News

During the European Sustainable Development Week, on September 27th, Ltd "ZAAO" (ZAAO) hosted the first class of the program "Saving Family Budget while Living Greener" at the Regional Circular Economy Education and Competence Centre "Daibe." The first day of the course proved that discussing sustainability can be not only educational but also interesting and engaging.

As emphasized by Ieva Freimane Mihailova, Head of the Environmental Education Department at ZAAO: "We live in a time when responsible decisions about our consumption habits and waste management are crucial to creating a sustainable future. With the help of this program, we aim to inspire people to make environmentally friendly decisions that will not only help them save money but also reduce the negative impact on the environment."

The goal of the program is to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to help them make responsible decisions in everyday life, reduce waste, and promote a more sustainable future.

During the first class, seminar participants learned about the environmental impact of textile production and the textile management system in Latvia. A representative from Jsc “AJ Power Recycling” outlined the textile sorting and purchasing habits of Latvian residents, as well as the processes of textile collection, recycling, and distribution. They also shared the challenges the company faces daily in ensuring responsible textile waste management. This story highlighted how significant, yet complex, the implementation of a circular economy for textiles is in practice.

Uldis Skrebs, a board member of AS “Jsc Power Recycling,” acknowledges: "Textile waste management is a challenging process because, in Latvia, textile collection, sorting, and recycling are still new, which presents specific challenges for waste management companies. However, it is important that we are now able to provide widespread textile disposal options, as public interest in properly sorting textiles continues to grow. We are working to ensure that textiles not only avoid landfills but also return to the circular economy as a resource, creating new opportunities for both businesses and society."

Stylist Ineta Zariņa captivated the participants with her lecture on the capsule wardrobe. She explained how a smaller, yet high-quality, amount of clothing can create a practical wardrobe that not only looks good but also helps save resources. The stylist emphasized that a sustainable wardrobe is not just about fashion – it’s also about conscious consumption and caring for the environment.

At the end of the day, Evija Tiltiņa, Environmental Education Project Manager at ZAAO’s Nature and Technology Park "URDA," led a practical workshop where each participant could transform men's shirts donated to textile sorting bins into modern shirt dresses. These shirts were provided with the support of AS “AJ Power Recycling.” The workshop not only gave participants the opportunity to create something unique but also promoted an understanding of how clothing can be reused.

The informal education program "Saving Family Budget while Living Greener" will also take place in November, January, March, May, and July. Each class will focus on important topics, including waste reduction in households, food waste and biodegradable materials, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the preservation of biodiversity. Each session will be available for separate registration.

The program is open to anyone interested in gaining practical knowledge and skills for creating a more sustainable and economical lifestyle, proving that a sustainable lifestyle can be both cost-effective and creative.