The College Series: 30 Sustainability Tips for College Students Which Also Save You Money
Let’s be real, college campuses aren’t the most conducive environments to be sustainably conscious, but that doesn't mean that you have no options as a college student. Here are some easier sustainability tips that you can implement into your college lifestyle.
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FOOD & KITCHEN
Make your Own Food
If you’re made the transition to feeding yourself and are no longer relying on the campus food hall/cafeteria, then you’re probably constantly thinking about whether or not you should eat out or just make food in your dorm. Instead of constantly eating out, find easy-to-make recipes that are appropriate for your kitchen setting. Sometimes you’ll have access to a full kitchen, but sometimes all you have is a dingy kitchenette or less. Buy groceries that won’t go to waste and save yourself the need to order out constantly.
Get a reusable water bottle
If you haven’t already, switch to a reusable water bottle. I used to buy those 24 packs of water and bring so many of them to school. Find a water bottle that fits your lifestyle and personality (straw or screw cap, insulating, different filtration systems, etc) and pledge to use it more often.
Get a reusable coffee cup and/or make your own coffee. Avoid systems that need disposable pods.
Getting your caffeine fix is no longer limited to Starbucks or Dunkin. Many students nowadays are making their own coffee or tea in the comfort of their own dorm. The Latte Factor is real, so consider switching up your routine to save some money and plastic.
Bring your own bags
Whether it’s to pick up food or go shopping, don’t forget to bring your own bags. It's very easy to bring an extra bag in your purse or backpack.
Cut down on meat
You don’t have to become vegan, but cutting down on meats in your diet can definitely be impactful.
Bring your own cutlery
Picking up food between classes or at the end of the day? Opt out of receiving plastic cutlery and bring your own cutlery. You can easily throw a bamboo or metal set in a designated bag or pouch in your purse or backpack. If you do get extra plastic utensils, don’t let them go to waste and save them for another day.
Use reusable/washable containers or bags or beeswax
It was so easy to just grab a little disposable sandwich baggie, fill it up with snacks and throw it away at the end of the day, but consider finding more sustainable food packing options, like Tupperware or glassware, durable and washable snack bags, or even beeswax.
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TRANSPORTATION
Look into campus transportation or carpooling
Many campuses offer different forms of campus transportation. If you have a large campus, it may offer a campus shuttle or bus system to get around the campus itself or to/from a local bus or train station. If you live on campus, see if your school offers a shopping van that will drop you off at local shopping destinations, like the grocery store, the mall, etc. Or remember to coordinate with friends if you need to run errands, so you only have to do 1 car trip, rather than many individual trips. Ride-sharing can lower your emissions.
Don’t bring a car on campus
Having a car on campus can be both a convenience, but also a burden. If you are tired of paying for high parking passes and find yourself not even leaving campus often, consider not even bringing your car on campus. Consider having a bike on campus to get around.
CLOTHES & BELONGINGS
Thrift for clothes
Instead of buying new from the mall, consider buying secondhand and thrifting clothes (either at a physical thrift store or via online platforms like ThredUp, Depop, Poshmark, etc). See our guide to Secondhand Thrifting Tips.
Thrift or DIY dorm decor
Consider thrifting for decor you can spruce up or get creative and use what you already have to make DIY dorm decor, like garlands, collage walls, photo walls, etc.
Rent or share items
Think about the things you may not need when you graduate or even during the summer. Consider renting or sharing certain items with friends or roommates. Some campuses have rental appliance programs set up (See DoorToDorm, MicroFridge, and more).
Have a clothing swap with your friends
Whether it’s in the middle of the semester or before break, consider having a clothing swap with your friends. Have all your friends bring a few articles of clothing they no longer want to wear to a hangout. You can do this with your friends, sorority sisters, or floormates.
CARE & BEAUTY
Switch to bar shampoo, conditioner, and soap
Cut down on plastic bottle usage, by finding bar alternatives for your shower routine. If you can’t get over the bar hurdle, consider reusable and refillable products, like Plaine Products. Here's $15 to join me in ensuring a little less plastic in the world. Try Plaine Products today, use the coupon code REFXDWCMDYSE6.
