Green Initiatives

Sustainability Statement

CIS Abroad is dedicated to promoting and enacting sustainability initiatives. We believe that by doing our part in educating our participants and employees on green measures we can help keep the Earth around us clean. Therefore, we are delighted to announce that CIS Abroad has formed a sustainability committee known as “Green Flags.” We are joining many other organizations in the education abroad field who are working to prioritize sustainability and climate action in our operations and programming abroad. Learn more about it here!

Sustainability Built Into Local Life

Local life activities have been carefully selected so that students are not only learning about local culture, but supporting local, sustainable businesses. With any activity that requires transportation, local staff think of the best way to transport students with the local environment in mind. Please keep reading below to see how we, as participants and as an organization, can contribute to building a sustainable local life.

Waste & Recycling

Upon arrival to Italy you might be shocked and overwhelmed by the intricacies of waste and recycling. You will find in most places that you need to sort everything into the following categories, each with its own bin:

Organic garbage

Paper
Plastic
Metal
Glass
General trash (non-recyclable) 

Photo: Pakwesi/Wikimedia Commons

Recycling

Italy has an excellent public recycling system: in 2020, Italy recycled 72% of all of its trash, compared to the EU average of 53%. This is because recycling is mandatory in Italy: if you do not sort your recycling, there are associated fines. Luckily, recycling is very easy and convenient. 

Most municipalities separate recyclables into plastics, metals, glass, paper, and compostable organic material, as well as a sixth category for garbage ("indifferenziata"). Sometimes, you will see several of these categories combined in one clearly labeled container.

Recycling in your respective housing will vary. If you're living at the dormitory at Sant'Anna Institute, you should continue to recycle but there will be the night guard who is responsible for taking out the trash. If you live in an apartment, the process of sorting will follow accordingly but you have to take out your own trash.

If you're not sure how to sort, all packaging produced in Italy is labeled with instructions on how and where to recycle it. Oftentimes apartments also have detailed instructions on what goes where. 

Resources for recycling in Italy

• Overview of the system by Expatica
• Junker app -- provides exact guidance on recycling individual products

Energy Usage & Water Consumption 

Energy and water are very expensive in Italy, and overall in Europe. It is also worth noting that Italian infrastructure is very different than in the US and therefore Italians think about energy and water usage very differently than Americans, with significant emphasis on conserving. 

Taking shorter showers at home can help conserve water, an essential resource, without compromising personal hygiene. This is especially necessary in Italy given its history of drought. By integrating this sustainable habit into daily life, residents and visitors alike can play a vital role in preserving Italy's natural beauty and fostering a greener future for the city.

It's important to be mindful of the following:

• Hanging your clothes to dry saves A LOT of energy and also reduces pollution
• Turn off lights whenever you’re not home.
• Turn off the A/C when you’re not home.
• The average A/C temperature in the peak of summer is a minimum of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• The length of time you take a shower.
• Use a reusable bag when shopping! Saves on plastic.  
• Carry a reusable water bottle with you. Tap water is drinkable all over Europe and you can refill your water bottle around the ancient water fountains that surround Italy. 
• Avoid plastic packaging.
• Ask for no straw in your drink.
• Eat in instead of take away to avoid containers. 
• Of course, don’t litter.

Food & Shopping

Groceries

Italians love to buy groceries at the markets, where you can find the best quality and many times you can buy directly from the producer. This is a sustainable practice and an incentive to help the local producers. To respect the Italian cuisine heritage, locals know that the best way to buy good and fresh products is to buy groceries more times over the week (instead of going once a week and buying a lot of food all together). This way you can also get to know your local shopkeepers as well! 

Made Green in Italy

If you want to focus on supporting environmentally friendly products while in Italy, look for the Made Green in Italy certification in supermarkets and clothing stores. Products marked with the symbol have been proven to meet the standards of environmental sustainability as set by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.

Mindful Souvenir Shopping

Be mindful when purchasing souvenirs, since oftentimes these small and cute things are mass produced in another area or even another country. Look for locally-made authentically Italian products to support the local economy and to have fabulous Italian-made gifts to give!   

Public Transportation

Sorrento is a very walkable city, with most of the main attractions being close together and in a no-car zone. Overall, southern Italy has taken major strides to encourage residents and visitors to take public transportation and it is very well used. For this reason, there are many options for public transportation, such as trams, buses, trains, and bike rentals. 

Bus and train travel is the method of transportation around Italy. You will find the train system around the whole of Europe is comfortable, efficient, and kind to the environment since the majority of the system is electric. Go trains! 

For an abundance of more information on public transportation options in Sorrento and around Italy, visit our "How To Move Around" page.