Sustainable Village
The Sustainable Village campaign invites all Soihtu residents to join in building a more sustainable and community‑oriented living environment.
During the campaign, you will learn practical everyday sustainability tips, receive support for recycling and sustainable living, and have the chance to meet other students.
The aim of the campaign is to create a long‑term model that supports students’ sustainable choices, sense of community, and smooth everyday life.
Sustainable Living at Soihtu
Sharing Makes Life Easier
You don’t need to own everything! The Rentukka lending machine and the Lainappi app offer the opportunity to rent useful items, from sewing machines to textile cleaners and tools.
Did you know that Soihtu residents also have access to a shared car, the shared boat Kellukka, as well as garden boxes and allotment plots?
Recycle Right – Keep the Environment Pleasant
Soihtu housing locations have centralized waste collection points with underground containers. Check sorting instructions in the Housing Instructions and on Mustankorkea’s website. There is also a Swap Market in the Student Village.
Please remember: do not leave trash or furniture in hallways for safety and hygiene reasons.
Use water and electricity wisely
Even if energy consumption may not directly increase your personal housing costs, it is best for the climate and society to use electricity and water sparingly.
At Soihtu, we make sure that the electricity and water we use are as sustainable as possible. On our website, you can find information about the energy we use and tips for saving energy.
Repair and Rescue
Broken clothes and furniture can often be fixed. Borrow a sewing machine from Rentukka, use repair tips of Martat or join restoration courses. If you don’t want to repair your clothes by yourself, you can take them to an eco-sewing shop.
Try Urban Gardening
How about growing your own salads and flowers in summer? As a Soihtu resident, you can reserve a garden box or plot in spring. Follow our monthly newsletters for reservation details.
Get Involved
Join tenant activities, events, and local associations. Together, we can create a more sustainable neighborhood!
Swap Market
The swap market located in Kortepohja Student Village is a shared area for residents where you can recycle items you no longer need and take useful finds with you free of charge.
Swap Market opening hours during summer:
30 June at 12 pm – 3 pm
31 July at 12 pm – 3 pm
Easy and sustainable actions in everyday life
With these easy and student‑friendly tips, you can start living a more sustainable everyday life already today! Take Sitra’s Lifestyle Test to calculate your carbon footprint and get tips for more sustainable living.
Recycling and waste
- Get to know the local sorting instructions. Sort cardboard, paper, biowaste, plastic, metal, and glass.
- Check where the recycling points are located → helps reduce mixed waste and costs.
- Create a small sorting station in your home to make separating waste easier – for example, using fabric or paper bags.
- Use a small container for bio-waste in the kitchen and take it out daily when you go outside.
- Put a “Ei mainoksia (No advertisements)” sticker on your mail slot or mailbox.
- Return bottles and cans and fund your coffee break with them!
Food & Everyday Cooking
- Cook together with a friend → cheaper and reduces food waste.
- Buy only what you need (and use the items forgotten in the fridge first).
- Favor plant-based meals. If you eat meat, it is recommended to consume it only 1–2 times a month. Explore the planetary diet!
- Drink tap water – it’s excellent quality in Finland.
- Freeze leftovers before they spoil.
Mobility
- Walk or cycle short distances – quick and free.
- Use public transport for longer trips or in bad weather.
- Combine errands (e.g., grocery store + library + recycling point) in one trip.
- If you need a car, rent a shared one with friends!
Items & Consumption
- Borrow before buying → Lainappi, friends, libraries, social media groups.
- Choose second‑hand: swap market, flea markets, second hand apps.
- Repair small things (buttons, small tears) – saves money and makes items last longer.
- Avoid impulse purchases: wait 24 hours → do you really need it?
Energy & Water
- Turn off lights when leaving the room.
- Switch devices fully off, not just to standby mode.
- Take a 5‑minute shower – the length of a song.
- Keep the indoor temperature around 21°C (Soihtu apartments have automatic heating).
- Fill the washing machine and dishwasher properly before use.
- Air‑dry laundry on a drying rack.
Community & Sharing
- Pass on items you no longer need (swap events, friends, social media groups).
- Join resident events – meet your neighbors and get new tips for daily life.
- Share plants, leftover food, or books in common areas or with friends.
- Take part in group purchases: detergents, spices, cleaning supplies.
Outdoor Areas & Environment
- Grow herbs or plants in your gardening box, on your balcony, or on the windowsill (easy plants: basil, various lettuces, peas).
- Pick up litter during a walk or grocery trip.
- Use a shared car if you only need one occasionally.
- With the Kellukka rowing boat, you can go rowing on Lake Tuomiojärvi during the summer!
Also explore stories from tenants and communities:
Sustainability at Soihtu
A new Swap Market brought circular economy back to the Student Village
A new swap market has opened in the Student Village, offering an easy and communal way to give items a new life. At the swap market, residents can bring items they no longer need but that are still in good condition, and take something useful in…
Sustainable Village brings students together on May 22 – join us in making everyday life more sustainable!
What would a student community look like where items are reused, bikes stay in good shape, and creativity thrives? Come and experience it at the Sustainable Village event on Thursday, May 22, from 12 to 18 at Rentukka Square. The event offers a…
Sustainable Living Info Event at Lillukka on February 11
Make your daily life more sustainable and join the Sustainable Living info event on Wednesday, February 11, from 4–6 PM at Lillukka. You’ll get concrete tips on recycling, responsible consumption, the sharing economy, and housing in general.Come…