My First Foray into “Nachhaltigkeit” – Talking About Sustainable Consumption in Germany

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and let’s be honest, I’m still figuring things out. I’ve moved here for my job in tech, which is great, but navigating daily life is…well, it’s a challenge! One thing I’ve realised is that the Germans take sustainability seriously, and that’s fantastic, but it also means I’ve had to learn a whole new way of talking about things. Specifically, I’ve been trying to understand and participate in conversations about “Nachhaltigkeit” – sustainable consumption – and it’s been both fascinating and a little frustrating.

The First Conversation: The Supermarket

It started, predictably, at the supermarket. I was grabbing some groceries, feeling a little lost amongst the rows of organic vegetables and fair-trade coffee, when I overheard a conversation between two women.

“Guten Tag!” I said, trying to be polite. “Ich brauche nur ein paar Tomaten und…was ist denn das hier?” (I just need a few tomatoes and… what is this?)

They pointed to a brightly coloured package of plastic-wrapped fruit. “Das ist Erdbeeren aus Polen,” one of them explained. “Aber sie sind nicht wirklich nachhaltig, oder?” (These are strawberries from Poland. But they aren’t really sustainable, are they?)

I blinked. “Nachhaltig?” (Sustainable?) I asked, feeling a bit like a child. “Was heißt das genau?” (What does that exactly mean?)

“Es bedeutet, dass die Erdbeeren weit transportiert wurden, viel Energie verbraucht haben und wahrscheinlich nicht fair produziert wurden,” the other woman said patiently. “Es wäre besser, wenn man Erdbeeren aus der Region kaufen würde.” (It means they’ve been transported far, used a lot of energy, and probably weren’t produced fairly. It would be better if you bought strawberries from the region.)

I felt a little silly, but it clicked. I bought a small basket of locally grown strawberries instead. “Danke!”, I said, feeling slightly smug.

Understanding the Jargon – “Umweltschutz” and “Konsum”

I quickly realised that “Nachhaltigkeit” is a big word with a lot of associated terms. “Umweltschutz” (environmental protection) is constantly brought up, alongside “Konsum” (consumption). I kept hearing phrases like, “Wir müssen unseren Konsum reduzieren!” (We need to reduce our consumption!). It felt a bit… intense at first. I almost jumped out of my skin when my colleague, Steven, said to me, “Ist es dir bewusst, wie viel Ressourcen wir verschwenden?” (Are you aware of how many resources we waste?)

I mumbled something about learning, and he laughed kindly. “Kein Problem,” he said. “Es ist wichtig, dass wir darüber reden. Es ist nicht egoistisch, sich für die Umwelt zu interessieren.” (No problem. It’s important that we talk about it. It’s not selfish to be interested in the environment.)

Practical Phrases for the Shop

Here’s a little list of phrases I’ve found helpful for talking about sustainable choices:

• “Ist diese Verpackung wirklich nötig?” (Is this packaging really necessary?) – I’ve used this a lot when buying things.
• “Gibt es eine Bio-Option?” (Is there an organic option?) – Almost every shop has a “Bio” section, and it’s a must-have.
• “Woher kommen diese Produkte?” (Where do these products come from?) – It’s a surprisingly common question.
• “Ich kaufe gerne Produkte mit dem Fairtrade-Siegel.” (I like to buy products with the Fairtrade label.) – This is a really important part of the conversation.

A Slight Mishap – The “Secondhand” Confusion

Then there was the time I tried to buy a used jacket. I thought “Secondhand” (secondhand) would be a straightforward concept. I walked into a shop and proudly declared, “Ich möchte ein Secondhand-Kleidungsstück kaufen!” (I would like to buy a secondhand piece of clothing!).

The shop assistant looked confused. “Äh… ein was?” (Uh… a what?) It turned out “Secondhand” isn’t the common term here. They explained that “gebraucht” (used) is the correct word. I felt a little red-faced, but thankfully they just laughed and helped me find a great jacket. “Gebraucht ist auch gut!” (Used is also good!) they said.

Learning to Speak the Language of Sustainability

What I’m slowly realizing is that talking about sustainability in Germany isn’t just about using fancy words. It’s about a genuine concern for the environment and a desire to make responsible choices. It’s about questioning things, asking questions, and understanding the impact of your consumer habits. I still make mistakes, and I definitely still feel a bit overwhelmed, but I’m getting there. I’m learning to embrace the conversation, and, honestly, it’s making me a more conscious consumer. “Ich lerne noch,” (I’m still learning) I keep telling myself, and maybe, just maybe, I can actually contribute to a little bit of “Nachhaltigkeit” here in Berlin.