Everyday hacks for living well and responsibly in your new city.

Your guide to sustainable living in Malmö

Malmö offers many ways to meet people, explore the city and make sustainable choices in everyday life. Tips and links cover community activities, libraries, cycling, second-hand options, food, outdoor activities and recycling. Many of the services and initiatives are free, low-cost or community-driven, helping you discover Malmö while making the most of your time in the city.

Malmö City Smart Map is a digital platform that makes it easier to find things to rent, share, exchange, borrow, give away, or receive in Malmö. Much of the content featured on the map is free and community-driven. The aim is to support those who wish to live more sustainably at a lower cost or simply want to discover and enjoy some of the city’s hidden gems. Tip: use the Swedish version with a translation tool for more options.

Community and activities

Malmö has a wide range of clubs, associations and local activities. Getting involved can be a good way to meet people, build a social network and feel more at home in the city.

Malmö has a wide range of associations, clubs and sports groups. The Malmö City Register of Associations is a useful starting point if you want to find a local group to join. Most association names are in Swedish, but a translation tool can help you explore the different options.

Malmö has a large international community and a broad range of cultural and social activities. Many events are listed through Öppna Malmö, including art, talks, exhibitions and activities connected to the city’s long history of diversity. The information is mainly in Swedish, but can be read using a translation tool.

There are many ways to discover Malmö outside work, from cultural events and local newsletters to social media accounts that collect tips on what is happening in the city. These can be useful for finding exhibitions, concerts, talks, markets and other activities.

Malmö has several outdoor gyms with basic equipment, as well as many opportunities to try different sports and outdoor activities. The Malmö City Smart Map can help you find places to rent, borrow or share equipment. At Fritidsbanken, you can borrow sports shoes, clothes and equipment free of charge for 14 days.

Outdoor gym.

Malmö has libraries across the city, and membership is free. Libraries are places to read, study, use computers or Wi-Fi, print and scan documents, and take part in activities such as book groups, language cafés, children’s story time and author talks. They can also be useful places to meet people, practise your language skills or study in a quiet environment, either on your own or with others.

Malmö library.

Malmö is a growing, increasingly densely populated city, and its mobility policies are designed to make walking, cycling, and public transport the preferred choices for moving people and goods around the city. Malmö has invested more in cycling infrastructure than any other city in Sweden, and 26 percent of all journeys are made by bicycle. With over 560 km of cycle paths almost any city destination can be reached by bike in under 20 minutes.

Travel locally by train, bus, bike and car

  • Follow local cycling rules and prioritise safety throughout the year. Winter cycling can be challenging, but many Malmö residents cycle year-round, even during the occasional snowy day.
  • Combine longer journeys by taking your bike on the train. Within the Skåne area, bikes travel free of charge on Öresundståg and Pågatåg trains as long as you have a regular passenger ticket.
  • Bike & Ride garages are located next to major stops including Hyllie, Triangeln, Kronprinsen, and Malmö Central Station, making it easy to switch to public transport.
  • Bus and train tickets are purchased via the Skånetrafiken app. The app allows you to lend your monthly travel pass to someone you know and take turns using it – perhaps cutting your commuting costs in half.
  • Car sharing is widely used and convenient for things like moving furniture or shopping trips.

Repair, restore or re-sale

Borrow, pick up, or rent furniture from services such as Cohabit. Rent tools and other gadgets at Hygglo. Buy second-hand at flea markets or auctions. Pop-up Returen is a place where you can recycle. drop off or pick up items such as furniture for reuse. Opening times are available in English on the website.

At Cykelköket (Bicycle Kitchen) you can repair your bicycle yourself with the help of their volunteers and tools, free of charge. Buy a second-hand bicycle at ReBike, Cykeloutlet or Malmö City auctions.

Need a repair? Local tailors and services like Repamera can help. Host a clothes swap with friends or housemates or start a “travelling bag” of clothes to share with others. Sell clean, good-condition clothing at local flea markets. Donate unsold items to second-hand shops. Pop-up Returen is a place where you can recycle, drop off or pick up items such as clothes for reuse.

