sustainability at uni

Back-to-school season is upon us!! Starting uni or going back can be a bit scary and balancing all aspects of life is difficult, so don't beat yourself up if you can't be 100% sustainable but here are a few tips I've learned along the way (after 5 bloody years of University...)

NOTE-TAKING:

• Go paperless - I know this is difficult if you don't have a personal computer or tablet, but taking notes on downloaded lecture slides or Goodnotes is a great way to cut down on paper use, and all your notes are in one place!!

• Buy secondhand stationary or notebooks from charity shops or Facebook marketplace - if you're more traditional with your notetaking or don't want to go digital, buying secondhand is a great way to still be sustainable, and it can work out a lot cheaper!

• Buy notebooks from small businesses to support them

• Use what you already have! I'm sure you have at least a couple of old notebooks that you haven't used to bring them to uni and use them up!

READINGS:

• Download the readings as a PDF and highlight on the document or add comments to the side - this is really useful for when you come back to write your essays as all the useful points are already picked out

• Take notes in the style of the table below and then write short summaries which you can refer back to in seminars (the table is AMAZING when it comes to referencing in essays)

Reference	Quote	Page Number	Additional Thoughts
Collins, L., 2024, Sustainability At Uni, Wix, lydsustainableliving.com	Starting uni or going back can be a bit scary and balancing all aspects of life is difficult, so don't beat yourself up if you can't be 100% sustainable	2	I think this is so true and important to remember!
Collins, L., 2024, Sustainability At Uni, Wix, lydsustainableliving.com	Use what you already have! I'm sure you have at least a couple of old notebooks that you haven't used to bring them to uni and use them up!	3	XYZ also said this and I could link it in my essay

• Use the library - don't forget it's there and has huuuuundreds of books to look at which can be super useful. Loaning and renting is a great sustainable option, especially if you don't need it for very long

• Buy textbooks from previous students - books can be EXPENSIVE so buying from old students saves you money, helps a fellow broke student, AND is more sustainable

FOOD and COOKING:

• Choose wonky fruits and veggies where you can - they taste the same but are more likely to get thrown away as they aren't bought as much

• Buy individual bananas - the ones left without bunches are rarely bought and often get wasted

• Grow your own herbs - they're super fun and it can be really rewarding to use them in your recipes -- I know this isn't the most accessible option but if you have the space, time, and energy, this can be super fun

• Bring your own utensils around - you never know when you might need them

• Bring your own reusable water bottle and coffee cup - there are plenty of refill stations around and you often get points from coffee shops for using your own mug

• Find a local zero-waste store - these can sometimes not be as budget-friendly so it isn't a must but choosing one item e.g., pasta, cleaning products, rice, milk etc. that you go to the zero-waste store for can really add up to building sustainable shopping habits

• Buy in bulk - teaming up with housemates to buy rice etc. in bulk can reduce packaging waste and make things much cheaper!

• Batch cook and freeze - this is a great way to reduce food waste and is much easier if you're busy during the week

• Make food from scratch - I looooved making food from scratch, especially in 1st and 2nd year. This helps reduce the packaging of products like hummus, granola, pasta sauces etc. and is a labour of love! Again, I know not everyone has the time and energy for this (I definitely haven't for the last 3 years lol) but I would definitely recommend

GENERAL TIPS:

• Download Ecosia on your laptop and phone - it works just the same as Google and it plants a tree per 15 searches (which adds up VERY quickly)

• Generally, use what you already own - this helps you stay in budget and be more sustainable. It's all fun and exciting to buy lots of new things for university but evaluating what you have and need can really make a positive impact

• Search secondhand first!! 9 times out of 10 you can buy whatever you need secondhand for a fraction of the price and reduce your impact

• Use the 'Too Good To Go' app for cheaper and more sustainable takeaway options

I will keep adding to this with any more tips I can think of to make sure you can be as sustainable as possible in your new adventure!!