Elisah shows how easy sustainability is

Elisah started focusing on reducing her own waste in 2015. As a psychologist, she was already involved in recognizing behavior patterns and adopting new habits. “By following a different eating pattern and eating more fresh and seasonal products, I noticed that I produced much less waste. I found it so interesting that I started to see it almost as a game. I wanted to see how little waste I could produce,” Elisah explains. In the years thereafter, she realized that living according to the zero waste principles needed to be approached on a larger scale to truly make an impact. That’s why she launched the Zero Waste Netherlands movement. The movement grew so rapidly that she now advises and motivates companies to reduce their waste with a team.

Elisah is, of course, busy all year round creating a positive impact on the climate. During Climate Week, she wants to as Climate Mayor highlight how easy it is to live more sustainably. She explains: “I think it’s important to provide a sense of action. During Climate Week, many topics are discussed, such as the energy transition, but also consumption and food waste. I see it as a translation to the residents of Breda about how they can make a concrete, positive contribution to the climate themselves.”

Sustainability is one of Breda's top priorities. It is no coincidence that ‘green’ is part of the three G’s (Grenzeloos, Gastvrij & Groen). Elisah recognises the efforts the city makes to achieve its green objectives. “I see attention being given to greening and cooling. I am very happy with initiatives like ‘city in the park’. I also notice that city ecologists are becoming increasingly involved in neighbourhood renovations.”

However, Elisah also points out areas for improvement that the city can address. “I believe that the city is still creating too much hardscape in the construction of new neighborhoods. Unfortunately, this kind of hardscape contributes to the warming of the climate. I also see that large trees are too easily removed in places where they are actually desperately needed. Initiatives like Struikroven are therefore especially important to redistribute the green spaces that are being taken away. Besides greening, I think more focus should be given to events that produce a lot of waste, such as, for example, Carnival or Breda Jazz Festival. These events still use disposable cups, which often end up in the canal. There is certainly still a lot of progress to be made in this regard.”

Sustainable living and producing less waste doesn't have to be difficult, Elisah explains. “You can start very simply by requesting a free 'NO-NO-sticker' from the municipality and sticking it on your letterbox. This way, you will have much less flyer material and be less inclined to buy things. Additionally, I recommend everyone to occasionally buy weekly groceries at the market rather than the supermarket. Products such as nuts, cheese, and bread are sold unpackaged there. There are also plenty of lovely zero-waste shops in Breda where you can do your shopping.” For people who don't want to step too far out of their comfort zone, Elisah also has tips. “If you are used to ordering your groceries online, you can also choose to order your groceries from Pieter Pot. Your groceries will be delivered in deposit jars, which will be collected again with your next order.”