Sustainable living in Leipzig - 14 tips for your green everyday life

Sustainable living in Leipzig: the big guide for your green everyday life

Leipzig has a goal: to be the first city in eastern Germany to become a zero-waste city by 2030. In plain language, this means a ten percent reduction in residual waste per capita per year by then. Sounds ambitious? It is. But Leipzig is already doing a pretty good job. Between unpackaged stores in the southern suburbs, cargo bike collectives in Plagwitz, an entire concept store for the circular economy in the middle of the city and food sharing cabinets in almost every neighborhood, you will find more opportunities to make your everyday life greener here than in almost any other major German city.

We have picked out the most important spots, initiatives and routines, sorted by area of life, so that you can pick out exactly what suits you.

Spoiler: Being sustainable sounds like doing without, but in Leipzig it feels more like: Better clothes, tastier food, more cool people. Here we go.

Why Leipzig is actually just right for this

Before we get into the tips, a quick categorization, because that makes all the difference: Leipzig is small enough that you can be anywhere in 20 minutes by bike. Big enough that there's a spot for every niche. And the city itself is actively involved. Under the motto "Mein Leipzig schon' ich mir!" (I'll take care of my Leipzig!), Leipzig's city cleaning department has launched a zero-waste strategy that promotes everything from concept stores to repair workshops.

The great thing about it is that the resulting structures are real and you can use them straight away.

Second-hand & fashion: clothes with history instead of from the fast seam

Leipzig is a vintage city. Period. If you don't already have at least one pair of second-hand jeans hanging in your wardrobe here, you're missing out. And that plays right into your hands if you want to make your closet more sustainable, because the fashion industry is one of the biggest CO₂ drivers of all.

1. Wiederschön - the concept store for the circular economy (Höfe am Brühl)

If there is one place that sums up the future of sustainable consumption in Leipzig, then this is it. On the first floor of Höfe am Brühl, right next to Müller, Stadtreinigung Leipzig has opened the Wiederschön concept store on around 550m². The principle is consistent: no new resources were used for any of the items.

Store

Konzeptladen Wiederschön

What you will find there:

• Second-Hand-Kleidung verschiedener Designer:innen und Initiativen
• 3D-Druck-Produkte aus biologisch abbaubaren Materialien
• Upgecycelte Möbelstücke, Accessoires und Schmuck
• Regelmäßige Workshops — von nachhaltigem Häkeln bis zur Reparatur von Textilien

Wiederschön is a store, meeting place and small laboratory all in one. It shows what the circular economy actually means and how unused materials are turned into new things. If you're serious about sustainability and fancy something beautiful at the same time, this is a must-visit.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-19:00

2. used to be yours (Plagwitz)

More than just a second-hand store, more like a small movement. It was founded by fashion designers Iris Ebel and Lisa Koops, who were fed up with the conventional fashion industry after studying in Arnhem and preferred to start their own thing. The result: second-hand and vintage clothing, upcycled items made from old clothes and leftover fabrics and their own sewing workshop right in the store, where everything is created.

What makes War mal deins special is that you can not only buy here, but also learn for yourself. Sewing, embroidery and screen printing take place in regular workshops. If you don't want to throw away a pair of torn jeans, but want to repair or redesign them, this is the place for you.

Store

War mal deins - Second-Hand, Upcycling & Workshops

Opening hours: Tue-Fri: 13:00-19:00, Sat: 13:00-17:00.

3. Lisbeth's heirs (center)

One of the city's most creative second-hand selections is hidden in the heart of the city. Unusual individual pieces, designer items, vintage. If you're looking for "no one else has this piece", this is the place for you.

Store

Lisbeths Erben - Vintage & Secondhand Store

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 13:00-19:00, Sat 12:00-19:00.

