SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is an important aspect of our work as the project group for Handels Nollning 2025. With a focus on the three dimensions of sustainability – social, ecological, and economic – we actively work to promote sustainable development. In doing so, we aim to help ensure a healthy and thriving environment for both current and future generations. Below, you can find more information about how we address these questions!
Our sustainability efforts are based on the UN's Global Goals for Sustainable Development!
GOAL 3 - GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Reduce mental health issues by promoting physical activity (such as volleyball, rounders, etc.). Additionally, actively work to prevent unhealthy relationships with alcohol by offering alcohol-free alternatives during the nollning (introduction weeks). It is very important to us that all freshmen feel welcome at every event, regardless of their drinking preferences or functional variations.
GOAL 5 - GENDER EQUALITY
GOAL 5.1 Eliminate discrimination against women by creating events that are open to all, regardless of gender.
GOAL 5.2 Eliminate violence and exploitation against women and trans people by creating parties with sober responsible persons to promote safety and respect.
GOAL 5.3 Create rules and action plans for gender equality such as the no-tolerance policy and a clear division of tasks related to discrimination and safety in the board.
GOAL 5.6 Ensure that all women have the same opportunities as men to participate in the nollning by ensuring that free sanitary towels and other forms of menstrual protection are always available.
GOAL 5.A Through our cooperation with Hand In Hand, we are contributing to reforms to give women equal economic resources.
GOAL 10 - Reduced Inequality
GOAL 10.2 Create and implement events that are open to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, origin, gender, sexuality, or disability.
GOAL 10.3 Eliminate discrimination by having clear boundaries for what discrimination entails, both for management and other participants. There is also a clear action plan that states who to contact in case of any incidents.
GOAL 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production
GOAL 12.3 Halve food waste by encouraging participants during the Nollning to not take more food than they can eat. Also, donate leftover food to Solikyl, an organization that works to reduce food waste by distributing surplus food to individuals in the society who are in extra need of it.
GOAL 12.6 Encourage businesses to apply sustainable methods by writing contracts that refer to the sustainability focus of the initiation. When signing the contract stating participation during the nollning, participating companies also committed to carbon offset their participation in the event.
GOAL 12.8 – Increase participants' knowledge of sustainable lifestyles by referring to how the initiation works with the global goals and how participants can behave in a more sustainable way during the initiation.
Handels Nollning - an environmentally certified event!
We are proud to say that Handels nollning follows the framework established by the student union's environmental council HCS. The framework includes an environmental certification that all events organized by the HHGS project can follow. Handels nollning 2021 was the first event to undergo the review and be certified. We can also proudly say that we have been certified every year since then.
To read more about HCS's work, click the "read more" button below!
Handels Nollning - a climate compensated event!
Since 2021, Handels Nollning climate compensates the entire event through GoClimate. This is an important step to enable a sustainable nollning and that the nollning is positive for both the people and the environment.
Handels Nollnings Sustainability Partner
Handels Nollning 2025 is proud to announce that we for the third year in a row have a sustainability partner - Hand In Hand. Through our collaboration, we contribute to a more equal and equitable world. Hand In Hand works for sustainable poverty reduction through entrepreneurship. Read more about their work by clicking the button below.
Nollefrid means that no sexual contact is allowed between anyone involved in the nollning and the nolla. Being new to a school and meeting people who are already familiar with how everything works automatically creates unequal power relations. Nollefrid is in place to ensure that these power relations are not abused, which means that faddrar and other people involved in the nollning are not allowed to sexually exploit you as nolla in any way. Consequences of breaking nollefrid include a follow-up with you as an nolla and then a discussion of whether the person involved (for example a fadder, a person active in the student union) should be excluded from the nollning.
Cultural appropriation (also known as cultural borrowing or cultural theft) is about people or companies disrespectfully using attributes associated with other cultures, often oppressed minority groups. During the nollning, we often use costumes, both during the day and evening activities. Something that we in N&FA want to emphasize this year is how important it is that we avoid all forms of cultural appropriation when choosing costumes. We thus emphasize that it is important to think twice at each costume to avoid all forms of cultural theft.
