Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Find out how to be more sustainable in our guest blog by Megan Baker from Amber.
When you’re a fresher, how sustainable you can be during your first year of uni is typically one of the last things that comes to mind. Instead, you’re submitting assignments last minute, getting lost on campus between lectures, and trying to work out how on earth your parents managed to keep up with the endless washing. So, in order to save you the time and effort of researching how you can be more sustainable whilst at uni, we’ve created a list of five ways to help the planet from your student home.
- Up your water intake without the plastic
While Tesco meal deals may be a staple for every student, the packaging that comes with it does no favours for the planet. Instead of picking up a single-use plastic bottled drink, why not invest in a reusable water bottle. This is a great way to help the planet, and you will now have a cute new accessory to take wherever you go. Chilly’s has lots of great options for reusable bottles.
- Reduce your fast fashion consumption
Looking for a new top to wear on a student night out? Why not buy something from Depop instead of a brand new item? Chances are it’ll probably be cheaper and buying second hand clothing can give life to items which might never have been worn again despite being in perfect condition. Similar to this, if you have clothes that you won’t rewear, selling them on a platform like Vinted can make you some money and clear out your wardrobe.
- Stop tumble drying your clothes
One of the biggest changes you can make to be more sustainable is switching from tumble drying to airing your washing on a clothes horse. During the summer months putting your clothes in a well-circulated area will dry them in only a few hours and will stop you from wasting your money on the tumble dryer. In the winter it can be a bit harder to air dry your clothes, but investing in a heated airer increases the circulation of warm air and allows you to dry your clothes efficiently even when it’s snowing outside.
- Delete your emails
All emails are required to be stored on a server; these server farms need energy and water to function for 24 hours a day. The amount of energy they consume relies entirely on how much there is to store. Therefore, something as simple as clearing out your inbox can save countless amounts of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.
- Go paperless
Try to stop using paper when necessary. For example, where digital train/plane tickets are available, opt for these instead of paper alternatives. Instead of printing out articles and journals, read and annotate them online. Making these small changes helps reduce the demand for paper-saving trees and reducing the CO2 created alongside this.
There are lots of ways to be a more sustainable student so whether it’s using a reusable water bottle or deleting your spam emails, everything contributes towards reducing the impact of climate change.
About our guest blogger Megan Baker:
Megan’s role at Amber is as a Marketing Executive. Day to day she runs their social media accounts, proofs and writes copy, as well as assisting the wider marketing team – no one day looks the same. She recently graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters in Marketing, and Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. She’s previously worked for the National Museum of Wales/Amgueddfa Cymru, as well as writing for The Tab during her time at university. During her spare time she enjoys playing netball, walking her two labradoodles, and spending time with family and friends.
Amber:
Amber is an award-winning energy consultancy. They provide energy procurement, management, and sustainability solutions designed to support commercial businesses and property companies, like Fresh. In 2021, having met rigorous social and environmental standards, they achieved Certified B Corporation® status, further demonstrating their commitment to goals outside of making a profit and to working for the benefit of employees, clients, the wider society, and the planet.
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