Sustainable Living? Let’s Just Say I’m a Newborn

It’s been two months since I moved to Wädenswil, and let me tell you — Switzerland is a whole different world when it comes to sustainability. Everywhere you turn, there's a silent (not so silent, literally in every class, in every possible topic) but strong call to live more consciously: separate your waste meticulously, return glass bottles, reuse paper bags, buy local, favor some certain kinds of foods, and (of course) sort your plastics like a pro.

It’s fascinating. Inspiring. Slightly overwhelming.
And then there's me — still trying to figure out how to live more sustainably, one cracked egg at a time.

You see, I love eggs. A lot. So does my flatmate. Between the two of us, we’ve gone through about five reusable plastic crates of eggs in just two months. Yes, the kind with company logos printed on them. These aren’t just any plastic containers — they’re sturdy, stackable, and honestly too good to toss into the recycling bin.

Now, I know what some folks might say.
“Why are you still eating so many eggs?”
“Aren’t we supposed to cut down on animal products to save the planet?”

To that I say: I hear you. I’m learning. I’m trying. But right now, I’m starting where I am — and for me, that’s not throwing away something that can still serve a purpose.

So here’s what I did: Instead of dumping these crates into the plastic recycling bin (with a hint of guilt), I decided to save them and take them back to the supermarket where I bought the eggs. After all, they already carry the company branding — and they’re clearly made for reuse. Why not let them live out their full lifecycle?

It’s a small gesture. Tiny, even. But it’s a step.

Living in Switzerland, you can't help but be nudged (gently but firmly) into being more aware of your environmental impact. Whether it’s the calm signage that reminds you to separate food waste, or the people bringing their own cloth bags for shopping, the sustainable mindset is everywhere — not loud or aggressive, just integrated into daily life.

So no, I’m not zero-waste. I still eat eggs. I don’t own a compost bin.
But I’m learning to pause before tossing things out. To ask myself, “Can this be reused? Can this serve someone else?”
And that mindset shift? That’s where sustainability really starts.

Let’s just say, I’m cracking into it — one egg crate at a time.

Who knows? Maybe slowly I’ll begin to save less plastic egg crates.. (eat less eggs).