April 14, 2021
There are hundreds of ways to live more sustainably, starting with the items you use on a daily basis. But wait — don’t fill up your online shopping cart with a bunch of brand new products. You don’t have to drop a chunk of change to make a change!
There are plenty of inexpensive ways to incorporate sustainable products into your routine. These switches make it easy to be eco-friendly. From how you do your dishes to how you carry your coffee to class — there are so many ways to be sustainable each day.
Make a product plan
Chances are, there’s probably something not-so-eco-friendly in your apartment. Everyday items like sponges, shampoos and dryer sheets get the job done, but at a cost to the environment. However, you shouldn’t go through your space and throw out every non-sustainable item. So it’s time to make a plan!
A product plan identifies which products could be replaced with a sustainable alternative. For example — you might have just gotten a new big bottle of shampoo. It’s not the most sustainable option, but it’d be worse for the Earth if you threw it out before finishing it. Use up your current products, and then replace them with Earth-friendly items. Here are some simple household swaps:
- Use a shampoo and conditioner bar instead of haircare in plastic containers
- Swap out your kitchen sponge for a wooden scrub brush
- Replace your makeup wipes with reusable cotton pads
- Purchase wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets — they’re reusable and help your clothes dry faster!
Swap your goods
Out with the old, in with the (sort of) new. When it comes to items like clothes and household furniture, ask around! You’d be surprised at the number of people who would be willing to trade away their old items. If you can’t find anyone to swap with, then take your items to a donation center. They’ll get a new home, and you can check out the shop to see if there’s anything there that’s your style!
Take it to the streets
Another way to be eco-friendly is to opt for walking or biking to your destinations. Lucky for you, Lincoln is filled with amazing bike paths that make it easy to get around town! And if you don’t have a bike of your own, UNL students can pay $10/year for a BikeLNK short-term bicycle!
Reuse & reuse
Single-use plastics add up. If you can, try to bring a reusable container for your coffee breaks. You can use any old travel mug, mason jar or collapsible coffee cup for your next brew! The same goes for water bottles — and lucky for you, campus is filled with special water bottle stations just for your favorite sticker-covered bottle.
You can also opt to bring your own silverware to fast food chains. That way you won’t have to use those plastic utensils! Metal and glass straws are also a go-to product for people that want to cut their plastic usage down.
These are just a few of the MANY ways you can make your life a little more eco-friendly! For more information about sustainability on campus, visit: sustainability.unl.edu.