22 Sep STURBOCK IN A TALK: A GUIDEBOOK ON THE TOPICS OF SUSTAINABILITY
youDRESSED Editor
The decision has been made: one’s life will now become more sustainable. But where to start in this new phase of life? The two girls Leonie and Enea from sturbock present tips and little helpers for eco-living.
How to integrate sustainability into everyday life in different life situations? sturbock has given useful tips and helpful starting points in this guide. Hopefully, this article will help you succeed in your next steps to sustainable living!
youDressed: Why do you think people should live more sustainably?
sturbock: There are many reasons, one of them is definitely the global “Earth Overshoot Day”, which took place this year on July 28, 2022. Since that day, we have used all natural resources the earth can produce in a year and we are actually living “on credit”. The German Earth Overshoot Day was even on May 4th – that doesn’t have to be.
youDressed: When did you decide to run your own online business with a focus on sustainability?
sturbock: First of all, out of our own need. For a long time sustainability and conscious consumption have been very important for us, and often the struggle of finding sustainable but aesthetic alternatives has become quite frustrating. Only because you’re trying to live more sustainably, you still want to wear nice fashion and jewelry, to have fancy interior products, and to find good skincare. And this was quite difficult and not fun. So the idea for a curated selection of sustainable and beautiful products from different areas on sturbock.me was born.
youDressed: Is it expensive to live sustainably?
sturbock: Not necessarily, because living sustainably also means thinking long-term and buying a high-quality product rather than a cheaper alternative. Of course, there are sustainable products that are more expensive than conventional mass products, but in return you have quality and a product that will last longer.
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Part of living sustainably is consuming less. You can rent a lot of stuff like equipment or clothes, or look for second-hand alternatives. Leonie, for example, has a completely plastic-free and minimalist kitchen. She only uses exactly what she needs and relies on natural materials. She hasn’t had to replace a single product in two years.
youDressed: What are you looking for in fashion and are there any brands you would recommend – for example, in terms of fashion or everyday pieces?
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sturbock: Again, our keywords are long lasting & timeless – because the longer a piece is worn, the more sustainable it is. We focus on natural materials (linen is our favorite in summer), as well as good quality and fabrication. This way the pieces can be washed and worn often.
It’s worth investing in classics like trench coats, cardigans, good jeans and also blouses. These are timeless and can be recombined again and again. Again, we buy much less – but can spend a little more for a fairly produced and sustainable piece.
And of course: second-hand! If you are the type, it takes a bit of luck, but Enea loves to browse (online) in second hand or vintage stores.
Our list of favorites is really long – it’s best to have a look at sturbock.me, where you can really find all our favorite brands from different areas. But of course we can already name a few:
Fashion: WOTE & Lanius
Interior: studio cradle, Studio Lima, Studio Sicily
Stoffe: Vieböck makes the most timeless and beautiful products from linen (bed linen, napkins, dishcloths etc.), PRINZ Berlin
Kitchen: Studio Sicily + chic.mic for To- Go products & FLSK (the best thermo-bottles ever)
Beauty: NKM, junglück, Mari&Anne, Sagitta (best deorant!)
Jewellery: Dear Darling Berlin & stilnest & Fejn
Food: Dr. Höhls (tasty vinegar and sparkling wine), Laori für alcohol-free alternatives, Pfeffersack & Söhne
youDressed: Do you have any recommendations on how to start living a sustainable lifestyle?
sturbock: So start simple, because every step counts. The next time you buy something, consider if you really need it, if it’s just a trend, or if you can borrow it from someone. When buying fashion, look for the small, stitched label for the materials. Organic cotton, for example, is particularly robust, durable and only needs a small amount of water compared to conventionally produced cotton.
youDressed: Where do you think people can get inspired?
sturbock: Of course on our social media (Pinterest/Instagram) and on our website! In addition to many sustainable products, we inspire on the topics of sustainability, aesthetics and conscious consumption. It is important to us not to lecture anyone or even point fingers at people, but simply to share our “way of life” and inspire people to reflect.
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youDressed: Are there certain media/books that clearly add value in the sustainability perspective?
sturbock: Oh yes, there are many! We’re really fans of books about “no-waste”, “plastic-free living”, recipe books about “regionality”, “preserving” or even “seasonal cooking”. There are also many interesting DIY books that not only tell you what’s in deodorant or drain cleaner, in addition you can learn how to make many everyday products by yourself – without polluting the environment! If you don’t want to buy books right away, you can also find lots of tips and DIYs on Pinterest.
Otherwise, we try to look at the topic of sustainability holistically and inform ourselves a lot by reading articles, studies and watching documentaries. It is important to verify sources and to avoid sensationalism.
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youDressed: Your interest and commitment to the topic is great! Surely there are sustainability idols you admire?
sturbock: Not directly idols. Leonie’s affinity for sustainability was strongly influenced by her mother, who has always lived mostly vegetarian and has preferred regional products.
None of us is perfect and we never will be, but we love the idea of becoming a little more sustainable day by day and inspiring new people with tiny things each day. Because maybe we don’t need big ” idols”, we just need a lot more people like you and me to inspire each other. For example, we like to give our friends sustainable products that already convinced us.
youDressed: Finally, to get to the heart of the matter: What do you think are the simplest, most effective and easiest tips for sustainability in daily life?
sturbock:
- Bring your own bags for shopping (cotton bags for fruit and vegetables, a jute bag for the bakery & a basket for all your shopping).
- Buy regional & seasonal. Visit your local farm shop and buy organic fruit and vegetables if possible.
- Next time you make an impulsive buying decision, think and evaluate if you really need the product or if you might be able to borrow it or buy it second-hand.
- Reduce your consumption of meat and fish
- Use apps/offers like “To Good To Go” (save food in your neighborhood that would otherwise be thrown away), fruit and vegetable rescue boxes like “etepetete” (organic fruit and vegetables that didn’t make it to the supermarket due to minor imperfections) and sales platforms like “Vinted” (give clothes a new life)
- Use more reusable products
- Simply make an everyday product by yourself (cleaning products or body care products such as deodorant and lip balm are particularly easy). Once you know how easy it is to make products yourself, you don’t want to buy them anymore.
Source cover image: sturbock
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