The coffee morning was opened by Rector Tiit Land, who emphasized the importance of grassroots initiatives and how inspiring it is to see such great interest in environmental topics. “We’ve been waiting for bottom-up initiatives like this. The fact that so many people are here today shows that this topic truly resonates,” said Land.

Project manager Mari Öö Sarv introduced the Sustainable Months program, which will spotlight a different sustainability theme each month through articles, calls to action, events, and playful competitions. “We’re not here to force or forbid—rather, we’re offering opportunities and doing things together,” Sarv emphasized. Everyone is invited to participate—employees, students, alumni, and even those outside the university.

First Months’ Focus: Mobility, Conscious Consumption, Packaging Reduction, and Energy Saving

During the coffee morning, participants discussed four key themes in depth: reducing car dependency, overconsumption and conscious choices ahead of the holiday season, avoiding waste and packaging, and energy saving and smart building use.

Mobility is one of the most environmentally impactful sectors. Transport accounts for 29% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, and Estonia has one of the highest rates of car ownership in Europe. While the EU average is 570 cars per 1,000 people, Estonia stands at 630—fifth highest in Europe. Meanwhile, the average car trip in Tallinn is only 3 km. Over half of Estonia’s working-age population is overweight, and increased car use also worsens urban noise issues. By changing our transportation habits, we support the climate, our health, and the quality of our living environment.

In Estonia, Earth Overshoot Day came as early as March 4 this year—meaning we’re living as if we had six planets. While oil shale energy plays a role in this, Estonia’s overconsumption has steadily increased over the years. That’s why November will focus on conscious gifting, reuse, and no-buy choices, especially ahead of Christmas. The less we consume, the fewer of the planet’s limited resources we deplete.

On average, more than one kilogram of municipal waste is generated per person per day in Estonia, with a significant portion being packaging waste that ends up incinerated or landfilled. Packaging peaks during the holiday season, yet many packages are used for just minutes. The best waste is waste that doesn’t exist. In December, we’ll focus on celebrating sustainably—with fewer items, less packaging, and minimal waste.

In January, we’ll focus on energy saving. In Estonia, nearly half of all energy is used for heating and cooling buildings. If each of us adjusted room temperatures more mindfully, unplugged unused devices, and avoided energy-wasting habits, the impact would be substantial. Big energy savings—and a smaller footprint—start with small everyday choices.

What Ideas Emerged?

During the coffee morning discussions, participants shared numerous inspiring and practical ideas, some of which could evolve into concrete initiatives. For example:

• During Mobility Month, there was much discussion about cycling and public transport as convenient, low-footprint travel options. Ideas included campus support for cyclists, such as access to showers and drying cabinets, demo days, and community campaigns. P.S. If you find an old but functional bike during spring cleaning that no one rides anymore, bring it to the university. We’ll fix it up and make it available for staff use during workdays.
• On consumption habits, ideas included repair cafés, testimonials from role models, visualizations of product lifecycles, conscious gift guides, and circular economy clean-up events. There was also talk about showcasing and using innovative student project outputs and research group products.
• On waste, suggestions included simplifying reuse on campus—like a digital second-hand marketplace, year-round clothing and shoe swaps, packaging-free holidays, a mailbox for kind words, and prioritizing digital gifts. Ideas were also floated about redirecting food waste to agriculture—e.g., as animal feed—and giving meaningful gifts without unnecessary souvenirs.
• For Energy Saving Month, people highlighted everyday practical steps—from LED lighting and closing curtains at night to managing ventilation and using CO₂ sensors. They also discussed organizing competitions among research groups, which have already yielded impressive results at the university.
• In open discussions, ideas included Christmas gift-wrapping workshops, craft circles, a holiday market, and the concept of a community garden where people could plant together in spring and harvest together in autumn.

These suggestions offer a clear picture of the kinds of ideas the TalTech community values and the direction people want to take toward more environmentally conscious practices. While not every idea may be implemented immediately, they provide valuable input for next steps—or inspiration for personal action.

The organizers of the Sustainable Months invite everyone to think along and get involved: “The university cannot become more sustainable unless its people do. TalTech is its people.” Ideas can be sent to rohekuud@taltech.ee.