How you can be More Sustainable & Eco-Friendly this School Year
The school year is nearly here people!!! And as a girlie who used to LOVE this time of year, I have all of the tea for you on how you can go into this year as the sustainable queen (or king) you know you are!
Sustainable Back to School Tips
Back to school shopping can feel exciting, but when you’re looking for more sustainable items, it can also feel super daunting! I have 7 tips for you on how you can approach this school year with your environmental impact in mind! Also, if you’re interested in learning more about which products I recommend, you can check out my back to school sustainable items list HERE.
7 tips to Help you Reduce your Environmental Impact and be More Sustainable
Use reusable water bottles and food containers
Instead of buying disposable plastic water bottles or using single-use plastic bags for your lunch, invest in reusable options. This will help reduce waste and save money in the long run.
A few sustainable water bottles that I love are:
Owala
Hydroflask
Stanley Cup
Yeti
Walk, bike, or take public transportation to school
If possible, avoid driving to school alone. Walking, biking, or taking the bus or train are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint and stay active. If you have to drive, talk to your classmates and see if there is anyone you can carpool with!
Print only when necessary
Try to avoid printing out your assignments or notes unless it's absolutely necessary. Most classes have online platforms and features these days, so try your best to utilize those instead of printing out every assignment. If you do need to print, try setting your printer to double-sided printing to save paper.
Buy used textbooks or rent them
Textbooks can be expensive and often end up unused after the semester is over. Consider buying used textbooks or renting them instead of buying new ones. I used to rent mine from the school library every semester and it worked out great! Also many teacher may have extra copies they’ll let you borrow for the school year.
Choose eco-friendly school supplies
Look for school supplies made from recycled materials or that are biodegradable. This includes notebooks, pencils, and pens. Even check for eco-friendly & sustainably made backpacks. I have an entire list of backpacks for you if you want to check that out HERE.
Pack a waste-free lunch
Try to pack your lunch using reusable containers and utensils instead of single-use plastic bags and utensils. This will help reduce waste and save money. Reusable containers for lunches are always a go-to for me, but also consider using compostable bags like these from HoldOn Bags (code is KRYS15 if you want to save some money).
Participate in eco-friendly school activities
Join a school club or organization that promotes sustainability, or start your own! This is a great way to get involved in your school community while making a positive impact on the environment. It also is a wonderful way to get involved with like-minded people who are on their sustainability journey as well. You never know what you can learn from someone else!
Sustainability isn’t Difficult if you Break it into Easy Steps!
By following these tips, you can reduce your environmental impact and be more sustainable during the school year. Let's work together to create a more eco-friendly future!
XOXO,
Krys
