Living Sustainably at University

I always assumed living sustainably, especially at university, would be incredibly difficult without a huge budget. After all, students aren’t known for their huge budgets from student loans! However, it has become easier than ever to make sustainable choices just by altering a few of our ways and without breaking the bank. I recently did a post on budgeting as a student, so I felt it best to continue with my lived experience as someone who is currently at university. So, here’s how I made more sustainable choices on a student budget…

Reusable water bottles and coffee cups

If you’re like me and love a hot drink whilst studying, you can spend a lot of money on campus by purchasing hot drinks every day. To ensure I keep on budget, I usually bring a reusable coffee cup with me to campus and a little pot of tea bags. Luckily, my university campus (Streatham in Exeter) has so many hot water taps which make it so easy to bring my own tea. Even if you don’t bring your own tea or coffee, you can save 40p by bringing your own cup to some of the coffee shops! Not only are you saving money, but you’re also making a more sustainable choice by preventing paper or plastic cups from going to waste.

Similarly, I used to buy bottled water in individual bottles as I’m not really a fan of tap water. However, I have recently been converted to filling up a jug with a water filter and putting a reusable water bottle in the fridge. Not only are you saving so much plastic, it has worked out to be SO much cheaper than buying bottled water every week! You can also save money and waste by filling up your water bottle whilst at the gym or on campus – in Exeter, we are very lucky to have water fountains/coolers in almost every university building so that makes living sustainably at university much easier!

Minimising Waste Whilst Food Shopping

• Canvas Bags
  Not only is it SO frustrating having to pay extra for plastic bags, we usually have plenty at home already so they just end up being wasted and taking up extra room. There are so many cute canvas bags you can buy which are not only more sustainable, they are generally more sturdy and will save you money in the long run!
• Loose vegetables
  Not only is buying loose more sustainable, but it is often cheaper, and you can buy exactly the quantity you need without having to buy a set amount and therefore prevent food waste.
• Use apps to prevent food waste and save money
  Speaking of wasting food, apps such as Too Good To Go and Olio are a favourite for students. These apps prevent food waste as they sell leftover food at a very discounted price (or, in Olio’s case, give surplus food away for free) so it’s a win-win for businesses, customers and the environment.
• Bulk buy and freeze
  Previously, I have received Too Good To Go bags that contain so much food I can’t eat it all before it expires. This is where freezing items are a really great way to save money and preserve it for another day (though be sure to check the label). Similarly, if you are able to shop with your flat mates or bulk buy ingredients to make a meal to eat throughout the week, this is a great way to live more sustainably, prevent food waste and save money too!

Fashion

Fast fashion has a staggering impact on the environment. According to the UN, the fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10% of global emissions each year, with young people spending significantly more than any other age group. There are so many ways to make more sustainable choices when it comes to clothing, such as purchasing second hand items in charity shops or apps such as Vinted and Depop. You can also get some great clothes in charity shops for some bargain prices. During my freshers week at university, there was a vintage fashion sale and I ended up buying a denim jacket which is still one of my staple outfits! It was also a really fun thing to attend with people you’ve recently met at the start of university as a bit of an ice breaker. They’re doing it again this year so, if you’re in Exeter, you can find the link to this event here.

When you move back home or to a new university accommodation, it is a really good opportunity to clear out your wardrobe and consider if you have worn all of the clothes you brought along to uni with you. If you no longer wear them, donating them to charity is a great way to make more room and ensure they’re not going to landfill, plus you know they’re going to a good cause. If you’re staying on campus in Exeter, there are a lot of accommodation blocks that have donation bins on site so you don’t even need to leave campus. In my second year, I stayed in purpose built student accommodation off campus and they had so many donation points too, which I made great use of when I was moving out!

Recycling

Depending on where you live, there will likely be different rules on what can be recycled and whether you have a food/compost bin. If you’re in university halls, there will be guidance to ensure you’re abiding by communal rules. When you’re moving, there’s always a lot of rubbish and waste – especially when you’ve bought a lot of new items for moving away from home for the first time. Be sure to check packets of plastic packaging to see if they are suitable for recycling. Some things that may not be as obvious can be recycled too – takeaway boxes (we are students, after all) can be washed out and used again to leftovers, and glass jars can be washed out and recycled, or even reused (I have one in my room as a pen jar!). All of these seemingly small changes can make a big impact, and potentially encourage others to recycle more too.

I hope this post helped you pick up some tips for living sustainably at university, and allow you to see how easy it can be to make slight adjustments to make a significant impact for our future. Have a great academic year ahead!

Living Sustainably at University