4th clothes swap parties: giving instead of paying

If you don't want to buy anything but want to swap, there is a really active scene in Leipzig:

• Die Stadtreinigung Leipzig organisiert mehrmals im Jahr große öffentliche Kleidertausch-Märkte (zuletzt am 20.03.2026 in der Geithainer Straße 60). Du bringst gut erhaltene Teile mit, durchstöberst die Auswahl der anderen, nimmst neue Lieblinge mit.  Alles kostenlos.
• Im Drei der Münze finden mehrmals jährlich kleinere, gemütlichere Kleidertausch-Partys mit Kaffee und Kuchen statt.
• Ergänzend kannst du jederzeit kleinere Tauschformate auf bei uns auf der Plattform finden, die meisten Orga-Teams pflegen ihre Events selbst dort ein.

Tip: Eight items is a good rule of thumb. Bring clean, well-preserved items - anything else will stress out the organizers.

© Becca Mchaffie via Unsplash

Food & drink: Regional, unpackaged, rescued

Around a third of your ecological footprint depends on your diet. So this is where the biggest leverage lies. And Leipzig makes it really easy for you.

5. simply unpacked (Südvorstadt)

Since March 2016 at Kochstraße 6 in the Südvorstadt district: Einfach Unverpackt was Leipzig's first unpackaged store and is still one of the most influential addresses for the zero-waste movement.

How it works: You bring your own containers: Old screw-top jars, Tupperware, cloth bags, small nets. You fill muesli, pasta, rice, pulses, oil, vinegar, spices, sweets and much more in bulk. No plastic, no packaging waste. Often also organic, fair and regional.

Directions: Take streetcar 10 or 11 to Südplatz, then two minutes on foot.

6th KoLa Leipzig (SOLAWI): Vegetables directly from the farm

If you want regular organic vegetables that don't come from Spain wrapped in plastic, solidarity agriculture (SOLAWI for short) is probably the most relaxed option. The principle: you become a member of a farm, pay a monthly fee and receive a weekly share of the harvest in return. No matter what is growing.

KoLa Leipzig is the largest cooperative in the city and now produces over 1,000 harvest shares per week for Leipzig, Taucha, Markkleeberg and Naunhof. There are also smaller initiatives such as Solawi Allerlei in Dölitz-Dösen and SolaWie Neuland.

Why is it worth it?

• Du isst, was Saison hat (Hand aufs Herz: einmal im Monat Kohlrabi-Schwemme, aber dafür im Sommer Tomaten, die nach was schmecken).
• Du unterstützt Landwirtschaft, die ohne Pestizide auskommt und faire Löhne zahlt.
• Du sparst auf lange Sicht Geld, gerade gegen Bio-Supermarkt-Preise.

7th Foodsharing & Fairteiler: Saving food instead of throwing it away

In Germany, around eleven million tons of food end up in the bin every year. Foodsharing is fighting against this and Leipzig has one of the most active communities in Germany. The platform rescues food from supermarkets, bakeries and private individuals and either distributes it directly or places it in so-called Fairteiler: public cupboards or shelves from which anyone can help themselves free of charge.

Well-known Fairteiler locations in Leipzig:

• Fahrrad-Fairteiler Südvorstadt — Kantstraße, Ecke Karl-Liebknecht-Straße (Hinter dem Asia Imbiss).
• Fairteiler Zentrum Süd — Dufourstraße 15, ein Schrank links vom Hofeingang.
• Weitere Standorte im Osten, Westen und in Anger-Crottendorf. Die komplette Karte findest du auf foodsharing.de.

Rule: Take what you eat. Put away what you no longer need. Check fresh food, don't leave anything spoiled.

8. weekly markets & organic stores: regional, seasonal, short

If you're a fan of weekly markets: Leipzig has many local markets with regional producers. Especially worth mentioning:

• Lindenauer Markt (Leipzig-West): mittwochs und freitags.
• Wochenmarkt Volkmarsdorf: dienstags 9–16 Uhr (Thümmelstraße/Eisenbahnstraße).
• Die Schwarzwurzel in Lindenau — Kollektivladen mit regionalen, saisonalen Bio-Produkten.
• Macis Biomarkt und die Denns BioMärkte als Filial-Adressen für regionale Bio-Ware.

