​What does Plogging mean? My last blog post talked more on this, click to read.

How Can I Safely Pick Up Litters While Jogging?
To pick up litter either in your neighborhood or along the road, you must take some precautions while doing that. Some of the few but very important safety tips are:

• Practice social distancing: as COVID-19 is still much around, we should try and keep ourselves safe by maintaining a good social distance from others. “To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from other people who are not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.” (CDC)
  
• Wear bright colors if you will be litter-picking by the roads. This is to ensure you are seen clearly by people, for safety and to possibly pique their interest to join.
  
• Wear a mask and use your gloves. It is advisable to use disposable gloves (nitrile gloves) as this helps to prevent dirt or litter from sticking to your skin. You can as well use trash pickers like grabbers to avoid too much contact with the trash.
  
• Once the gloves come off after the plogging exercise, sanitize or wash your hands. 
  
• Do not use your gloved hands to touch any parts of your body while plogging.
  
• Food is important; ensure you eat well before the activity to avoid feeling sick. If you are not feeling well, do not go for plogging. 
  
• Finally, ensure you properly dispose of every litter. I am sure you will!
  

Recommendation: Some people do not have the free time for plogging but how about donations. Have you thought about donating to plogging clubs? It is also a form of volunteerism. You can either donate plogging materials or funds. Think about it! ​

​TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.

What is Volunteerism?
Oxford Languages define ‘Volunteerism’ as the use or involvement of volunteer labour, especially in community services.

Wikipedia says ‘Volunteering’ is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labour for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster.

Volunteering is the ability and practice of offering your skills, knowledge, and time to help and benefit others, without expecting a financial benefit in return. Most of us usually think that to promote sustainability, we must give it a whole lot financially. This is not to deny that funds play huge roles in environmental sustainability, however, the main point I am emphasizing is that everyone can play a role in this, even if we don’t have the funds to give. Every individual has one skill or knowledge that can become an effective contribution to protecting our environments and making them as sustainable as possible.

One clear example of volunteerism that does not require you giving money is ’Plogging’. After reading about this activity, I got so much interested. Plogging is a combination of jogging and litter-picking. The Swedish verbs ‘plocka upp’ and ‘jogga’ which means pick up and jog respectively gives the word ‘plogga’ from which we got ‘plogging’. This activity started in Sweden in 2016 and has spread to other countries (Nigeria, being one of them). Read more here. You can look to join one of such plogging clubs in the community/country.
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The essence of this blog post is to remind you of how important volunteerism is and how it goes a long way in environmental sustainability. There are many volunteer activities you can be involved with; subsequent posts will address that. However, for now, I want you to seriously consider doing this for your community. It doesn’t have to take all your time or prevent you from doing other things, remember that ‘every little effort counts’.
 
Action Point: Are you ready to volunteer for the sustainability of your environment? Search for volunteer programs within your community and sign up today. You can do it! 

A few days ago, while reading up news on sustainability and climate change, I came across this news story and this explaining how French lawmakers passed a bill to cancel every short domestic flight that can be covered by train in about two and half hours. And as my interest in sustainability and climate change actions has been growing these past few months, I couldn’t help but write a post on it. Although there were some criticisms about the timing of the Climate Bill (considering the COVID-19 pandemic) I see this step as a great one towards climate protection. However, that is for France, what actions are other countries taking to protect our dear climate. ​

Talking about aviation in climate change is a very controversial topic, however, we cannot ignore the fact that aviation emission also contributes to climate change and global warming. As controversial as it might be, it is the responsibility of each country and government to decide and take practical steps in reducing aviation’s negative impact on our climate. When it comes to aviation emission, individual countries have to take up ‘their cross’. As we know, the CO2 emissions from domestic flights are part of that country’s emission accounts. No wonder, France is already taking ‘her cross’ on that. 

International aviation can not be easily considered because the question is ‘Under which country will its emission count?’ nevertheless, it still counts. For me, this emphasizes the reason why moderation of domestic flights should be taken seriously. I will talk about this from two aspects: the developed and developing countries’ aspects. 
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Aviation accounts for about 2.5% of the global CO2 emissions (source). Another instance is what Sweden is doing currently with the transport sector, especially with aviation. Like Wikipedia said, Sweden’s long-term goal is to reduce 85% greenhouse gases by 2045 and the short-term goal is to reduce 70% emissions coming from the transport section by 2030. The question is ‘what has been done so far’? 

Climate change actions are necessary, they are good but sadly, only if the country has the capabilities to do so. I challenge more countries to take up the initiative to protect their climates, however, I wonder where that leaves the developing countries whose struggles are more than ‘a cup of tea’ and cannot even think of climate change actions right now. 
To take climate actions, can we really have one world? I still have a lot to say, however, I must drop my pen here. Ciao!!!

