7 Acts - Germany Edition
These 7 Acts have been adapted to reflect Germany’s climate policies, energy landscape, food systems and healthcare infrastructure, offering practical, evidence-based actions tailored to the German context.
Act 1: Move your Money
To A Bank That Doesn’t Invest in Fossil Fuels
Switching to a sustainable bank is one of the most impactful climate actions you can take. Many major German banks continue to finance coal, oil and gas projects, but several ethical banks now offer accounts that avoid fossil fuel investments entirely.
Sustainable Banks in Germany
GLS Bank – Pioneer in ethical banking; fully transparent investments in renewable energy, social housing and sustainability projects.
https://www.gls.de
EthikBank – Strong exclusion criteria for fossil fuels and arms; publishes full investment ethics.
https://www.ethikbank.de
Tomorrow Bank – Mobile bank with climate protection focus; funds certified climate projects.
https://www.tomorrow.one
Triodos Bank – European sustainable bank funding renewable energy and social impact sectors.
https://www.triodos.de
UmweltBank – Specialises in financing solar, wind and ecological construction projects.
https://www.umweltbank.de
Pax-Bank – Ethical-investment Catholic cooperative bank with sustainability screening.
https://www.pax-bank.de
Helpful tools:
WWF Bank Check (Germany)
https://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/klima-energie/klimafreundliche-geldanlage/bankentest
Fair Finance Guide Germany
https://www.fairfinanceguide.de
Act 2: Move your Power Supply
To A 100% Renewable Resource
Switching your electricity supplier is one of the simplest and most effective ways to cut your carbon footprint. In Germany, more than 12% of healthcare emissions — and a significant portion of household emissions — come from electricity, heating and cooling. By choosing a certified green provider, you support renewable energy and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
Top Renewable Electricity Providers in Germany:
These providers offer verified Ökostrom generated from wind, solar and hydro, with no fossil fuel involvement.
Utopia: Best Green Energy Providers (Germany)
A trusted independent comparison of genuine renewable electricity suppliers.
https://utopia.de/bestenlisten/die-besten-oekostrom-anbieter/
Bürgerwerke
A cooperative of 125+ local energy communities providing 100% citizen-owned renewable power.
https://buergerwerke.de
EWS Schönau
A pioneer in community-owned renewable electricity with strong fossil-free policies.
https://www.ews-schoenau.de
Green Planet Energy
Backed by Greenpeace; invests heavily in new renewable power plants.
https://www.greenplanetenergy.de
Naturstrom AG
One of Germany’s oldest 100% renewables suppliers; TÜV-certified.
https://www.naturstrom.de
Polarstern Energie
Ethical green energy company supplying renewable electricity and gas alternatives.
https://www.polarstern-energie.de
Prokon
Germany’s largest renewable energy cooperative; all energy generated from its own wind farms.
https://www.prokon.net
Why Switch?
Lower your carbon footprint immediately
Reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels
Improve energy security
Support Germany’s transition to renewable power
Often cost-competitive with mainstream suppliers
For Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals and clinics in Germany have major opportunities to save money and cut emissions by shifting to renewables.
Solar for Healthcare Facilities (Enviria)
Specialists in installing or leasing solar systems for hospitals — including “roof rental” models.
https://enviria.energy/solar-optionen/gesundheitswesen
Case Study: MEDIAN Clinics (2024)
One of Germany’s major clinic groups began rolling out PV systems across facilities in 2024.
https://www.median-kliniken.de/artikel/news/erste-pv-anlage-der-median-kliniken-in-deutschland-geht-ans-netz/
DKG Climate Protection Measures for Hospitals
Detailed report on pathways for German hospitals to reduce emissions.
https://www.dkgev.de/fileadmin/default/Mediapool/3_Service/3.1_DKI-Analysen_und_Gutachten/DKI-Gutachten_Klimaschutz_in_deutschen_Krankenhaeusern_final-update.pdf
Region-Wide Renewable Energy Trends
Germany has seen a strong shift toward renewables due to:
Rising energy security concerns
National targets under the Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG)
Decentralised citizen-owned energy projects
Falling solar and wind costs
This makes now the ideal time to switch your supply to 100% renewable power.
Act 3: More Plant Based Food
Shop Seasonal and Local Where Possible
Food systems are a major driver of emissions. In German healthcare, up to 17% of a hospital’s carbon footprint can come from food alone. Shifting toward plant-based, seasonal meals is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions while improving health outcomes.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland all offer excellent resources, campaigns and guides to support individuals and institutions in adopting healthier, climate-friendly diets.
