Sustainable Living
Sustainable Living
Sustainable Living
Small Steps to Improve Quality of Life at Home
Be a Superhero Yourself!
Are you looking for ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle? Let us show you how to easily save money, water, energy and thus, reduce resulting CO₂ emissions in your household.
Saving is easier than you think. That’s because our home appliances do the work for you. It’s only about minor changes you might want to consider for your household chores.
Heroic Washing and Drying
Let’s start with the laundry. Luckily, the washing machine does the cleaning for you. The following tips make saving water, energy and money a breeze.
Just put your clothes in the washing machine. All you have to do is choose is the correct settings. Why not go for the Eco program (“Eco 40-60”)? Sure, it takes a bit longer. But it helps you save water and energy thanks to four interconnected factors: temperature, chemistry, duration and mechanics. When you alter two or more of those factors, you can easily see their connection. For example, if you reduce the temperature, like the Eco program does, you need to make up for it with a longer running time. The results, however, will be the same: clean and fresh laundry.
You can save energy not only with the right program, but also with the right washing machine. Bosch washing machines from Series 4 8 are available in the best energy efficiency class A. Our premium Series 8 washing machines are even 20 percent more efficient than the limit value for energy efficiency class A. [1] So you get clean laundry with low energy consumption.
Another tip? More isn’t always better, especially when it comes to detergent. If you overdose on detergent, then your washing machine needs additional rinsing, which can lead to more water consumption. Bosch and Siemens washing machines with an automatic dispensing system can avoid such unnecessary rinse cycles.
What about drying your clothes? It might seem like the easiest way is to hang them up on a laundry rack. But in a cold, poorly ventilated room, the walls absorb moisture from laundry, especially in winter. And heating a room just for laundry is a bad idea, since it means extra energy and higher bills. In fact, it might be smarter to put the laundry in a heat pump dryer. BSH’s modern heat pump dryers save energy and use natural refrigerants. They need up to 68 percent less energy than dryers with energy efficiency class B. [2] Moreover, the most efficient BSH dryers are up to 10 percent more efficient than the limit value of Energy Efficiency Class A+++. [3]
Reduce Food Waste and Prolong Freshness
It’s time for a rescue mission. Did you know that 631 million tons of food were wasted in households worldwide in 2022? Estimates suggest that 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO₂, are associated with food that is not consumed. [4] You can save food and money simply by storing it correctly in the fridge. But wait, there’s more! Let’s have a look.
Finding the right place for each food item in the refrigerator is easy – if you know how the different temperature zones work:
Overall, it is sufficient if the refrigerator is set no colder than +4 degrees Celsius in the fresh food compartment. Keep your freezer compartment set to no more than -18 degrees Celsius.
Want to enjoy your lettuce and raspberries even longer? Then pay attention to moisture. The special freshness compartments in fridges from Bosch, Siemens, Neff or Gaggenau let you regulate humidity to keep meat, fish, fruits and vegetables fresh for longer. The temperature in the higher-up cold storage compartments is always two degrees Celsius lower than in the rest of the refrigerator, providing ideal storage conditions for meat, fish and cheese.
Smart solutions and apps like Foodfittery can also help you reduce food waste by suggesting recipes based on what’s in the fridge or pantry. That makes it easy for you to do something good for the environment, your wallet and your time. Want more tips on how to avoid food waste? Check this out.
If you put warm food in the fridge, the appliance has to use additional energy to cool it down and maintain the interior temperature. So save energy with this simple trick: Let food cool down to room temperature first. And before you open the refrigerator, think about what you want to take out so that you don’t have to open the door for longer than necessary. This also saves valuable energy. Many of our appliances make an acoustic signal when you open the door for a long time so that you remember to close the refrigerator door.
On Water Patrol – With Your Dishwasher
Water is arguably the most important commodity on our planet. Yet, despite the fact that water scarcity and pollution have become two of the most pressing issues in many places around the world, many still act as if we have an unlimited supply. However, it is easy to save water in the kitchen and even improve quality of life at the same time.
When dirty dishes pile up in the sink, many people wash them by hand, mistakenly thinking they will save water that way. But not only does it cost you precious time, you also need far more water than if you let the dishwasher clean plates and cutlery. Our particularly efficient dishwashers use less than 10 liters of water per cycle – ten times less than needed to wash per hand. [5] Using a dishwasher also takes around one third less energy. [6]
Another tip: Just scrape off food scraps and throw them in the trash or recycling bin before putting the dishes in the dishwasher. You don’t need to pre-rinse. That’s unnecessary and can even impair the cleaning result.
Give Your Favorite Piece a Second, Third or Fourth Life
In 2022, 62 million tons electronic waste were discarded worldwide. [7] Forecasts predict that the world will generate an incredible 74.7 million metric tons of e-waste by 2030 [8] . The most important lever to prevent e-waste in the best possible way is a long lifetime. That's why all BSH products are designed for durability and meet the highest quality standards. But what can you do when your vacuum cleaner suddenly no longer wants to suck up the crumbs?
