saastevabas

Saastevabas is a word in Estonian meaning pollution-free or emission-free. The word derives from saaste (pollution) and vabaks (free). In modern Estonian usage it describes environments, zones, technologies, or products that aim to produce little or no pollutants, especially to air, water, or soil.

Policy and urban planning contexts use the term to denote strategies that reduce emissions and improve air quality, such as saastevaba linn (pollution-free city) or saastevaba transpordisüsteem (emission-free transport system). These concepts are aligned with national and European air-quality targets to reduce concentrations of pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2 and to limit health risks from air pollution.

Achieving a completely saastevaba environment is difficult; most references describe aspirational goals or near-zero emission performance rather than absolute elimination. Verification typically relies on defined criteria or certifications that assess emissions, energy sources, and pollutant releases.

Measures commonly associated with advancing toward saastevaba outcomes include expanding electric and public transport, promoting renewable energy, tightening industrial emissions limits, and improving energy efficiency in buildings.

While widely used in policy and public discourse, the term is often qualitative and context-dependent; it signals a commitment to reducing pollution rather than a guaranteed state.