Sustainability Week

Spring is the ideal time to air out your office drawers and cabinets! Take a small break between tasks and get rid of unnecessary things around you or embark on a more thorough cleaning. Here are some suggestions to follow when cleaning.

1. Plan! Choose a suitable day and time to start your cleaning operation. If you work in an open office, try to agree on a common cleaning time with your colleagues. The university's Property Management Office will help you dispose of your waste in the right place on Monday and Tuesday if you leave it sorted outside your office door at the end of the workday. If you usually have a busy start to the week, you can start cleaning earlier.
2. Sort! Start by emptying drawers, cabinets, and shelves and sort the items you find. Separate old paper and other waste from necessary items. If you come across unnecessary and unusable electronics or unnecessary and broken cables during cleaning, gather them up and inform your department or institute technician. Don't just throw electronics in the trash as it harms the environment.
3. Get rid of it! Determine which items you need and use and what you can throw away. Be realistic - get rid of things you haven't used for months or even years.
4. Organize! Put the remaining items back in the drawer. Try to place things so that you can easily find them in the future.
5. Destroy documents! Documents containing confidential information must be properly destroyed. Use a paper shredder or, if larger document destruction is needed, contact your department's administrative manager. Once you've finished cleaning, take a moment to admire your clean and tidy space.

When you have finished cleaning, take a moment to admire your clean and tidy space.

If you're interested in waste and its sorting, you can read more on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Climate.

Let's cut down on digital clutter! It's as easy as 1) ditching duplicate files on your devices and clouds, and 2) tidying up your mailboxes—toss out bulky files and unsubscribe from newsletters you don't read.

Why should you get rid of digital trash?

1. Helps to reduce CO2 emission.

2. Prolongs your devices’ lifespan.

3. Speeds up and simplifies information sharing and finding.

4. Reduces data storage security risks.

5. Increases disk & server capacity, helping reduce costs

Learn more here!

2May at 17:00
Location: TLU Souvenir Café (Astra House, Narva Road 29, Astraarium Café Area, 1st Floor)

Presenting books from the TLU Publishing House:

Emanuele Coccia „Metamorfoosid“ ("Metamorphoses")
Graham Parkes „Kuidas mõelda kliimakriisist. Mõistlikuma eluviisi filosoofiline teejuht“ ("How to Think About the Climate Crisis: A Philosophical Guide to a More Reasonable Way of Life")
Michael Marder „Taimmõtlemine“ ("Plant Thinking")

In conversation will be poet and essayist Hasso Krull, translator Mirjam Lepikult, and philosopher Margus Vihalem.

The recently published books from the Tallinn University Press, all in their own way, address the question of how to think about nature and the environment in a less anthropocentric manner. Inspired by the published books, the discussion will touch upon the connections and metamorphoses of different life forms, the restrained world of plants, befriending things, and how ancient philosophy and Eastern wisdom can help us live more sensibly on a planet that we have selfishly exploited for our own interests.

This year's "Let's Do It"  project is set for May 4th. There are various avenues to join in the efforts!

• Explore the "Let's Do It" webpage to uncover ongoing projects in your vicinity, ideal for solo involvement, family bonding, or even teaming up with colleagues.
• Alternatively, take the initiative by registering your own endeavour here.
• Should these options not suit, consider contributing to labor at home or in your countryside retreat. Remember, the entire weekend offers ample opportunity to partake.