How you can be a sustainable student. Our top 7 tips!

How you can be a sustainable student. Our top 7 tips and the benefits of sustainable living.

1. Say no more to one use plastics

This doesn’t have to be a drastic ban on ever using plastic in your life. Simple changes can go a long way towards going green to help the environment. For instance, in a reusable bag or lunch box, carry your own food into college from home. As well as not using single-use plastic, you'll save money and you'll probably eat better, too. If you have no time to make food for yourself, at least carry your own container to buy food. And if you're one of those people in the morning who craves coffee, get a reusable cup. There are a lot of cafes that have discounts which will make the effort worth it.

2. Make public transport or your bike your new best friend

Purchase a second-hand bike and you can prolong the product lifecycle and reduce emissions, all while keeping active. Every college in the country has an array of bicycle racks so there's no excuse for not getting out there, going green to help the environment and improving your health at the same time. Alternatively, you could take the bus, it may not be as environmentally friendly as the bike but it is a big improvement on the car and you could save money by not having to pay petrol and parking fees while being a sustainable student.

3. Economizing Never Felt So Good

By far my favourite tip and one that’s so easy to get on board with is thrift shopping. There are so many advantages for students who thrift shop either in their local charity shop or online on sites like Depop. You can reduce waste to help the environment, curate a one-of-a-kind wardrobe and score high-quality goods at low prices. Not to mention you can make money selling your own unwanted goods. To read more about thrift shopping click here.

4. Don’t sit on the side-lines

By enhancing voting accessibility at your university, you can encourage other sustainable students to vote in elections and forward going green initiatives. A major factor in climate change is public participation and being knowledgeable of local and national government decisions. As people, in our democratic institutions, we have the right and duty to make educated choices on who we are voting for.

5. Veganuary

As greenhouse gas emissions are decreased by up to 90 percent relative to traditional agriculture, plant-based meat is much less detrimental to the environment in another crucial way. In certain ways, water contamination and nutrient pollution are also almost completely removed by plant-based meat. Also, specifically for sustainable students, cutting out meat is an enormous cost saving measure. I’m not saying you have to cut out all meat and dairy products, but it is worth noting that a little goes a long way.

6. Hit the Switch

There are a number of small ways you can help the environment and your bills at the end of the month simultaneously. The easiest way to go green is taking small steps at home. According to the EPA you can save almost 70 euro a year by switching to energy saving lightbulbs. Wash your clothes at a lower temperature, and opt for a bamboo toothbrush. Invest in a clothes horse so you stop using a tumble drier (you’ll be surprised how much your energy bill goes down).

7. Reuse

When you don't have to, why buy new books for college, furniture or something else? Buy second hand! There are so many online options available these days. At the same time, you can save money and do your bit for the environment. A little goes a long way! Being a sustainable student has never been so easy! So do your bit, go green and ensure you are helping the environment, not hindering it!

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Everyone here at Spectrum Wellbeing would love to hear how you feel about Sustainability - drop your thoughts in the comments section below! 👇