Lena is the kind of person who wants to actively drive sustainable change rather than spend her time being frustrated by it. Her chosen focus is packaging. In order to get to the root of problems and develop more effective solutions, she studied packaging engineering.
Three sustainability tips from Lena Frehe
Question things
“Just because it appears green doesn’t mean it actually is”: Lena thinks it’s important to be smart and to keep a critical eye on what really offers a better eco-balance. Paper bags, for example, aren’t as good as their reputation suggests. Lena recommends the website of the German Environment Agency as a good source of information on sustainability issues.
Separate waste properly
Lena knows that it’s essential to separate waste correctly. “With yoghurt pots, for example, you need to remove the aluminium lid. Because if the sorting system’s scanner identifies different materials on an object, it ends up being incinerated instead of being recycled. And black plastic packaging should be avoided wherever possible, as sorting systems aren’t able to identify it and so can’t send it for recycling.”
Make use of new technologies
Lena sees huge potential in 3D printing technology, “It can reduce storage costs and related emissions. Products don’t have to be shipped all over the world because they can be made directly where they are needed. Plus, 3D printing also saves a lot on materials compared to other processes like milling.” Being actively involved in this development is something that makes Lena feel she is making a difference.