Issue 6. * February 16th, 2022 |
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A new year means a new and better you. And if there is one thing we should all aim for in 2022, it's to reduce our CO2 output and make more sustainable choices. In this edition of Copenhagen Unfolded, we are therefore looking into how you can explore the city more sustainably. |
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We have been warned about the dangers and consequences of climate change for quite some time now. It's a fact that we're gradually changing the earth's climate system and we should all take responsibility and make an effort to reduce our carbon footprint. Luckily for us, Copenhagen is full of people trying to make a difference and working towards the green transition while offering awesome experiences and activities 🌍💚 |
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- Second Hand Shopping with PlanetCPH
- The Climate Resilient Neighbourhood
- Urban Farming
- Meet a Copenhagener - Jonas Edvard
- The Michelin Green Star
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Todays issue is packed with cool urban adventures just waiting for you. So put on your warmest clothes, hop on the two-wheeler, and let's go ⚡ |
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SECOND HAND SHOPPING WITH PLANET CPH |
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It’s no secret that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries on the planet. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't wear clothes with a clear conscience. There are alternatives to the traditional take-make-dispose approach and continuously more brands working to reduce their carbon footprint. Luckily enough, Copenhagen is full of these kinds of alternatives 👕👗 |
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Whether it's recycling you're after, or shops that make sustainable choices, you can find it in the city. An example is Reseller in Pilestræde, which sells second-hand high-end apparel. By buying secondhand clothes, you both get a good deal on cool clothes so you can look sharp while also leaving a smaller carbon footprint compared to buying new products. We've put together a small list of shops in Copenhagen that are all committed to improving the sustainability of their business model. |
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If you’re interested in learning more about shops and eateries in Copenhagen that make sustainable choices, check out our app, PlanetCPH. Here we've gathered all sorts of experiences around the city to inspire you to have a more sustainable Copenhagen experience. You can download the app on App Store or Google Play. PlanetCPH is a relatively new initiative which continually will include more and more content 🌍 |
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THE CLIMATE RESILIENT NEIGHBOURHOOD |
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The climate-resilient neighborhood, Klimakvarteret in Østerbro is located around Skt. Kjelds Plads, a stone's throw away from Fælledparken. The neighborhood is remarkably green because of the many trees, bushes, plants, and rain gardens. In the future, Copenhagen is going to face more torrential rain among other consequences of climate change. Klimakvarteret is designed and equipped to withstand the heavy rain that in recent years has occurred in Copenhagen. This is done by diverting the rainwater, to avoid flooding and water damage. |
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Apart from being the pioneer neighborhood of the city's adaptation to climate change, Klimakvarteret is also a beautiful and vibrant place to grab a coffee or go for a walk, while learning about the transition towards a greener urban space in the future 🌿 |
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Psst.. if you’re looking for a place to get your coffee fix around Skt. Kjelds Plads, we highly recommend Hahnemann's Kitchen, which makes great coffee, delicious sourdough bread and mouthwatering pastries, all organic ☕ |
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Copenhagen is a gastronomic hotspot, so that several restaurants in the city choose to grow their own veggies shouldn't come as a surprise. And honestly, why not? It's local, fresh, and better for the environment than importing 🍅🌽 |
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A restaurant that has embraced the concept of urban farming is GRO Eatery. The restaurant is located on a roof-top in Østerbro, where you can sit and eat surrounded by cabbage heads and lettuce. Eating in the city doesn't get more rural than this 😉 |
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Another exciting place is Banegaarden, which also has a strong focus on sustainability. You’ll find yourself in an enchanting green oasis surrounded by train tracks. Banegaarden has several different restaurants and also a small farmer's market where you can buy local and organic produce 🍀 |
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In this issue's "Meet a Copenhagener", we had a little chat with the artist and designer Jonas Edvard. Jonas designs and produces lamps made of seaweed from Øresund. And if you decide to visit Noma, Ark, Popl, or Gasoline Grill while in Copenhagen, you will probably take notice of Jonas' lamps, as all four restaurants have bought their lamps from Jonas. |
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We asked Jonas a few questions about seaweed, Danish design, interior design, and the Copenhagen coastline. |
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Photo: Marc Skafte-Vaabengaard |
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You design and produce lamps from seaweed. How did you get the idea, and why seaweed? |
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The idea came up by coincidence. We were asked to participate in an exhibition where the theme was Danish design, and we decided to make something out of local materials. It had to be a material that categorizes the landscape, something you grow up with, and simultaneously characterizes Danish design. Our workshop was located on Amager beach, and when we stumbled upon some seaweed on a walk, we started investigating the material. We found that it contains alginate, which can be used to make a kind of glue. We had a lot of experiments in the kitchen, boiling, testing, and drying out the seaweed, so you could say that the design process was extremely focused on the material. There's a huge amount of seaweed available that washes up on the beach and rots away because it isn't used for anything. For me, it's a fantastic resource. |
