Most sustainability advice assumes you have a house, a budget, and full control over your living situation. College students have none of these things. Here’s a guide that’s actually realistic.
Start with what you can control
You can’t install solar panels on your dorm. You can’t choose what the dining hall serves. You can’t control the building’s thermostat. What you can control is what you buy, how long you keep it, and what you do when you’re done with it.
Clothing
This is the single biggest area where students can reduce their environmental footprint.
- Don’t overbuy for move-in. Wait two weeks before buying anything for your dorm or wardrobe. You’ll discover you need about half of what you planned.
- Check free exchange groups first. Every campus has them on Facebook, GroupMe, or university forums. People are always giving away exactly what you’re looking for.
- Thrift before buying new. Thrift stores near colleges are stocked with quality items. Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local consignment shops are all options.
- Keep a “one in, one out” rule. For every new item you bring in, something leaves. This keeps accumulation in check.
Food and dining
- Reduce food waste. Only take what you’ll eat in the dining hall. This is free and immediate.
- Use a reusable water bottle and coffee cup. You’ll save money and reduce hundreds of disposable cups per year.
- If you cook, plan simple meals. Buy staples that overlap across recipes. Waste comes from buying ingredients for one recipe and throwing away the rest.
Stuff
- Borrow before buying. Need a tool, a book, a camping tent? Someone on your floor probably has one.
- Buy used textbooks. Or rent them. Or use library copies. New textbooks have a significant production footprint.
- Skip the Amazon impulse buys. The two-day shipping convenience is designed to prevent you from asking, “Do I actually need this?”
What not to worry about
You don’t need to:
- Buy expensive “sustainable” products
- Feel guilty about not being perfect
- Convince your roommate to change their habits
- Track your carbon footprint with an app
Sustainability at the college level is about building awareness and small habits. The awareness compounds over time. You’ll carry these patterns into your career, your first apartment, and your future purchasing decisions.
One thing to remember
The most sustainable thing you can do as a student is also the cheapest: buy less stuff. That’s not a sacrifice. That’s common sense for anyone on a student budget.