How can I contribute to SUSTAINABILITY? This is a question you should ask yourself and as well, seek answers to and work on every day. Here is a list that can help (link).
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​TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.

Do you know the number of SDGs we have?

I bet you got the number of SDGs right. If you didn’t, the picture says it all that we have 17 SDGs. Yaay, now you know. LOL....

What are the sustainable development goals?
According to UNDP, the SDGs are also known as ‘Global Goals’ and were adopted in 2015 by all United Nations Member States. These goals are all integrated such that the development of one lead to the progress of the others. The SDGs stand as a universal call to action to terminate poverty, protect our environment among others, all aimed to end by 2030.
 
Why we need individual efforts and support
To reach the ambiguous SDGs, we all are needed to contribute the little and the most we can to promote awareness and achieve them. Your creativity, technical know-how, or financial resources are all important.

How to contribute to these goals

• Turn off your appliances when not in use and put off lights during the day to save electricity. P-S. If the natural light is sufficient for you during the day.
• Always recycle papers, plastic, glass, and so on.
• Stop wasting water by spending too long a time in the bathroom.

More than half of death and injury cases globally are results of road accidents and we all can do something to reduce this death/injury rate by doing the following:

• Do not drive when drunk and do not drink while driving.
• Do not text or surf the internet when driving.
• Always drive within the speed limit.
• Always follow all traffic rules and regulations (I had a recent experience using the zebra crossing. I presumed the car was going to stop since it was a zebra crossing but it didn’t and fortunately, I was just walking up so I immediately paused and waited for the car to go. I understand the car should have followed the zebra crossing rule, but it did not.)

​Other actions you can take towards promoting SDGs are:

• Avoid food waste at all costs; ensure you buy only what you need at a period as you decide and freeze your food both fresh and leftovers.
• You can as well help reduce inequality by supporting the inclusion of all, socially, economically, and politically regardless of age, race, sex, religion, culture, or disability. Respect all! How can we do this? We can start by having an open mind and embracing everyone we encounter.  
• Support slow fashion, shop from slow fashion brands, and encourage second-hand clothing stores. Click here for more details.
• Support the local businesses in your neighborhood/community.

 
Check this previous blog post to read up on things you as an individual can do to promote SUSTAINABILITY.
https://www.180degreeslund.org/blog/things-you-can-do-to-promote-sustainability
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The last piece I wrote was on Slow Fashion and I know for some, the question is ‘Why Not Fast Fashion?’ Fast sounds cool, right. Yes, it does sound cool when it comes to productivity and some other related areas, however, fast is not a cool word for sustainable fashion. I will say for this, ‘slow and steady wins the fashion race’ if everyone will give huge contribution and support to SLOW FASHION.
Here is a simple calculation of these two concepts, it is left to you to make a good choice for yourself and your environment.
SLOW + FASHION= hand made garments, slow production pace, environment-friendly garments, long-lasting garments, etc.
FAST + FASHION= low quality fabrics, fast and mass production, and complete opposite of slow fashion’s results.
Read more about Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion here

How You Can Contribute to Slow Fashion

• Awareness Creation: Yes, let’s all talk about it. People usually leave this role to the professionals or rather, wait for some kind of big campaigns/rallies to create awareness which should not be. Every little talk and chat about the said ‘topic’ counts and matters, you really don’t have to wait for such big events. Just like sustainability, slow fashion is still in its early ages and not everyone knows about it which is our talking about it is very important. Talk about slow fashion and implications of fast fashion to your friends, colleagues, acquaintance, and even strangers because we all live on this planet together. And the responsibility to improve it and keep it going fine all lies on every one of us, stranger or no stranger (well, try not to piss a stranger off..LOL).
• Patronising Slow Fashion Brands: What better way to show your support than to go for brands that stand for Slow Fashion? You should shop for clothes and other accessories from them as that will also encourage them to produce more at the right pace. You can research about brands to know the type of fashion they are promoting and as I will address later on, there are some brands that practice Slow Fashion in Sweden. However, if you are not in Sweden, you can research for your country and will surely get something.  You can get such information from the company’s website, social media as well as valid sources (like news publications).
• Other actions you can take are:

• Go for quality clothes.
• Only buy clothes when you need them, no unnecessary purchase
• Always check the clothes materials when purchasing; synthetic fibers, polyester, and plastic are not good because they are not biodegradable while materials cotton, silk, line, and wool are better options and some as well state on the label if the material is organic or not.
• Donate your used/unwanted clothes.
• Repair your clothes and accessories rather than going for news ones.

