Easy Sustainable Swaps for Broke College Students

Author: Jessie Satovsky.

Editors: Maria Mendoza and Sandy Askins.

Created to point fingers at environmentalists in the face of environmental activism, they used it to shift blame to individuals, pointing out per-capita greenhouse gas emissions. Their propaganda worked, which is why many people feel pressure to be sustainable. This is especially true for college students who are faced with these messages as they learn how to function as adults in society.

Being sustainable and environmentally friendly is often not wallet-friendly for the everyday broke college student. However, this does not have to be the case—being sustainable can save money. Below are some sustainability tips and everyday items that you can buy to reduce your waste and save your wallet.

Starting with hygiene, hopefully, you use toiletries. But did you know that they are a major contributor to waste? Thankfully though, there are many ways to combat this. Buying reusable makeup wipes, face towels, makeup, and even cotton pads can significantly reduce daily waste and save you a trip to the store.  According to a study by The Plastic Soup Foundation, nine out of ten cosmetic products have forever polluting microplastics. There are a plethora of sustainably sourced and packaged toiletry products to choose from. Rather than waste plastic and throw out products every month, you can purchase shampoo and conditioner bars packaged in cardboard, refillable body wash, safety razors (razors with replaceable blades), bamboo toothbrushes, and even sustainable floss. For cleaning, you can use compostable loofah sponges, laundry powder, and reusable dryer balls, and old t-shirts can be used as cleaning rags instead of paper towels. Reusable beauty products and compostable toiletries mean it’s possible to stay clean while helping save the planet!

If you wear clothes, you’ve probably heard about fast fashion. There has been a lot of buzz about how bad it is for textile factory workers and the environment (the working conditions are an issue that I won’t get into, here’s an article on it). But what is fast fashion, and how to avoid it? In short, fast fashion is about trends and how quickly they change. This is problematic because corporations produce and throw away clothes to keep up with these transient trends, aided by consumers who buy into fashion fads. According to Earth.Org, “92 million tonnes of textiles waste is produced every year…[and] the average US consumer throws away 81.5lbs of clothes every year,” (2023). The “fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water,” (2023) created in the manufacturing of yarn and fiber, as well as the dyeing of fabrics. The most sustainable fashion tip is to buy fewer, better-quality clothes that fit your individual preferences. This way, the clothes last longer and are not discarded alongside fashion trends. Thrifting and trading clothes with friends is another way to reduce waste while still receiving new clothes! Some environmentally friendly brands also make sustainably sourced clothing and shoes, but they can run on the expensive side. Overall though, it’s typically best to use the clothes that are already in your closet.

For college students, class materials can also make up a significant portion of yearly waste. If possible, using a computer or tablet can reduce the waste of supplies like notebooks, pens, pencils, and erasers. Though these items can be a good investment and help you save money over time, they are expensive and often inaccessible. Thankfully, there are cheaper alternatives, including recycled pens, notebooks, environmentally-friendly scissors glue, erasers, and art supplies. Using recycled paper and making printouts double-sided can also reduce one’s environmental impact without breaking the bank. As things become increasingly digital, this is less of an issue. However, it’s also important to remember to take care of electronics so they last longer and properly dispose of them.

Another important area for practicing sustainability is food and beverages. Reusing water bottles and tumblers is a great way to reduce plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups. This reduces pollution and saves money. By bringing a personal cup, individuals can get discounts on drinks at Kaldi’s, Starbucks, and Dancing Goats! There are even reusable produce bags that can be used instead of plastic bags at grocery stores. These are all great ways to save money over time, while also reducing sources of unnecessary plastic.

At Emory, there are several easily accessible resources and clubs on campus for students to get more involved with sustainability and work with nature. For example, you can join Slow Food Emory, Plastic Free Emory, Emory Ecological Society, Emory Climate Analysis and Solutions Team, Oxford Ecological Society, Plant-Based Emory, and the Emory Office of Sustainability Initiatives. These organizations host a range of activities, from cleaning up campus, studying local flora and fauna, researching climate solutions, proposing sustainable policies for Emory’s campus, and advocating for national-level sustainability efforts. Even without being a general member, you can volunteer or attend their events to show your support and meet like-minded people.

The above is a helpful but non-exhaustive list of easy, sustainable swaps for day-to-day life as a college student. This article is not to say that you should feel guilty about not being waste-free. Individuals are not the main contributors to pollution, the blame lies with big corporations. Regardless, practicing your lifestyle still has an impact, even if it’s in relatively small ways. There are many things that individual consumers can do to reduce waste and help the world. You do not have to be perfect, but your mindset plays an important role in making the world a better place.