As a college student, living a sustainable lifestyle can be difficult. It may look hard, time-consuming or even expensive! However, there are tons of simple swaps you can make in your daily life to make ‘being green’ easier and budget-friendly. Here are my 5 favorites swaps you can add into your life:
Skip Single-Use Plastic Bags
If you’re anything like me, you have a ton of those reusable bags just sitting around. Use them! The hardest thing about them is remembering to take them to the store with you. My solution is to get the kind that fold up into themselves and can fit anywhere. Keep some in your backpack, purse, and car. If you do forget and it’s just a few items or something small, skip the bag altogether and carry your items.
Switch to a Reusable Water Bottle
We have all heard this one, so why are we still using single-use plastic water bottles? Reusable water bottles are not only better for the environment because you’re producing less waste but they’ve also come a long way. Try one that can keep your water nice and cold all day! Glass ones are also nice if you’re picky about how your water tastes and don’t want to use a metal one.
Ditch the Plastic Cutlery
When ordering takeout or enjoying a quick bite in the school dining areas, opt for a reusable fork, spoon, or knife. You can either bring a metal set from home or get a full set of bamboo pieces. These bamboo sets often come in little cute pouches to carry them in, perfect for a meal on-the-go!
Stop buying into Fast Fashion
Changing up a wardrobe is fun and can reflect one’s personality. Skip cheaply made thin fabrics that tear and can only be worn once for more sustainable clothing options! Try thrifting your clothing items for something new and unique. Also invest in pieces that will last, like a nice coat that can go through many seasons or denim that will hold after a few washes.
Try Meatless Mondays
Meatless Mondays are the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. What is it? Simply cutting out meat products on Mondays! Did you know it takes approximately 1,850 gallons of water are needed to produce a single pound of beef? Save that water and energy by choosing to cut back just one day out of the week.
Living eco-friendly may seem like a lot to handle at first. My advice is to first look for the single-use items in your life that can be cut out. Don’t fret if you absolutely need that mid-day Starbucks coffee, it happens. (You can also reuse & recycle that cup). Make small changes daily and soon you’ll notice that you are living much more sustainably.