 
Scandinavian Brands That Promote Slow Fashion

1. Woron: This is a slow fashion brand for lingerie and lounge wears. Every of their fabrics is made from Lenzing Modal, a smooth fiber. Link to their website.
2. Asket: The brand uses low-impact dyes to produce the best mens-wear wardrobe, check it out here.
3. Nudie Jeans: as the name implies, this fashion brand gives you the truth about denim, that is, ‘the naked truth’. Nudie Jeans use eco-friendly materials to produce long-lasting and good quality designs and click on this to get to their website.

Other Scandinavian brands that promote slow fashion are:

• Dedicated
• Filippa K
• Organic Basics
• Aiayu
• Armoire Officielle
• Swedish Hasbeens

I hope you got two or more from this piece. My next post will address this interesting question ‘How can an individual contribute to sustainable development goals?’ so be on the lookout. Ciao!

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TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.

Africa Daily Market
Tucked away in the centre of Lund, right by Botulfsplatsen, Africa Daily Market is an excellent place to do some shopping for African food or spices, or to get an amazing meal. The products in the store are very affordable, and the staff is incredibly friendly, willing to help you with any need or question you may have. Besides this, another highlight is the incredible food that is sold there. The owner will passionately tell you about all her dishes, while serving you a luxurious amount of deliciously prepared African food. Whenever you need some incredible food and a comfortable atmosphere, do not hesitate to check it out!

Broder Jakobs Stenungsbageri
Another gem in the centre of Lund; Broder Jakobs offers delicious, locally-sourced coffee and various goods and pastries that are prepared and baked in-house. With arguably some of the best kanelbullar and kardemummabullar in the city, you should definitely try most of their menu items. The staff is incredibly friendly and the atmosphere in the café is similar to that of a big family living room. This may be because it is a family-owned business, but seeing the staff together and with their customers makes you feel truly at home. If you want to further support their business, they also offer various merchandise for their café.

I hope you enjoy some of the local alternatives, and truly wish for everyone to support their local business in these tough times. However, do remember that in the current pandemic, do what you can to minimize risks!!​

Seeing this topic, tell me, what was the first thing that came to your mind? Or let’s start with this-why does this lady keep writing about sustainability?

At 180 Degrees Consulting Lund, we are passionate about social impact which is one of the major reasons for our consulting services. Sustainability is one of the vital ways to impact our environment and yes, we will keep talking about sustainability, social impact, consulting, social services, promotion, and support of non-profit organizations. 
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Check here to see some of the projects we are working on in creating a more sustainable future.
To create more awareness about making our present and future more sustainable, I wrote on the topic of SLOW FASHION. To have a concept called ‘Slow Fashion’ means that there is another concept called ‘Fast Fashion’, right? Fast Fashion is a topic for some other time. The following are some of the questions that people ask on this topic:

What is Slow Fashion?
Slow Fashion is the opposite of Fast Fashion and it simply means ‘Sustainable Fashion’. Slow fashion refers to a slow movement of fashion; such that fashion is made considering the people and the environment, that is, an environment-friendly fashion. Slow fashion encourages local production of clothes with the use of eco-friendly materials. It deals with the use and reuse of clothes to promote a sustainable environment.

A Sneak Peek into Slow Fashion’s History
According to Wikipedia & Filosofiala, the term ‘Slow Fashion’ was first coined in 2007 by Journalist Kate Fletcher; it was used in her article in the British publication ‘The Ecologist’. However, the idea of Slow Fashion was widely spread because an article titled ‘Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Clothing’ was published by Elizabeth Cline; this created more awareness about the dangers of fast fashion.

Why Slow Fashion?  
​I would say the next important thing for us to know as long as we know what Slow Fashion means, is its importance. As humans, we will never do something unless we identify the need for it and its benefits. So let’s dive straight into the need for Slow Fashion in our world:​

As a consultant who has been hired to solve an organization’s problem, what do you think is the first step to take? As an individual who has a challenge/problem to solve in your personal life, what do you think is the best way to do that? 

This blog post provides all the necessary details you need to answer such questions.
I attended ‘eeeBoosted’ where a lecture was given by yours truly ‘180 DC Lund’ on how a case can be solved. The lecture was tagged ‘How To Crack A Case’.

I never had the intention of writing a blog post on this, however, the lecture was so educative that I thought this should also be shared with a wider audience. It was very interesting and educative, I for one, have more understanding of how cases should be solved. The interesting part of it is that these steps apply to consulting cases but are not limited to that. They can as well be adopted in another context as long as you design them to fit well within that context. So in all, it is much more useful for all and sundry.