Why It Matters:
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly
Lowers pressure on land, water and biodiversity
Supports better patient, staff and community health
Often cheaper for hospitals and households
Aligns with WHO and EAT-Lancet dietary guidance
Austria & Switzerland Resources to Inspire Germany’s Approach:
Austria – Climate-Friendly Hospital Food
Study on how plant-based meals reduce emissions and improve costs in Austrian hospitals.
https://www.klimamitkochen.at
Switzerland – Hospital Food Emissions Study (Swiss Federal Office of Energy)
Swiss hospitals found 17% of total emissions come from food — a key reason to shift menus.
https://gesundheitswesen.suisseenergie.ch
Quick Idea’s to Get Started:
For individuals:
Try one plant-based day each week
Choose seasonal fruit & vegetables
Reduce red meat and dairy
Buy local where possible
Avoid highly processed foods
For healthcare institutions:
Introduce a daily plant-based menu option
Train catering teams on sustainable recipes
Use seasonal procurement for kitchens
Reduce meat portions gradually
Monitor food waste
Plant-Based & Sustainable Food in Germany:
German Nutrition Society (DGE): Sustainable Diet Guidance
Official dietary recommendations incorporating environmental impact, health and cultural factors.
https://www.dge.de
Hospital Food Transformation Initiatives
Many German hospitals are now integrating:
More plant-based main dishes
Seasonal menus
Reduced meat purchases
Food waste monitoring systems
A practical example:
DKG Climate Report on Hospital Sustainability includes recommendations for climate-friendly kitchens.
https://www.dkgev.de/fileadmin/default/Mediapool/3_Service/3.1_DKI-Analysen_und_Gutachten/DKI-Gutachten_Klimaschutz_in_deutschen_Krankenhaeusern_final-update.pdf
Seasonal Eating in Germany
Choosing seasonal, local produce dramatically reduces emissions and improves nutrition.
Seasonal Calendar (Germany)
https://utopia.de/ratgeber/saisonkalender-gemuese-obst/
Act 4: More Green Travel
Choose Low Carbon Options Where Possible
Walking and public transport should be the choice of transport wherever possible.
Local Metro.
Some cities also have metro options that are faster and convenient.
The Vande Bharat Express is a semi-high-speed train service operated by the Indian Railways. Similar to the renowned Shatabdi Express, this train efficiently connects various cities across India with an operational speed of 130 km/hr.
Order Less, Cook More.
Many people in cities now prefer online food orders and home delivery. However, ordering multiple times a day or week causes fuel wastage and adds to traffic congestion. It’s better to plan, make a list, and order everything together to reduce these issues. Whenever possible, people should cook and eat at home — meal prepping (planning and preparing meals in advance) makes this easier, healthier, and more affordable.
Work From Home and Travel Low-Carbon.
Whenever possible, choose to work from home and attend meetings online to reduce unnecessary travel. For domestic trips, prefer trains as they are more eco-friendly, and for international travel, try to book low carbon footprint flights. These small choices can help reduce pollution and contribute to a healthier planet.
Choose Electric Vehicles or Carpool.
Electric vehicles can be chosen over carbon fuel vehicles; there are charging points available at several locations and can be accessed at:
https://evyatra.beeindia.gov.in/public-charging-stations/
Try carpooling with your neighbours and friends:
Support Local Women Entrepreneurs.
It is also good to hire women from the local neighbourhood to help with cooking. It ensures you get fresh, home-cooked meals while also providing livelihood opportunities and empowering women in your community. Some women’s groups offer tiffin services with home-cooked meals and also sell local snacks like peanut or sesame chikki, papad, dry fruit laddoos, and pickles. Buying from them is a healthier and more sustainable choice than consuming ultra-processed foods, while also supporting local women entrepreneurs.
Express Train.
Act 5: More Pre-Loved
Choose Local Low-Carbon Brands
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The textile and clothing industry generates approximately 7,800 kilotonnes of waste every year—equivalent to the combined weight of more than 120 million people—and most of it ends up in landfills, mixed with everyday waste.
According to the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), the textile industry is the third-largest contributor to dry municipal solid waste, after plastics.
Currently, only 34% of India’s textile waste is reused through repair or conversion, and just 25% is recycled into yarns. Most recycled yarns don’t meet global quality standards. The rest is incinerated, downcycled, or landfilled — showing the need for better large-scale solutions.
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It’s okay to repeat clothes — not every trend needs following. You can be creative with how you wear, rework, or restyle your wardrobe.
Here are some tips to reuse clothes creatively:
Reuse Old Sarees Creatively → -
If it’s something you’ll only wear once — like a wedding outfit — rent it. Several stores now offer rentals for traditional and ceremonial clothing. This reduces waste, cuts cost, and keeps your wardrobe lean.
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The India Handloom Brand was launched to promote high-quality, eco-conscious handloom products with zero defects and minimal environmental impact.
Only verified retailers can sell these IHB products, ensuring quality, ethical production, and cultural preservation.
Find a store near you here:
Find Handloom Partner Stores → -
Most shoes end up in landfills — same with old gadgets and electronics.
Opting for second-hand or refurbished items reduces waste and keeps usable products in circulation.Whether it’s shoes, furniture, or electronics, try platforms like:
Browse Pre-Loved Items on OLX → -
Skip paper cups and plastic bottles at weddings or gatherings. You can now rent steel plates and glasses instead, massively reducing landfill waste and your event’s carbon footprint.
Explore services like:
Rent Reusables from Adamya Chetana →
Act 6: Measure Your Carbon Footprint
And cut where you can.
Want to understand your climate impact? These tools can help you calculate your carbon footprint based on transport choices, energy use and more.
Act 7: Motivate your loved ones
Your actions can influence others - sometimes more than you realise.
Share your journey or small climate steps with friends, family, or on social media.
Encourage colleagues in your workplace to be change agents.
If you’re hosting an event, make it low-waste and climate-conscious — your guests will notice.
Even simple conversations can spark bigger shifts.