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Your daily choices make a difference for the Baltic Sea

Everything from choosing phosphate-free cleaning products to putting pressure on your local government and businesses can help contribute to a healthier Baltic Sea.

Food
  • Eat fish that are not endangered. To find out which these are, download WWF’s Seafood Guide.
  • Where possible, eat food produced locally. Shorter transportation distances mean fewer airborne nitrogen emissions which contribute to eutrophication.
  • Reduce your consumption of meat.  Meat production produces large amounts of manure, a primary source of nutrients that cause eutrophication. Eating large amounts of animal products can also raise nitrogen levels in human urine, which puts a strain on the Baltic Sea even after purification.
  • Do not throw away edible food – buy only what you need and eat your leftovers.
  • Stop or reduce your use of disposable cutlery, plates and cups.
Washing
  • Use environmentally friendly (eco-label and phosphate-free) cleaning and personal care products.
  • Don’t release dishwater directly into the water system or soil, unless it’s certified as environmentally friendly and biodegradable. 
  • Make sure your waste water treatment system is of the best available technology. 
  • Replace modern lavatories in summer homes with composting ones to save water and energy and more effectively reduce nutrients.
Waste
  • Minimise the amount of waste you create.
  • Compost all organic material.
  • Dispose of all relevant garbage at recycling centres.
  • Empty your boat’s septic tank and other waste water into the treatment systems in harbours, rather than at sea. 
  • Everything from choosing phosphate-free cleaning products to putting pressure on your local government and businesses can help contribute to a healthier Baltic Sea.
Recreation
  • Choose environmentally friendly vehicles and fuels on land and at sea.
  • Keep your cruising on motor boats and jet skis to a minimum reduce pollution, noise and emissions of nitrous oxides. 
  • Replace your boat’s old two-stroke engine with a four-stroke.
  • Use environmentally friendly anti-fouling paint and methods to keep the boat hull clean.
  • Stop using artificial fertilisers and pesticides in your garden as they can end up in water systems. 
  • Keep bonfires away from the water to reduce the risk of ash getting into the water and exacerbating eutrophication.
Managing the shore
  • Maintain the natural coastline at your summer cottage. 
  • Avoid dredging as it may release nutrients and toxins stored in the sediment and foster eutrophication.
  • Respect bird sanctuaries and do not disturb nesting birds.
Reach out
  • Ask your local politicians about the Baltic Sea environment.
  • Write letters to the editor of the newspapers or magazines that you read – whether national or local.
  • Keep the pressure on government and business decision makers, especially if you live in a coastal municipality.
  • Join WWF as a member to support our work to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.

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Last modified 22/04/22

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