Nollekampen is a competition and much prestige is at stake, but lets not forget that we all are part of Handelsfamiljen. It is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and the enthusiasm, but if this gets out of hand it can turn into mockery of the opponents - something that is not allowed! Love across boarders means showing respect, care, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for all participants, regardless of which program they are studying. Mockery can lead to point deductions, while extra points may be awarded for cheering on your opponent - in other words, for spreading love across boarders. Of course, this also applies to digital platforms.
Handels nollning has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination related to gender, gender identity, ethnicity, origin, sexual orientation, function variation, and more. Consequences of discrimination include a follow-up with you as the nolla and then a discussion as to whether the person involved (for example a fadder, a person active in the HHGS or another nolla) should be excluded from the nollning.
We also have zero tolerance for all form of violence, harassment, bullying, threats, and drug use. This is taken very seriously by everyone responsible for the nollning. The consequences of violating these rules are immediate exclusion from the nollning activities. A police report will also be filed.
Accessibility
For us in N&FA, it is important that information about accessibility during the nollning reaches everyone who needs it. Next to each event there is an information box about accessibility for, among other things, permobile and wheelchair users. This is because we want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in as many events as possible, and to ensure that any questions can be easily answered. If you have any other functional variations, please feel free to contact N&FA's sustainability officer (Rebecka Karlsson) for more information about accessibility during the events. You can find Rebecka’s contact information under the “Contact” tab.
In the schedule, a wheelchair symbol is used to indicate the accessibility of different activities. Activities with good accessibility are marked with a white symbol. In some cases, accessibility is limited – it is possible to reach the location, but the majority of the activity takes place on surfaces such as grass or uneven ground. These activities are marked with an orange symbol. Activities that are not marked with a wheelchair symbol have very limited accessibility. These assessments are general and may vary depending on individual needs. For more detailed information based on your specific situation, you are welcome to reach out to our Head of Sustainability.
Menssäkrad!
We are very happy to announce that, through our collaboration with Menssäkrad, we will be able to offer free menstrual products throughout the entire nollning. This is so that every nolla can feel comfortable and confident without their period being a barrier. For us in N&FA, it is important that menstrual products are always available throughout all days of the nollning. We, along with your faddrar, understand that menstruation can sometimes be seen as embarrassing. However, the taboo around this topic does not belong at our nollning, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your faddrar or any of us in N&FA.
All nollning activities take place in the Gothenburg surrounding area to make it easy to get to and from the events. Bicycle parking and nearby public transportation connections are always available. Please consider the environment and choose an eco-friendly transportation option to and from the nollning activities.
We have prepared so that it will be easy for you to sort your waste during the nollning. Don't litter. Instead, sort your waste in the right way. We want to minimize our environmental impact, so leave the place you've been cleaner than it was before!
Since nollning takes place during the summer, it is important to bring a water bottle. We in N&FA will always be able to provide you with water throughout the days, but remember to bring your own water bottle. We also recommend that everyone uses rehydration solution during particularly hot days!
We are fully dedicated to vegetarian food, and the entire nollning has been completely vegetarian for the past four years. Be sure to try our super tasty vegetarian meals, carefully selected to help you keep your energy up throughout the nollning!
QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR SUSTAINABILITY WORK?
Do you feel that you have been subjected to discrimination, that something has not been handled properly, or do you have questions related to the subject? Then you can turn to:
The Instagram account @handelsnollningkontakt is available to all participants during Handels Nollning 2025. If anything happens - whether it involves a conflict, someone feeling targeted, excluded, worried, or mistreated (even by someone in N&FA) - this account provides a direct and secure way to get in touch. The account is managed exclusively by our sustainability and fadder coordinators. All information you share is handled with strict confidentiality and full privacy. No unauthorized persons have access to the messages.