What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word “sustainability”? For some, it means hanging up “stop killing the earth” posters on dorm walls and joining “Save the earth” campaigns. For others, it means going vegan and opting for metal straws instead of plastic ones when ordering their morning coffee. But what exactly does it really mean? As a person, living a sustainable life is good for you, your surroundings and the nature.
Well, you’re about to find out.
Whether you run an essay writing service or you’re just a regular student trying to make it through college without dying, it’s important to contribute your own quota towards sustainable living, and we’ll show you how to do that in this guide.
Sustainability and the “Go Green” Initiative: What Does It All Mean?
If you’re reading this, there’s a huge chance you’ve probably asked yourself: “what does going green mean?” Here’s the thing: the going green initiative is more than just a PR stunt that modern brands and social media influencers throw around to sound edgy and cool.
It’s an important movement aimed at ensuring that we preserve the environment and natural resources as much as we can.
Simply put, going green or living sustainably involves building a lifestyle that minimizes the harm we do to the environment and contributes towards preserving the planet and our natural resources.
As a college student, living a sustainable life style doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go vegan or throw out your shampoo. Instead, you can live more sustainably by following any of the following tips.
Useful Tips for Students to Start Living A Sustainable Life
Don’t Dispose – Recycle
Disposing of items seems like the easy way out for a lot of college students. Want to have a nice meal at home? Get plastic forks and plates and throw them out right after. While this may save you from having to do the dishes, it’s hurting the environment. Most disposables made from plastic aren’t biodegradable. This means that they can lie in the environment for hundreds – if not thousands – of years before they eventually break down.
On the other hand, you can use permanent reusable plates and cutlery which promotes a more sustainable use of resources. These materials last much longer and also save you a great deal of money as you won’t have to buy cutlery every other week.
Go For Local Thrift Items
As a college student, there’s a huge chance that your dorm room already comes semi-furnished. However, just like every other student, you’ll like to add a personal touch to your room by throwing in a rug, chair or even some pictures. While this is a great idea, there are ways to go about your revamping mission sustainably.
For starters, you could try purchasing thrifted or second-hand items. This would be a great way to give new life to items that are still usable instead of simply letting them rot away.
Secondly, for living a sustainable life you could also try buying from local stores and shops, as this approach creates less of a carbon footprint than when you order out of town. For instance, instead of ordering perfumes off the internet, you could buy natural deodorant from a local store.
Walk, Cycle Or Take Public Transportation
Having a car is all fun and convenient. However, the major downside to getting around campus in a car is that cars are a major source of pollution. In fact, research has shown that the fewer cars on the road there are, the less pollution in the air they cause.
Since vehicles typically generate harmful carbon emissions, you’ll be saving the planet by walking to class. You’ll also be keeping fit while saving money on gas at the same time. So there you have it: a three-in-one package.
However, if you aren’t comfortable with walking, you could get a bike and cycle to class. Alternatively, try riding a bus or carpooling with friends.
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Save Paper
If you’ve ever heard of the go green initiative, then you must have heard about several reasons why paper is bad for the environment. Well, all those reasons are actually true. The life cycle of paper is extremely damaging to the environment. First, it starts off with a tree getting destroyed and then burnt, releasing harmful toxins into the air.
As such, it’s important to cut down heavily on your paper usage if you’re trying to live a sustainable life. For starters, you could use the back of your paper when writing notes or recycle your used paper stash.
Another great way to cut down on your paper usage is by replacing it with digital options. Thanks to technology, you can now use your smartphone or tablet to make notes without having to restock your paper supplies.
Final Thoughts
Promoting sustainability on college campuses for living a sustainable life can be pretty difficult, especially since most students don’t spend their time thinking about the environment. However, you can kick start this change by striving to live a more sustainable life. We hope these tips set you on the right path to sustainability and you’ll be able to integrate them in your life soon.
Good luck!