Have you ever thought about living a more environmentally conscious life, but don’t know how to start? Does it seem like a lot to take in at first? If that sounds familiar, we’ve got good news for you: you can take small steps to make your everyday life greener! Now we’ll share some tips and tricks that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine:
1. Sustainable food shopping
- Plan your meals. Make a shopping list and only buy what you really need. This way you avoid unnecessary spending and food waste.
- Avoid processed foods. Ready meals and convenience foods are more expensive and often less healthy. Cook from simple recipes at home, even a week in advance if you have time at the weekend!
- Choose staple foods. Rice, pasta, beans, lentils and oatmeal, for example, are cheap, last a long time and can be the basis of many dishes.
- Use canvas or biodegradable bags. Believe me, you’ll prefer to put your pastries or vegetables in them too…
- Buy seasonal and local produce. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are cheaper and fresher. You can often get them at a better price at markets or farmers’ markets.
2. Zero Waste for beginners
- Use your own canteen. You can choose from many brands, sizes and thousands of patterns! Longer term, a metal canteen is more cost-effective than a plastic bottle and your environment will thank you for it.
- Did you know that refillable pens exist? All you have to do is buy a durable and quality metal pen at the first stationery shop, and when you run out of refills, you only need to buy a new one, no need to throw the whole thing in the bin.
- Try using a solid shampoo and laundry soap. Keep your skin and the planet clean! There are plenty of options to choose from in drugstores now.
3. Eco-friendly parties and festivals
- Bring your own cup or canteen! You can already minimise the waste you produce.
- Do not leave any litter behind! Bring your own rubbish bag to the festival or use the recycling bins.
- You don’t need new clothes for every party. Look around your wardrobe or swap clothes with friends.
- Don’t fall for marketing! Light-up glasses, plastic garlands and other cheap festival accessories often go to waste quickly and end up in the bin.
- Don’t print everything! Most festivals and party places make your ticket and programme available via an app or email, so you don’t have to waste paper unnecessarily.
4. Sustainable exam season – how to save energy and food?
- Don’t order unnecessary pre-packed food! Cook a quick and simple lunch instead.
- Turn off your unnecessary electronic devices when you’re not studying! This will also reduce your energy consumption.
- Use natural light. Study in daylight to reduce your power consumption. If you study at night, use a LED lamp.
- Use your own thermos and consume coffee consciously. If you drink coffee or tea, choose fair trade products and always carry your own thermos or mug.
- Don’t buy energy drinks and fast food! Eat healthy snacks (e.g. nuts, peanuts, fruit) to avoid expensive and environmentally harmful packaged snacks.
5. Fashion and dressing in an eco-friendly way!
- Quality over quantity. A durable, long-lasting piece is cheaper in the long run than fast fashion products that quickly go bad.
- If it breaks or wears out, fix it! A little sewing or zipper replacement is much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying a new one.
- Don’t fall for seasonal fashion! Have a capsule wardrobe (a few pieces of clothing that go well together), it’s more worth it in the long run.
- Wash on a low heat, short cycle, with an environmentally friendly detergent. This not only saves clothes, but it also saves energy.
- Clothes shops, clothes exchange, online marketplaces. Buying second-hand clothes is not only cheaper, but also more sustainable. Check out markets, online groups, organize a clothes swap with friends!
Living sustainably is not a big, sudden change, but a series of small, conscious decisions. If you start incorporating these tips into your daily life, you’ll not only be protecting the planet, you’ll also be saving your wallet. As a university student, you can already do a lot to help create a greener future – and who knows, you might inspire others! Start today, step by step!