Anja Tester, mother of three, project and program manager and sustainability enthusiast, participated in the GoSimple Program run by the association GreenUp from February to June 2025 (1st from left in the photo). GreenUp is a non-profit organisation which has its roots in the city and canton of Basel and works across Switzerland to inspire people to act for sustainability and adopt a resource-light lifestyle at home and at work. The Go Simple Program is its flagship offering for individuals and households showcasing this simpler life through workshops and talks. As part of the program Anja was able to join a GoSimple Sustainable City Tour. This is the impact it had on her:
I must admit that, to begin with, I was sceptical about the idea of a Sustainable City Tour as part of the GoSimple Program. When I looked at the list of shops I thought: I know these shops, I know where they are, What am I going to learn here that I don’t already know?
Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The tour challenged my own choices and behaviours. It was a true mindset shift moment for me that will stick. How so?
I consider myself a climate forward person that is aware about the challenges our world faces and that actively seeks out information, sustainable options and alternatives. I sometimes ask myself what else I could be doing when I am already skipping meat, cycle to most places and try more and more to avoid packaging?
The tour revealed that in many ways I am still stuck in my comfort zone of what I have always been doing, of “what I know” and what is convenient.
As part of the Go Simple Sustainable City Tour, we visited several shops in Basel, learned about their concepts; why and how they work for a more sustainable world. We learned about how ‘Re-Work’ uses fabrics destined for landfill to turn them into new clothes. We learned how Swiss brand “Erfolg” prioritises using local materials and production and we heard more about organic farming and fair trade at “Sahara”. While standing in these shops, I thought about my most recent shopping behaviours. I had just updated my wardrobe by buying at H&M. The lure of their promise to recycle my old fabrics AND the discount voucher I received were stronger than my convictions. I prioritised buying cheaply and conveniently.
This realisation hit me hard.
By buying high street…
By buying new instead of second hand…
By buying cheaply…
By buying “Made on the other side of the world” …
…wasn’t I perpetuating the system that I want to change?
…couldn’t my own choices be more supportive of the good business practices such as circularity and reusing that I have learned about and that I favour?
The Sustainable City Tour revealed opportunities for how and where I can use my power as a consumer and as an individual to make an impact.
It turns out that Basel with its many second hand and circular economy stores, flea markets and repair cafes offers a wide range of opportunities to do things differently. The GoSimple Sustainable City Tour makes it easy, on top of being a very pleasant walk in the very picturesque city centre of Basel. I highly recommend this tour if – like me – you are looking to strengthen your own power as an individual in order to tackle climate change, lead a more sustainable life in alignment with your values.
If you would enjoy experiencing the tour as part of a community of like minded people like Anja did, join us for our next Go Simple Program (in German) starting in September 2025. Benefit now from the Early Bird price!
If you prefer to explore in your own time, the brand new GoSimple Sustainable City Tour available in the Actionbound-App is just right for you. Simply download the app, search GoSimple Sustainable City Tour and start exploring.
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