Cut down on your shower time
If you live on campus, you probably aren’t thinking about how much water you are using or wasting, but cutting your shower shorter by a few minutes can save hundreds of gallons of water a year! If you pay for your own utilities, you’ll save some money too!
Start using a menstrual cup or period panties
Today, there are so many more alternatives to menstrual care. Pads and tampons add up, cost wise but also in the dumpster. Get comfortable and see if a menstrual cup or period panties work for you.
If you are working or your parents have an FSA (which stands for a Flexible Spending Account), you can use this money which is pre-tax to buy feminine care products.
Use reusable cotton pads instead of makeup wipes
I used to buy several Costco-sized boxes of disposable makeup wipes to get me through the school year. Make the switch to reusable cotton pads that you can reuse again and again. An easy way to do this is to just cut up an old towel.
ELECTRONICS
Adjust the settings on your devices and Unplug
Whether it’s your laptop, tv, lights, or gaming consoles, check to see if there are better energy savings on your device. When you really don’t need it, turn it off completely rather than just putting the device to sleep. Unplug when you can to save on energy emissions and costs. Use energy saving power strips, as well.
Use an LED bulb for your desk light
If you can, opt for LED bulbs in your room, especially for task lights like your desk lamp. If you have good natural sunlight, consider solar powered string lights for decor.
MISCELLANEOUS
Rearrange the furniture in your room
If it’s easy enough and suitable for your room, consider rearranging the furniture throughout the year. You can rearrange the furniture to cut down on artificial lighting needed or to increase airflow from your heater/ac unit or window.
Make sure all your bills are online
If you still receive mail in your campus mailbox, it’s time to make the switch. Log in to your accounts and select online statements and while you’re there, set up some alerts to ensure you aren’t missing any due dates.
Reduce your printing and paper usage
Switch to taking notes online or printing a very limited amount of paper. I’ve seen students print entire chapters and textbooks and they easily only referenced a few pages out of hundreds. Be highly aware of what you are printing in the library or in your dorm, so you aren’t accidentally printing the wrong pages or more copies than you need.
Pregame with reusable cups
If you’re pregaming in your dorm room/suite or apartment, try to have a set of easy to clean, reusable cups. They don’t need to be glass, but rather than stocking up on red Solo cups, have a set that you can wash and reuse every time. Don’t let any used cups sit around for too long or else they’ll get sticky.
Resist or minimize all that free campus swag
There's come a certain point that you no longer need all that free school memorabilia. Do you really need another campus t-shirt or flimsy frisbee? Just because it’s free doesn’t mean you need it. Take what you need, but after a certain point, you’ll realize what’s worth taking. There are plenty of other free non-materialistic things you should take advantage of on campus. See our “15 Free Things You Should Take Advantage of in College”.
Resist or Minimize your Amazon Usage
As a college student, convenience is essential and sometimes we just need to get something quick. Amazon’s increased presence on college campuses results in a lot of waste, so if you can, try to minimize your Amazon usage, plan ahead and opt out of two-day shipping and aim to have all your items delivered together rather than separately.
Recycle and advocate for best recycling practices on campus
Learn how your school manages its recycling and waste. Some schools may have separate bins for plastics, paper, and trash, but it may all end up in a single stream disposal anyway. Join or create campus initiatives that advocate for better recycling systems.
Donate items at the end of the semester instead of throwing out
If you have any furniture, books, decor, bedding, supplies, food, etc., that are still in good condition, look to see where you can donate it locally. Some schools may already have donation boxes set up at the end of the semester, but you can also bring it to a donation center directly. Or if you are entrepreneurial, figure out how to start a business to reuse these items.
Properly recycle your notebooks and belongings at the end of the semester
If you’ve already donated what you can, remember to dispose of things properly. Sometimes at the end of the year, trash rooms and trash bins get inundated with so much stuff. Don’t be discouraged by the mess and properly recycle your belongings and all your papers.
This is just a starter guide to actionable items that you can implement into your college life, but hopefully they can be a jumping point for you!
The College Series: 30 Sustainability Tips for College Students Which Also Save You Money
