10 Small Ways To Be More Green As A College Student

We all want to be more sustainable, but sometimes as college students + young adults, we opt for quick + easily- accessible items vs. quality + environmentally friendly ones. While some of us may be able to make huge lifestyle changes to help the environment, others may not be capable of making big changes. If you want to be more eco-friendly but aren’t sure where you can even begin or need to keep changes small this post is for you, after all, even tiny changes make a difference —

#1] Bring Your Own Steel or Silicone Straw

Using steel vs. silicone really comes down to a personal preference + you can check out the differences between them here. Don’t want to carry a straw around with you everywhere? You can still make a difference — simply ask for your drinks without a straw!

#2] Use Reusable Shopping Bags

Nowadays, you can buy these at any grocery store. Some grocery stores try to encourage shoppers to BYOB [bring your own bag] by charging a small fee to use one of their bags. If you want a more personalized look, you can find canvas or cooler-style bags at most stores or online. DYK Target offers a 5 cent discount for each reusable bag you bring in to use? Reusable produce bags are also a great way to cut down on plastic use!

Tip: find a bag with a plastic insert // coating inside of them — this will make spills easy to wipe clean! Try these – they fold down small enough to fit in your pocket!

#3] Use Cloth Makeup Remover Wipes

Not only will you be saving the environment by not using make-up remover wipes everyday, but you can also save your skin some discomfort if you opt for a water-only cloth wipe like this brand which was reviewed on Buzzfeed.

#4] Swap *Ziploc Bags* for Silicone or Cotton Mesh

For produce + leftovers, skip the plastic bags + go with silicone or mesh cotton bags! Not only will you be eliminated the use plastic bags, but you’ll be saving money! There are so many different brands // sizes to choose from here’s where you can start in your search. Bonus — these are also perfect to hold your toiletries while traveling!

#5] Stop Junk Mail + Go Paperless

Instead of throwing away junk mail, see if you can switch any of those bills to e-delivery. Some companies even offer small discounts for going paperless. If you’re worried about forgetting to pay bills without a paper reminder, set up an alert on your computer or phone each week//month to check your accounts.

#6] Switch Your Toothbrush

It’s estimated around one billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the U.S. A typical toothbrush is made of plastic, rubber, and nylon — none of which are biodegradable, leaving them to remain indefinitely in landfills. There are actually a TON of different types of toothbrushes you can choose from — bamboo, biodegradable, aluminum are only a few examples.

#7] Use Cloth Napkins

For little spills or drying your hands, skip the paper towels every once in awhile + clean up messes with cloth napkins. They are simple to clean — just add them to your laundry pile to reuse! You’ll also save some money on the amount of paper towels you have to buy.

#8] Use the Microwave Over An Oven

Did you know you can cook a TON of meals with your microwave instead of a toaster or conventional oven?  Not only will this save energy, but it generally takes less time to cook in a microwave. Check out some microwavable [++healthy] meals here.

#9] Take Out the Extra Junk in Your Trunk ; )

We’re talking about your car! The lighter your car, the less fuel it has to use! This will not only emit less into the environment, but it could save you money on gas as well. Win-win.

#10] BYOC

Bring your own cup. There are so many different types of cups you can get to store your liquids in [ceramic, stainless steel, glass, etc.] Not only does skipping the to-go cup save the environment, some companies offer discounts if you use your own tumbler // cup.

What are your favorite eco-friendly products you swear by? Comment on this post or post on Insta!