Do you want to be more mindful about the environment, but don’t quite know how or where to start? Don’t worry my fellow students, I’ve got you covered. Try incorporating a few/all these things into your everyday student life, and you’ll see how easy it is to be more eco friendly. Yey Earth!
1. Eat less meat and/or dairy. The livestock production generates a shit ton of greenhouse gas emissions. Eating less meat also has a lot of health benefits, and a healthy meatless meal can easily be cheaper than a meal with meat. Plus, fruits and veggies are freaking delish. If you need recipe inspiration, check out this collection of recipes by Buzzfeed.
2. Be mindful about water usage. Turn off the sink when brushing your teeth, save your long shower concerts for after you’ve turned off the water, don’t wash clothes unless they’re dirty and so on.
3. Recycle as much as possible. Paper, glass, metal, textiles, electronics and anything else that’s possible to recycle on campus or wherever you live.
4. Use less paper. Less paper = more trees. Write as many of your notes as possible on your computer, read electronic newspapers, buy ebooks or secondhand books and make your to-do lists on your phone instead of post-its. Yey electronics.
5. Use less plastic. Plastic is not so fantastic for the environment. Simple ways to use less plastic is buying reusable shopping bags, water bottles and straws. Menstrual cups instead of tampons also helps reducing your plastic waste.
6. Buy less things you don’t really need. Try to think twice about buying that shirt that sort of looks like the one in your closet, but really isn’t the same one. This doubles as a benefit for your wallet as well. Score.
7. Walk or cycle more! If too lazy or school’s too far away, public transport or carpooling is the way to go.
8. Try the Forest-app. This is a productivity app where you collect points by not using your phone, and when you’ve earned a certain amount of coins you can plant a tree. Yes, a real life tree. Cool right?