For those who want to get even closer: Ernte-Mich in Leipzig-Liebertwolkwitz is a classic farm store with seasonal vegetables, dairy products, meat and eggs. Thursday and Friday, 10 am - 6 pm.

Milada Vigerova via Unsplash

Sustainable eating out: Hin & Veg & Co.

Leipzig is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Germany. Around 7.7 vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants. For those who want a sustainable restaurant:

• Café Hin & Veg (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 112) — der Klassiker auf der Karli. Vegetarisch, vegan, glutenfrei, immer voll, immer gut.
• Ăn Chay — vietnamesisch, komplett vegan, stilvoll.
• Brotgefühle — glutenfreie, vegane Bio-Bäckerei.

The Karli in the Südvorstadt district is generally the vegan-friendly heart of Leipzig - if you just take a stroll, you'll find something everywhere.

© Ella Olsson via Unsplash

Mobility: From car to two (borrowed) wheels

Leipzig is flat. Leipzig is compact. And Leipzig has one of the best free cargo bike networks in Germany. Anyone who owns a car here because they need to transport a box once a month would be well advised to think twice.

© Clara Pfister via Unsplash

10. borrow cargo bikes free of charge

Three addresses you should remember:

• LARA — das freie Lastenrad des ADFC Leipzig. Kostenlose Ausleihe (Spende erwünscht), wandert alle 2–4 Wochen zur nächsten Station, kann von Cafés, Läden oder sozialen Einrichtungen gehostet werden. Buchung online über lara.adfc-leipzig.de.
• KoLaRa — ein selbstorganisiertes Kollektiv, das aktuell rund 19 Lastenräder auf Spendenbasis verleiht, dezentral über Pat:innen verteilt. Unkompliziert, gemeinschaftlich, easy.
• BUND Leipzig — verleiht ein leichtes Lastenrad (bis 100 kg Ladung) ebenfalls auf Spendenbasis.

This means that weekly shopping, trips to the furniture store, removals or bulky waste can be done without a car. For those who prefer a more convenient option: teilauto (car sharing) has stations in almost every district, and commercial providers such as Fulmo or Leila round off the offer.

Bonus: public transport, bike city, Germany ticket

Leipzig has a dense streetcar network that goes almost everywhere, and with the Deutschlandticket you can travel everywhere anyway. For all those who commute a lot: Despite the price increase, the Deutschlandticket subscription is still a cheap and easy alternative to leaving the car at home more often.

Lifestyle & Community: Do it yourself, borrow, repair

It's particularly beautiful here! Because these spots show you that "sustainable" in Leipzig is not just a consumer label, but a community thing.

11th Café kaputt & repair café for electrical appliances (Lindenau)

Instead of throwing away the broken radio: just bring it there. Café kaputt in Lindenau is a repair café, education center and living room all in one. You bring your broken stuff with you, volunteers help when things get tricky, but you lend a hand yourself. From hairdryers to jeans to deckchairs, almost everything is available here. On a donation basis, with coffee and conversation.

Particularly relevant for power guzzlers: in cooperation with the Leipzig city cleaning service, a repair session specifically for electrical appliances is held here every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Wiederschön concept store. Extend service life, avoid waste, save resources! And in most cases, there's no need to buy a new one.

Stefan Mangold

Saxony repair bonus: Up to €200 back

Save the bill. Since October 2, 2025, there has been a repair bonus in Saxony, funded by the Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB). The most important key points:

• 50 % der Kosten, maximal 200 € pro Reparatur.
• Mindest-Rechnungsbetrag: 115 €.
• Bis zu zwei Reparaturen pro Person und Jahr.
• Du musst Hauptwohnsitz in Sachsen haben und mindestens 18 sein.
• Anträge digital über das Förderportal der SAB; Frist: 1. Dezember des Jahres.
• Reparaturen müssen von zugelassenen Fachbetrieben durchgeführt werden — also: vorher checken, ob dein Betrieb in der Liste steht.