With four seasons and a coastal climate, Malmö’s weather means your wardrobe will need to adapt. Remember, the most sustainable garment is the one you wear, love, and keep – whether it’s a woolly jumper or a Batman onesie.

Taking care of your clothes

  • Find local options on the Smart Map for clothes.
  • Choose pieces you’ll wear for years, not just one season.
  • Wash less often and only when needed – airing or spot cleaning can sometimes be enough.
  • Take care of the clothes you already have – repair and reuse what you love.
  • Look for certified labels such as Fairtrade, GOTS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, EU Ecolabel, Global Recycled Standard (GRS) or Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

Like the rest of Sweden, Skåne boasts excellent cycle and walking paths, so you’ll be able to cover plenty of ground on foot or by bike. If you want to travel further afield, the region has a good public transport system, including trains and buses operated by Skånetrafiken, which take you between Skåne’s main hubs and natural beauty spots. Alternatively, you can travel by car on well-maintained roads.

Discover ‘Skåneleden’ hiking trails and find castles, beaches and nature parks at Visit Skåne. The Swedish Tourist Association has an excellent collection of guides to help you along the way.

Right of Public Access

The Swedish Right of Public Access, or Allemansrätt, is fantastic! It gives everyone the opportunity to experience nature, allowing you to hike, cycle, canoe, pick berries and camp freely, with certain limitations of course. Around sensitive environments and private residences, it is important to show consideration for the landowners, animals, nature and other people. This is unique to Sweden, so it is our collective responsibility to preserve this ancient custom.

In Sweden, recycling is a prerequisite and an important part of everyday life. It’s not just about reducing rubbish; it’s about taking shared responsibility for the environment and making small choices that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Marginal

How to recycle

Food waste 

Please use the brown paper bags, which can be collected from the recycling building outside your residence or a recycling point. For example: fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, seafood leftovers, coffee, tea bags, and kitchen paper. 

Paper packaging 

All smaller cardboard packaging, both hard and soft: please remember to flatten the pack. For example: milk cartons, egg cartons, corrugated cardboard, wrapping paper. 

Plastic packaging 

All smaller plastic packaging, both in hard and soft plastic: please ensure you rinse all plastic before it is recycled. For example: plastic bags, plastic bottles without a refund, bag-in-box bags, crisp packets, styrofoam, medicine blister packs. 

Glass packaging 

Glass bottles and jars are sorted as either clear or coloured glass. Please drain all liquids, remove lids and rinse first before recycling. For example: wine bottles, spices jars, jam jars.

Metal 

All metal packaging, both hard and soft: please rinse all holders before recycling. For example: cans without a refund, tubes, caps, aluminium foil.

General/Residual waste  

Unfortunately, all waste can’t be sorted. For example: chewing gum, envelopes, post-it notes, broken drinking glasses or ceramics, condoms, sanitary towels. 

Grease 

Cooking oil must not be poured into the sink since this will cause the pipes to clog. Instead, let it cool and pour it back into a plastic container.

Sorting guide (vasyd.se)

Malmö as a role model in recycling

Recycling in Malmö has developed steadily since the 1970s, establishing the city as a frontrunner in sustainable waste management. In 1973, the SYSAV waste-to-energy plant was launched, converting household waste into district heating and electricity. The Augustenborg district became a model for sustainable living, introducing local composting and, in 2008, piloting food waste separation for biogas production. This system was later rolled out across the city.

By 2014, it became mandatory for all households in Malmö to sort food waste, which is now used to produce biogas that powers buses and waste collection vehicles. The city has also taken steps to reduce construction waste through the reuse of building materials, aligning with circular economy principles. Malmö encourages residents to separate waste at source, and recycling stations are easily accessible across neighbourhoods. Schools and public campaigns have played a key role in raising awareness and fostering a culture of sustainability. The city also collaborates with local businesses to promote low-waste solutions and innovation. Today, Malmö continues to refine its recycling systems as part of its broader commitment to environmental responsibility and climate neutrality.

You can find a short explanation of the thinking behind it all on the Malmö city website.

Circular economy (malmo.se)

This guide has been created as part of UNIC – the European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition, a collaborative alliance of ten universities working to foster mobility, inclusion, and meaningful societal change. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between student-led "green societies" across Europe.