Between classes, activities, and their social life, college students may be extremely overwhelmed. Maintaining good sustainability habits in college may seem like a hard task. In this momentous chapter in their lives, efficiency and ease is key.
Parents send their kids off to college with a lot of life lessons. It is possible to implement sustainability tips as college students without overthinking it. It just takes a few intentional, tiny tweaks to your daily routine. Here are easy tips to make sustainability a habit during college.
Carry a Reusable Water Bottle
Walking around a college campus all day will leave you parched. Instead of wasting money on vending machine plastic water bottles, carry around a refillable water bottle. This sustainability tip creates less plastic waste.
Shop Sustainable Brands and Buy Second-Hand
When students are in college, they already have a limited budget. Instead of ordering on Amazon, try purchasing items at a thrift shop or secondhand store. This sustainability tip will give clothes a second life, and college students will decrease their carbon footprint. Another option, if you must buy something brand new, is to shop sustainable and ethical brands.
Recycle
If they attend classes on a green campus, they will find recycling receptacles and containers easily. Be intentional about recycling paper, plastics and metal cans. It’s a small and practical step, but it can make a big difference.
Bike or Walk Around Town
It’s important to keep active and healthy in college. Biking and walking are the perfect ways to do that. Reduce your carbon footprint by walking or biking around town.
Turn Off Lights and Unplug Appliances
Don’t make the mistake of leaving lights and TVs on in your college dorm or apartment. Conserve energy by ensuring that all electronics are turned off. You can even unplug appliances like the toaster, the blender or lamps that you don’t use regularly.
Reuse Old School Supplies
Whether it’s binders, folders or journals, assess which school supplies you can reuse. Make sure you do this before ordering new supplies. Gently used school supplies are a great way to cut down on waste from deliveries and packaging materials.