12th Leila Leipzig - the library of things

Drill? Raclette grill? Tent? Sewing machine? Instead of buying, you can borrow from Leila in Plagwitz what you only need once or twice a year anyway.

This is how it works:

• Mitgliedschaft: 42 € pro Jahr (3,50 €/Monat), ermäßigt 24 €, Förder-Variante 60 €.
• Ausleihen sind kostenlos, sobald du Mitglied bist.
• Leihdauer: 14 Tage, zweimal verlängerbar (wenn niemand reserviert hat).
• Jedes Mitglied bringt ein Ding als Leihgabe oder Geschenk in den Pool ein — so wächst die Bibliothek.

Opening hours: Mon + Thu, 5-7 pm.

Saves money, space, resources - and you get to know people at the same time.

13th Environmental Library Leipzig (Connewitz)

The House of Democracy at Bernhard-Göring-Straße 152 is home to one of the city's most unusual libraries: the Ökolöwen Leipzig Environmental Library with over 9,000 media on environmental, climate and sustainability topics - books, magazines, films and materials for schools.

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 12-6 pm. Directions: LVB lines 9, 10, 11 to Connewitzer Kreuz or Wiedebachplatz.

Whether you're writing a bachelor thesis on climate communication, simply looking for good non-fiction books on sustainability or need children's books on the subject, you'll find what you're looking for here.

14. urban gardening at ANNALINDE (Lindenau)

Since 2011, gardening has been taking place on 2,000 m² of wasteland behind the Georg-Maurer-Bibliothek at Demmeringstraße 75 - with over 50 raised beds, greenhouses, bees and chickens. ANNALINDE is one of the oldest and largest urban garden projects in Germany and has turned a wasteland into a small biotope meeting place.

© Sandie Clarke via Unsplash

What you can do there:

• An Offenen Tagen mit anpacken: säen, pflanzen, ernten, kompostieren.
• Workshops zu Saatgut, Wildkräutern, Permakultur besuchen.
• Beim Urban Gardening Sommercamp mehrere Tage am Stück mitarbeiten.
• In der ANNALINDE-Gärtnerei über 100 Gemüsesorten als Jungpflanzen kaufen.

If you have a small balcony or garden - here you can learn how to really make something of it.

Bonus: More community gardens

ANNALINDE is not alone. The "Gemeinschaftsinitiative Querbeet", the neighborhood gardens and the Bürgergarten am Bürgerbahnhof Plagwitz are also active and are happy to welcome new gardeners.

Small steps, big impact: 5 routines for your everyday life

You don't have to become a vegan tomorrow, sell your car and only buy unpackaged food. What really counts: Consistency, not perfection. Five routines you can start at any time:

1. Leitungswasser statt Mineralwasser. Leipziger Trinkwasser hat eine sehr gute Qualität. Eine Glaskaraffe reicht. Spart Plastik, Geld und Schleppen.
2. Saisonkalender checken. Was im April aus Spanien kommt, kostet im Juli aus Sachsen die Hälfte und schmeckt doppelt so gut.
3. Lebensmittel-Check vor dem Einkauf. 5 Minuten Kühlschrank-Inventur sparen 30 % Verschwendung.
4. Bewusst lüften und heizen. Stoßlüften statt Kipplüften, Heizung 1 Grad runter. Das spart Energie und Geld.
5. Reparieren statt neu kaufen. Erst Café kaputt fragen, dann Amazon. Du wirst überrascht sein, was alles geht.

Conclusion: sustainable living in Leipzig is possible! And it's also more fun than expected

Sustainability has long been an integral part of everyday life in Leipzig, visible at weekly markets, in second-hand stores, in cafés that think reusable as a matter of course, and in initiatives such as Wiederschön, which make the circular economy tangible. You don't have to change everything at once. Grab a tip, try it out, keep what works. Repeat this a few times and suddenly you're living in a city that works differently.

And if you want to keep an eye out for events where sustainability is also on the agenda: clothes swaps, urban gardening days, repair consultations, workshops at Wiederschön, you can always find the latest information at rausgegangen.de/leipzig.