Individual efforts can make all the difference

As a student, right now there are most likely a whole range of things you might be worrying about in your day-to-day life from coursework to money or even something like the next time you’ll get a chance to go out and relax. The last thing on your mind is probably how to save the environment. Honestly speaking, the most effective ways to combat climate change come through government laws and regulations but that does not mean that individual efforts don’t count. On the contrary, they can make quite the difference so let’s take a look at some of the ways you can move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Plastic is bad 

This is one you’ve possibly heard many times before but reducing plastic usage really is one of the most important things you can do to be more environmentally friendly and there’s plenty of ways to do this: 

• Use reusable plastic bottles or stainless-steel bottles as opposed to regular plastic water bottles 
• Drink coffee out of paper cups or ceramic mugs instead of plastic cups which release toxic chemicals when exposed to excessively hot or cold temperatures 
• Eco-friendly student products exist and they range from things like steel or glass straws to food storage containers which you can use as an alternative to Styrofoam and plastic. 
• When you go shopping, use a tote bag, backpack, cloth bag or any other reusable, non-plastic carrier. This is infinitely better than coming back from the shop with new plastic bags every single time 

Eat Green 

Animal farming uses a massive amount of natural resources and even damages the environment. This is not an attempt to convince you to stop eating meat. You can always include a plant-based diet in your food schedule as a move towards going green. And it doesn’t end at just the ingredients because even your cooking and storage methods can be greener: 

• Buy loose vegetables and fruits instead of the ones wrapped in plastic and in plastic containers. 
• If you’re going to get sauces, get the ones in tins or jars 
• Keep old jars and tins for leftovers, pasta and grain storage 
• Replace paper towels or napkins with cloth e.g. tea towels 

• Use pot lids when cooking so that the heat is trapped and your food cooks faster which will lead to lower energy usage 

The little things matter 

There are many daily habits that you can focus on which can help you save energy in many ways. They are simple, easy-to-do things that can be casually integrated into your daily routine: 

• Switch off light and other electronic appliances when they are not in use 

• Roll up those blinds and get some sunlight into the room instead of relying on artificial light throughout the day. Organic light might even help brighten your mood too. 
• Hang clothes to dry naturally instead of putting them in the tumble dryer. Try purchasing a drying rack from Amazon or Wilko’s. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that it`s given you an idea of how you can start living your life in a way that preserves our beautiful planet for future generations to come.