• Mobility-related studies and recommendations and activities
• Bike-parking and showers available for bikers
• Upgraded parking options for car-sharing members
• UPV/EHU adheres to the Euskadi (Basque Country) Platform against Food Waste. A report on food waste at the university is to be released

• All procurement procedures, including vending machines and other food-related services contracted by the University need to follow the recommendations of the Rector on sustainable food.

• Most restaurants and canteens joined a collective programme to assess foodwaste. A list of recommendations was issued, based on the results of the programmes

• The University of the Basque Country has chosen to close all services and building for 2 weeks in August, the first week of the year (Winter break) and Easter week (Spring break) for the purpose of energy saving
• Energy consumption data are effectively communicated with a view to raising awareness
• Climate change good practice guide
• Climate change and energy saving projects

• The planet App challenge: the University community can assess and reduce their carbon footprint
• OCEAN Generation event: workshop and garbage collection in several beaches
• Sustainability-related Teaching and Learning projects (Campus Bizia Lab)
• Training and mentoring services available for Environmental Improvement Teams acting at each Faculty

• Specific programmes for the toxic and dangerous; sanitary; radioactive; electric and electronic and non-specific container waste management
• Twice a year, training opportunities on waste management is available

• European Solidarity: information event on voluntary work for Young Europeans
• Summer course (July 2023) on Sustainable Development
• Final Degree projects and internships in social entities and organizations of Latin America
• Volunteering opportunities during the summer holidays
• Sustainability training options available

Engage with us here

• You can find largest selection of fresh seasonal food and raw ingredients from market hall located in City sentre by the rivel Emajõgi.
• Many eateries in the City have daily offers during lunch time, including vegetarian options.
• If you look for vegan food, you can check the Facebook Group “Tartu veganid”.
• Tartu Foodsharing is a movement that saves and distributes leftover food in Tartu to reduce the amount of food wasted and broaden the worldview of its fellow citizens. Through Foodsharing, individuals, traders and producers can offer or collect food that would otherwise be thrown away. The idea comes from Germany, which has a large network of foodsharing points that are organized and developed by thousands of volunteers. The development of such a network is only possible thanks to active people and laws against the generation of food waste. More information on Foodsharing is available on the website.
• Many grocery stores in the City centre have salad bars or warm food counters where you can assemble a delicious lunch for yourself. To reduce the disposable plastic, an Estonian company Ringo has developed Estonian-wide platform for the return of ready-to-eat food packaging. When buying your takeaway in Ringo’s packaging, you need to pay a deposit for the package, just like we are used to with beverage tare. Each Ringo package has a unique QR code. After scanning and opening Ringo’s link, confirm the deposit to the scanned package and return your package to your nearest Ringo’s return bin to make an environmentally friendly choice.
• Avoid overpacking, choose unpacked fruit and vegetables or put them into your own reusable bag.
• The quality of tap water in Tartu is very good, so there is no reason to buy bottled water, you can fill you bottle in all the University buildings.
• Developing community gardening helps to improve the ecological, social and financial situation of the urban environment. Grow your own vegetables in one of the Tartus’s several community gardens: Emajõe Aed, Tartu Organic Community Garden,

• There are several options to shop for sorts of items from clothes to microwaves while you settle down. Always remember to carry your own bag when you go out shopping.
• “Don’t throw it away. The Earth will thank you for that.” The idea of repairing is not only limited to clothes. Items from speakers to bicycles are also all possible to repair at this amazing repairs workshop.

• Waste avoidance helps save material. During the opening hours of the Selli tn 19 and Jaama 72c waste stations, usable household and hobby items (except clothes and shoes) can be returned for reuse. To hand over reusable items, contact an employee of the waste station. Residents can take things from the reuse room for their own use if they wish.
• Waste is not merely garbage, but a resource. Recycling saves energy and natural resources like water, mineral resources, wood. Sorting helps us avoid waste disposal in landfills, water pollution, and its transmission into human organism via food chain. Waste sorting and recycling helps us save money – for example, the fee for emptying package or paper and cardboard containers is either lower or non-existent compared to emptying mixed waste ones.
• In Tartu waste must collected separately. You may start with sorting regularly produced waste types, i.e. collect separately biodegradable waste, packages, paper and cardboard. An ordinary box is suitable for collecting used batteries, medicinal products, hazardous waste. Old paper and package may be taken to public containers. Used regular and rechargeable batteries are commonly collected in places selling those. As a rule, containers are labelled with stickers with the information on the type of waste that can be placed into this container. Larger volumes of paper and cardboard or packaging material (glass, plastic, tetra-pak, metal), biodegradable kitchen and garden waste, hazardous waste (varnish, paint, mercury waste and residues, fluorescent lamps), electronic devices, bulky waste (old furniture, etc.) have to be taken to the local waste station. List of waste stations.
• Clean clothes and home textiles can be taken to public clothes containers. Those items are also accepted free of charge at waste stations (including textiles unsuitable for recycling). Tartu H&M stores in Lõunakeskus (info tel. 614 8160) and Kvartal (info tel. 614 8180) also accept old clothes and textiles for recycling for free.

• ‘Culture shock’ describes a common reaction to moving to a new, often unfamiliar environment. Culture shock may involve anxiety, a feeling of loss of direction or purpose, an uncertainty of how to do things and what is appropriate in the new cultural context. If you feel stressed, look for help.
• Finding your community can give you a safe space, a place to escape your everyday worries, it can give you a home away from home, and you will find friends there – it’s a great chance to make Estonian friends. Great way to find firiends is volunteering: Nature - https://elfond.ee/participate People – https://www.toidupank.ee/vabatahtlikud-eesti-toidupangas/