​This post will give a short but detailed explanation of these 7 Step-Framework for cracking/solving a case. Let me start with a definition of framework. 

What is a framework? In very simple terms, a framework consists of a particular set of ideas, rules, or tools that provides guidelines and processes for dealing with a problem and proffering solutions. 
At 180 DC Lund, we have a 7 Step-Framework we use as a foundation for solving problems and these steps are:

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3. Food Management: You can be creative with your leftovers and don’t have to throw away food all the time. Also, you can use food waste as fertilizer for your gardens rather than throwing them away. It is more advisable to use food waste as compost/fertilizer for your garden than using chemical fertilizer. According to the Environment and Natural Resources Publication, chemical fertilizers, if not properly managed, negatively impact the environment, plants, animals, and humans. 
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4. Conservation of energy: As an individual, you can conserve energy in your home by ensuring that your utility bill is not too high. The best way to achieve that is by ensuring there are no leaking water pipes/faucets, wrong wiring, amongst others. It is important that you turn off lights and other appliances that use energy such as AC/heater when leaving the home, unplug appliances when not in use and close the windows when the AC or heater is on. All these little things matter a lot and as minute as they seem, they contribute hugely to sustainability.

5. Use Public Transportation More: This will help reduce carbon emissions in the environment, as hard as it might sound, we should consider using more public transport than our private cars. You can also use a bike which does not emit carbons.  However, due to the current state influenced by the pandemic, public transportation might not seem like the best option so you can opt for bike-riding. The most important thing here is to stay safe whether you use private or public transport. 
For example, a new tramway system was recently introduced in Lund, Sweden in December. This is also an effort made by the country towards creating and maintaining an urban transportation system friendly to the environment. You can read more about the tramway with the link here

6. Contribute to projects, organisations and community services promoting sustainability: Such organisations are not scarce these days. I am pretty sure if you look around you, you will find one. Therefore, there isn’t meant to be the excuse of not finding such an organization, it depends more on your willingness and interest in joining these groups. If you are interested in promoting sustainability, I encourage you to join one of these organisations/NGOs. It is important to have it in mind that helping in organisations will go a long way in promoting and sustaining our dear communities, societies, and environments.

There are many other things we can as well do to promote sustainability individually and collectively but if you have not been making efforts before, start with the ones listed above. If you have been doing these and much more, kudos to you, it is indeed good to help the society grow and survive. So, the main question I have for you is:

ARE YOU WILLING TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT?


​TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.

Can you tell us about you?
 
My name is Hanna and I am studying MScs in Development Studies. I really love hiking and nature. About my dislikes, I cannot come up with anything else than paprika.
  
Can you tell us what working as a 180 DC Consultant entail?
 
In the beginning of the program, the consultants were divided into teams and assigned a company to work with. I got a chance to work with five smart and cool people, who composed my team. We were given the contacts of our company and then our work begun. Together with the company, we identified the problems of the company and worked towards the solutions (which in our case were market entry and communication strategy for the company to enter new markets). To keep other consultants updated in our progress, we had weekly meetings, where we presented our progress. Moreover, as we were supervised by professional consultants from our partner consultancy, we also got a chance to receive feedback and tips from them.
In the end of the project, we presented our results in a final event and wrote a report for the client.
On a less professional level, working in 180 DC meant finding great friends, having a beer, going hiking and playing online games in zoom- It was very fun experience. 

​What was the biggest challenge you had as a 180 DC Consultant?
 
The biggest challenge in the beginning was to keep up with the amazing people in the program and especially to my team. I remember thinking countless times, that wow, she or he’s so smart. Luckily, when I eventually got over myself and started to express my ideas, they were valued, and I felt that everyone’s contribution to the team was very important and irreplaceable. So, as my great friend from this program said- just believe in yourself, you have a lot to give!
 
How did this experience benefit you as a person?
 
Well, it gave me as close of a professional consulting experience as possible and I really loved it. I learned practical skills like problem-solving, pitching, communicating with client, teamwork, how to develop communication and new market entry strategy. This experience will definitely benefit me in the job market. 

How fun was it being a 180 DC Consultant?
 
I know this sounds nerdy, but through work and learning, I found really good friends from 180 DC Consulting, so I think this is the fun I am grateful for.
 
What advice will you give someone looking to apply for this position?
 
 “You can do it” mindset is a must have for applying to this position. Also, be ready to work in a team, have an open mind and contribute your free time and effort into finding solutions for the company you’ll consult.
 
Hanna, thanks a lot for giving us time to do this.