Earth Day is an annual event that marks a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability and encourages people from all over the globe to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future. At Sparqle, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. That’s why, to mark Earth Day 2024, we wanted to share and celebrate how our team incorporates sustainability into their daily lives. Hear more from the Sparqle team below.

Walter Jansma, Engineering Lead

One sustainable practice I've embraced is using reusable packaging whenever possible. Whether it's taking your shopping bags to the supermarket or using containers for food storage instead of cling foil, it’s a simple yet effective way to minimise waste. You won’t save the world with it, but it’s a small step that aligns with a broader commitment to living more sustainably.‍

I believe adopting a sustainable mindset in general is key. Whenever you're purchasing something new, it's important to pause and ask yourself if you need it, or if there might be a more sustainable alternative available. This approach not only helps in making more environmentally friendly choices but also often leads to discovering innovative and better solutions.

I always use my (non-electric) bike to navigate the city, which not only gives me a bit of exercise but also gets me around the city with zero emissions. For longer distances, I rely on public transport or shared vehicle services like Sixt or MyWheels. I’m excited about the shared vehicle concept—it reduces the number of cars on the road and is even good for your wallet if you don’t ride that often! I'm hopeful that these services will grow and expand their coverage, making it unnecessary for me to ever purchase a car!

Roos Teunissen, Head of Operations 

I've fully embraced buying and selling second-hand products such as clothing to reduce the demand for new garments. Once in a while I also take a two-month stop from non-essential purchases to reassess my consumption habits. Reducing consumption behaviour decreases waste by extending the lifecycle of existing clothing items instead of throwing them away. This practice also minimises the environmental impact associated with the production of new clothing, including water usage, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.

I recommend exploring various platforms for second-hand items and implementing periodic breaks from non-essential purchases. It fosters mindful consumption and supports sustainability.

‍Another sustainable practice I prioritise is buying seasonal foods, which reduces the need for extensive transportation and supports local farmers. By choosing in-season produce, I minimize the environmental impact associated with long-distance food transportation

Miruna Țiț, Marketing

There are many small practices I embrace daily. From thinking about how I could reuse certain objects I extend their lifetime to repairing clothes instead of throwing them and adopting a more plant-based diet. I buy second-hand as much as possible; if not, I buy from more conscious brands with a longer lifetime. On the same note, to extend the lifetime of my old clothes, I sell them on different platforms online. Other times, it’s just the small practice of using a reusable shopping bag and bringing my reusable water bottle with me, including when travelling, to try and avoid single-use packaging. 

I believe a combination of reducing, reusing, recycling, repairing, and rethinking is the way to go when we want to adopt more sustainable practices. We can make our contribution whether we choose to take public transport more often, get emission-free deliveries ;), eat seasonally, buy second-hand, repair clothes or reduce overall consumption. It can look very different for everyone, so I would recommend starting small and exploring what works for you. All these seemingly small, but conscious daily efforts can have an impact if adopted at large.

‍Sustainability can indeed take some research and time and often the sustainable option is not the fastest, nor the most convenient one. The practices I mentioned are of course not changing the world, but I like to believe that if everyone would be more considerate towards their actions on our planet and rethink some of their consumption behaviour, we would get to a better place in the future.