and often rediscover pieces I once overlooked but now love. It’s amazing how small, thoughtful changes can make a difference for the planet while keeping life simple and stylish.
My resolution this year is to be more positive and healthy. Working in sustainability, and being passionate about this topic, can sometimes be discouraging and even depressing as we are face to face with the world's most bleak social and environmental challenges every day. I plan to achieve a healthier and more positive year by 1. doing more yoga, as I think we need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others, (let alone the planet!), 2. read more books, as books make me happy and also are empowering in how they help us better understand the world, 3. work on a new life skill, namely urban gardening, which I would like to do on my own balcony but also potentially in other urban gardens in Prague -- to get closer to nature, improve my not-so-green thumb and engage in the fully positive act of growing my own food!
For this year, I plan to put more effort into making real changes in my habits. With respect to nature-friendly behavior but also in other aspects, it is good to set realistic and achievable goals to focus on and which we really want to change. I often struggle with trying new initiatives, activities and changes, but after a few weeks I give up on anything - the first moment I don't have the time or energy. Therefore, this year I want to focus on three simple changes that I want to achieve in the long term and enjoy the results of my efforts.
There are several settings that I entered the new year with and that I would like to keep throughout the year. Above all, I would like to focus on minimizing our family consumption and learn to use what we already have as much as possible and to take the purchase of something new only as a last option. There are several things associated with this that I want to normalize: 1) repeating the same outfits, 2) wearing clothes that might have a little a hole in them and I can sew them up, 3) buying second-hand clothes - because there is enough clothes for the next 6 generations. But in general also for purchasing household items, decorations, flower pots, etc. choose the "more demanding" option and first search thriftshops, marketplace, vinted, secondhand, if someone is getting rid of something that I need - and many times in brand new, unopened packaging and for much smaller price. For me, choosing a more complicated and time-consuming option is a kind of a rebellion against today's pressure to follow trends, to have as much as possible and as soon as possible.
As part of my sustainable goals for this year, I’ll stick to my habits of avoiding processed food and buying as much as possible from local producers. Supporting small farmers, especially those practicing organic and regenerative agriculture, remains a priority for me. I also plan to contribute to projects that protect wildlife and promote water retention in the landscape. Last Christmas, I discovered that gifting donation vouchers to support environmental organizations is a meaningful idea. It’s a great and inspirative way to spread awareness and make a difference.
I was on an extended holiday with limited clothing to save space, and two of my garments ended up needing repair. I bought a needle and thread, then hand-sewed a new zipper onto my skirt and reattached a button to a shirt. It reminds me of how our grandmas were always fixing things like socks, yet nowadays we’re so spoiled with fast fashion that we rarely think about repairing clothes and instead prefer to buy new. Learning to sew—even on your own—is surprisingly easy with the abundance of free video tutorials available. While I’ve accumulated five full folders of Burda magazines, I have to admit that I haven’t had much time for sewing lately, but I can still manage simple repairs on my own. Cheers to sewing clothes and making repairs on your own in the New Year!
Every day, we face decisions big or small. Take the eco-friendlier train or the more comfortable car? Shop quickly at the nearby supermarket or take the time to visit the farmers’ market? Buy a cheaper polyester sweater, or spend significantly more on higher-quality wool? I think we all occasionally grapple with the dilemma of weighing care for the planet against personal comfort, whatever the reasons may be. At Flagship, my colleague and I discussed this over coffee. Is it even possible to live in today’s world without a carbon footprint or "polluting"? You probably feel that, in theory, it might be achievable with a very specific lifestyle, but few would be willing to take that path. However, that doesn’t mean we should shrug it off and stop trying.
When setting a sustainable goal for 2025, let’s start with a fundamental question: How do we find the right balance? Try to roughly estimate how often you’ll prioritize the environment over your own convenience this year. For example to achieve a balanced 50:50 ratio, you could decide that every second “dilemma” will be resolved in favor of the planet. Are you with me on this? Set your own balance, and remember, every small change in your approach counts!
Having just finished Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring," I can advise it's subject matter makes for a disturbing read. But once started I felt duty bound to see it through and as I turned the pages was struck by how its message remains profoundly relevant today. Published in 1962, Carson's groundbreaking work highlighted the environmental damage caused by indiscriminate pesticide use, particularly DDT. Her vivid depiction of these impacts serves as a stark reminder of our ongoing responsibility to protect our planet.
As we enter 2025 it’s more important than ever we commit to sustainable practices. The lessons from "Silent Spring" urge us to reduce chemical use, support organic farming, and advocate for stronger environmental regulations. These actions are as crucial now as they were when Carson first sounded the alarm.
This year, quite simply I’m going to focus on making mindful choices, by understanding what I’m eating, where it comes from and what’s in it. If you care to join me then together our choices can make a difference to our own health and wellbeing, support the safeguard of our planet and ecosystems, continue the fight for environmental stewardship and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. Makes sense to me!
I would like to share two tips for the year ahead:
The first one is aimed at those of you who work as sustainability professionals. Our jobs can be fast-paced and demanding at times, especially if we are passionate about the field. Therefore, the concept of slow living and focusing on what truly matters in terms of our personal lives can be a great strategy that helps us find balance and contentment.
The second tip is more practical. I moved last year, and many pieces of new furniture were needed to fill the space. I wanted to buy mostly second hand, but often found that the pieces needed minor repairs or fixes. I decided to take a furniture repair course here so that I could keep my newly acquired furniture in the best shape possible. English speakers are welcome.
Yog Nidra, or "yogic sleep," is a deeply restorative meditative practice that induces profound relaxation while maintaining conscious awareness. Rooted in ancient yogic traditions, it guides practitioners through a systematic process of relaxation, balancing the mind and body. The benefits of Yog Nidra include reduced anxiety, better sleep, and heightened mental focus.
Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, has extensively studied Yog Nidra's effects on the brain and body. His research shows that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to stress reduction, improved emotional regulation, and enhanced sleep quality. By slowing brainwaves to alpha and theta states, Yog Nidra promotes neuroplasticity, heightens creativity, and strengthens focus. Huberman also notes its potential to lower cortisol levels, improve immune function, and support overall mental clarity.
To practice Yog Nidra, lie down in a quiet, comfortable place, close your eyes, and follow a guided session or recording. The process typically begins with setting an intention (Sankalpa) and systematically relaxing each part of the body. Attention is then directed to the breath, sensations, and visualizations, creating a deep state of relaxation while staying mentally alert.
Dr. Huberman’s research confirms its value as a tool for stress management and cognitive enhancement, making it accessible for anyone seeking a practical and science-backed method for improving well-being. Just 10–20 minutes daily can yield significant positive changes in both physical and mental health. One can begin by following Dr Huberman's introuction to NSDR. https://youtu.be/AKGrmY8OSHM?si=t-EIx4il4SljR2kb