It’s the end of the term (already!), so we thought we’d put together a summary of some of the points made in our blogs from this term that can help you remain sustainable while on a student budget.
1. Start cycling
Now that you’re quite familiar with York, consider buying a bike! When you’re looking for a bike, we recommend buying one that is recycled because not only are they generally cheaper, but they also give an unused bike a new home. Not only this, but there are plenty of ways to earn money by cycling here in York, including by working for Deliveroo and signing up for a 90-minute training session at the University to earn £10.
2. Try a meat-free diet
It’s becoming increasingly popular for students to live a meat-free lifestyle while at university, which is not surprising considering the huge environmental impact incurred by the meat industry. Whether you’re considering to begin a meat-free lifestyle or have already started, we’ve put together some essential survival tips in a previous blog for having a healthy meat-free within a student budget in York! Remember: you can still have a positive impact on the environment without cutting out meat entirely.
3. Ditch fast fashion
‘Fast fashion’ results in an immense amount of unsold clothes ending up in landfills, and barely-worn outfits being chucked out instead of being repaired or recycled. Fight fast fashion by investing in a sewing kit to repair your clothes and by buying your clothes second-hand! Check out our blog on beating fast fashion in York for the best vintage and ethical shops to visit.
4. Become more eco-friendly with your coffee & tea drinking habits
From harvesting to brewing, coffee and tea can leave quite a carbon and water footprint on the environment, particularly from coffee and tea plantations who contribute to deforestation, erosion and river pollution. There are several ways you can be more sustainable and maintain your coffee and tea drinking habits, and to save some money. Some of the ways which we’ve detailed in a previous blog include: buying from sustainable sources, choosing to brew your tea or coffee at home, and investing in eco-friendly containers.
5. Start your own indoor garden!
Starting your own indoor garden is fairly easy to do and most gardeners use it as their introduction to growing plants. There are many types of plants out there that can thrive on your windowsill, including most herbs, tomatoes, avocados, lemons, mandarin oranges, and even coffee plants! Be sustainable with your indoor garden by using recycled glass jars and mugs as planters. Take a look at our indoor garden blog to learn more about getting started.
6. Support the on-going sustainable beauty movement
Unfortunately, the costs of the cosmetic industry isn’t just limited to the price tags. As it is with most industries, the cosmetic industry has quite a long-lasting impact upon our environment. When you’re out in the shops looking to buy eco-friendly products, consider products that are all-natural/organic, vegan, cruelty free, palm oil free, are made from ethically sourced ingredients, and are recyclable! As for brands, there are many skincare and beauty brands out there that have made active commitments to becoming more eco-friendly. Check out our blog on Sustainable Beauty for a list of some of the best sustainable places to shop.
We hope that you have a wonderful time over the Christmas vacation, and we look forward to seeing you in the new term! Much love, Connecting East x
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