As repair is usually more sustainable than a replacement, our repair concept ensures that you have access to spare parts for a duration of up to 15 years after the production of the last appliance of a model. [9] With numerous models and series being manufactured for several years, our commitment ensures that spare parts are often available for even longer periods. In fact, we stockpile over 350,000 constantly available spare parts, making your repair the unequivocal first choice. So, when your faithful household helper unexpectedly ceases to function, don't hesitate to reach out to the dedicated BSH customer service team.
If repairing is no longer possible or economical, drop off your old appliance where it can be recycled to give it or its parts a second life.
Unsure how to dispose of the packaging material from your latest BSH product? Check the back of its package! You’ll find a QR code that provides information on the proper disposal of packaging material.
Do you want to vacuum more sustainably? Then take a look at the bagged Bosch Series 4 and Series 2 vacuum cleaners, both of which use recycled materials. The Bosch Series 4 comes with up to 38 percent recycled plastic [10] , while the Series 2 is even made from 64 percent recycled plastic [11] . And we have also thought about the packaging, as 95 percent of the Series 4 packaging is made from recycled materials and can be fully recycled after disposal. The packaging material inside is also compostable and recyclable. On top of that, there is a free 10-year guarantee promise for the Bosch motor technology. [12]
Does your electricity already come from renewable energies? Then you might want to consider new opportunities to save even more CO₂ emissions. For instance, with home appliances whose material composition caused less CO₂. Our Bosch Green Collection fridge freezers do not only have a low energy consumption with energy efficiency class B. They are also partially produced with more eco-friendly materials. The result is 33 percent less CO₂ in production material compared to a model produced with conventional production material. [13]
Have you ever thought about renting your washing machine, dryer or fully automatic coffee maker? It’s easy to do in the Netherlands or Germany with BlueMovement. BlueMovement takes care of everything – from repair and maintenance all the way through to replacement. The best part: You can choose from brand-new, pre-loved or refurbished products. Roughly one-third of BlueMovement subscribers choose refurbished products, by the way.
Clean your floor with the Series 4 Bosch vacuum cleaner, which is made from up to 38 percent recycled plastics [14] .
Make Use of Smart and Sustainable Solutions
Integrating sustainable behavior into everyday life is sometimes not that easy. All the better if you have smart support to help you make a simple contribution to environmental and climate protection with just a few clicks. This leaves more time for you, your family and the things that are important to you.
Did you know that most home appliances tend to run in the evening or early in the morning? Unfortunately, during these peak hours, renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind energy, often struggle to provide sufficient power. Consequently, energy supply relies on conventional power plants running on fossil fuels like coal and gas to meet the demand. This reliance on non-renewable sources triggers a surge in CO₂ emissions.
Our Home Connect application offers a simple solution: It allows you to start your appliance when the share of renewable energy is at its highest. Just a few clicks and your dishwasher will start when there is sufficient green electricity, making your cleaning more environmentally sustainable.
Change begins with information. That's why the Home Connect app allows you to easily check the dishwashing programs you use with your connected appliances and their impact on your water and electricity consumption. You may discover potential to save water, electricity and ultimately money by selecting a different program or loading the machine higher.
[1] 20% more efficient (40 kWh/100 cycles) than the limit value (50 kWh/100 cycles) of the energy efficiency class A according to delegated EU-Regulation 2019/2014.
[2] Sample Bosch heat pump dryer featuring an EEC: A+++, 8 kg, 176 kwH/year compared to a sample Bosch conventional condenser dryer EEC: B, 8 kg, 561 kwh/year; calculation based on EU Regulation 392/2012.
[3] 10% more efficient (174 kWh/year) than the limit value (194 kWh/year) of the energy efficiency class A+++ according to delegated EU Regulation 392/2012.
[4] UN Environment Programme: Food Waste Index Report 2024
[5] APPLiA Study: “Material Flows of the Home Appliance Industry”, 2015
[6] Study published in SOFW Journal no. 3/2006 by the University of Bonn in which over 100 participants from various European countries hand washed 13 place settings.
[7] United Nations Institute for Training and Research: Global E-Waste Monitor 2024
[8] United Nations University. (July 15, 2020). Erzeugung von Elektroschrott weltweit in den Jahren von 2014 bis 2019 und eine Prognose bis 2030 (in Millionen Tonnen) [Graph]. In Statista. Access on April 9, 2024, https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/792541/umfrage/erzeugung-von-elektroschrott-weltweit
[9] Spare parts availability for large appliances for up to 15 years and for small appliances for up to ten years. This applies to all functionally relevant and storable parts for appliances produced after 1 January 2023.
[10] Evaluation according to ISO 14021.
[11] Evaluation according to ISO 14021.
[12] https://media3.bosch-home.com/Documents/18172127_Bosch-10-years-motor-warranty-vacuum-cleaners.pdf
[13] The comparison refers to the comparable Bosch fridge freezer KGN39VXBT with conventional production material. The CO₂ footprint of the production material (without packaging) is calculated in accordance with ISO 14040. In production, the biobased plastics is mixed with conventional plastics, but is allocated to the Bosch Green Collection fridge freezer (according to ISO 22095). The CO₂-reduced steel is produced from CO₂-reduced raw materials and with bio-methane.
[14] Black model made from 38 percent recycled plastics. Other colors made from 30 percent recycled plastics. Evaluation according to ISO 14021.
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