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Is there anyone else in Copenhagen working with seaweed or doing what you do? |
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Seaweed is used in a lot of contexts and is also edible. In addition, seaweed contains alginate, a kind of gel that is added to things like yoghurt, beer, jam, and most vegan foods. The exciting thing about using an edible material like seaweed is that the finished product triggers a different sensory experience than products made from "dead" materials like steel or glass. No one in Copenhagen is working with seaweed like I am yet. There are, however, a lot of people who work with seaweed in other ways. I'm very focused on creating circular designs, and I, therefore, don’t use any additional materials. When I say I make a lamp out of seaweed and paper, nothing else is in it, not even colour. I want to make my products completely recyclable so they can go back to nature without polluting. |
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What makes Danish design special and what inspires you? |
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Danish design is incredibly focused on usability and aesthetics. For me, the story behind the material is the most interesting because to make something functional, the beauty of the material has to be highlighted. It's about finding something special about the material to make it exciting. And that’s inspiring and something that many Danish designers are good at. The most inspiring thing for me is freedom. To have the opportunity to be in the city but simultaneously live a little outside the city and be part of the nature around Copenhagen. |
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Where do you buy interior items like lamps and furniture for your own home? |
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I never buy anything. I don't buy new things. I either find it second-hand at a flea market, make it myself, or it’s given to me. Well, to be honest, I actually bought a lamp in Søstrene Grene but don’t write that. When I moved to Copenhagen, I went to all the second-hand shops, bought old lamps, and refurbished and resold them. That was my approach to Danish design and the way I learned to understand how it was all made and technically put together. My furniture I either built myself or find second hand. I have some nice used chairs from Børge Mogensen and Vermund Larsen that I found in a bin and really love. |
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How did you get your lamps into the best restaurant in the world? |
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I was contacted by the architects responsible for the interior at Noma and together, we made some proposals and showed them to René (Redzepi) and Peter. Then we made the lamps. It was a very simple process. It wasn't the number one restaurant in the world when we made the lamps, but the lamps have been there since they opened and have therefore been on the journey from 0 to 3 Michelin stars. I think my way of working really fitted with both their interior and their narrative around the Nordic and local approach to materials. |
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You must know the Copenhagen coastline pretty well. Do you have any secret tips or hidden gems along the coast that you would like to reveal to our readers? |
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The most beautiful area I know around Copenhagen is on Amager, where I live. The area around Aflandshage and Kongelundsfortet is the most southern part of Amager and is very special and untouched. Kalvebod Fælled is probably the most exciting area on Amager. It was dried up in the 1940s and turned into a military area but is now a nature area that contains diverse wildlife and countless plant species. |
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Copenhagen's gastronomic scene is world-renowned for its innovative New Nordic cuisine and many Michelin-starred restaurants. But many Copenhagen restaurants are also pioneers when it comes to the green transition of their business model 💚 |
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It takes more than just organic produce if restaurants really want to minimize their carbon footprint. Some initiatives that can make restaurants greener include growing their own vegetables, recycling resources, and rethinking energy use in all processes. In 2020, the Michelin Guide, therefore, introduced the Michelin Green Star, an award given to restaurants with a particular focus on sustainability. |
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In 2021, the three restaurants in Copenhagen, Ark, Brace, and Tèrra were awarded the Michelin Green Star. In addition, Alouette, Alchemist, Amass, and Noma were all re-awarded with a Michelin Green Star, which they had already achieved in 2020. |
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There are plenty of options to widen the horizon of your taste buds in the city, while simultaneously making a more sustainable choice when eating out. If you’re interested in more restaurants that make sustainable choices you can check out our guide about sustainability-focused eateries in Copenhagen 🤙 |
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That was all we had for today. We hope you've enjoyed yourself, gotten some ideas of different sustainable choices you can take when exploring Copenhagen, and of course, found inspiration for new and exciting activities. |
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We are admittedly far from being a carbon-neutral society and face a massive challenge in global climate change. Hopefully, however, we have managed to show that there is both hope and a lot of passionate people in the city working to create a brighter and greener future 💚 |
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We’ll be back next month with a lot more stuff about Copenhagen. We hope you enjoyed this issue. If you did, or if you think there is room for improvement, we would love to hear from you. We’re here for you! |
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Anders & Frederik, Copenhagen Unfolded |
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Copenhagen Unfolded is published by VisitCopenhagen. Our goal is to tell the world about Copenhagen and the great experiences that are to be had here. Be sure to also check out www.visitcopenhagen.com and our social channels. |
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This issue of Copenhagen Unfolded is put together by Kasper Syhler, Gry Jefsen, Frederik Ibsing and Anders Nørland. |
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