In light of the global climate emergency, how can we (broke) students live in a more sustainable way that’s good for the environment and for our wallets? Unfortunately for most students, much of the existing advice is elitist, of questionable value, and definitely not good for our budgets. 

We live in a capitalist society (to the chagrin of many students) that forces people in different socioeconomic situations to spend money as wisely as possible. Every decision is influenced by what we can afford, from our living situations, to our modes of transportation, to the things we buy. Although being able to afford a LEED-certified condo, a Tesla vehicle, and organic, locally-sourced food isn’t feasible for most students, there are more budget-friendly options available that you can implement in your everyday life. Here are some of my recommendations for environmentally- and budget-friendly options that students can realistically implement in their daily lives.

Where should you live? 

Admittedly, this is a tough one. Where one lives determines the range of choices that they can make. Sure, it’s expensive to live in a city, but you’ll almost never have to worry about driving and the financial and environmental costs associated with it, especially if there’s a decent public transportation system. 

For example, a recent report stated that when considering factors such as median income, housing costs, and commuting costs, Houston is less affordable than New York City. So, in deciding where you want to live, part of your consideration might be figuring out whether the higher costs of living in a city outweigh the financial and environmental costs of living in the suburbs. For some, living in a city will not only make more sense environmentally, but economically too. 

How should you move around? 

Some people have no choice but to drive. In my hometown, for example, there is no public transportation available on the weekends and our neighbourhoods are not very walkable or cyclable. When living in a city, it is much easier to walk, bike, or take public transit on a whim, but what if you aren’t from a city with those means of transportation available to you? 

Even in less-than-ideal circumstances, such as living in the suburbs or small towns, always look for ways to mitigate the impact of your trips. This could include carpooling, reducing the distance travelled within towns, and being aware of instances where you actually can walk from one place to another. Being aware of the walkability of your neighbourhood can help reduce your driving and save money in the long-run. Don’t be like the person from my high school who preached about saving the environment then drove 500 metres to and from school. 

What should you buy? 

If you look for recommendations online, many articles will suggest shopping from entirely local, organic, and/or small businesses. However, these sources may not be feasible options for students. With many environmentally-conscious products financially out of reach, the easiest answer as students is to BUY LESS. Buy what you need and then focus on what you want. It’s not as easy as it sounds and it requires some meaningful thought, especially if you’re an environmentally-conscious student on a budget. 

Buying what you need could include anything from your groceries, clothes, excursions, and gifts. In order to live a meaningful life, there are certain aspects of “needs” which are not necessary for survival but are crucial for your own happiness and sanity, so those should be included in your considerations as well.

When it comes to groceries, especially fruits and vegetables, it is best to buy in season, where they’ll be cheaper and more likely to be locally sourced. Students should also try to be aware of the environmental impact of the foods they buy. Buying certain popular produce can be especially harmful for the environment. Take avocados for example, which are not necessary for survival, but are ridiculously tasty and healthy. Their boom in popularity has accelerated deforestation and depleted the water supply in places like Mexico. Advocates say that if you can’t part with certain foods, consider looking for foods which have labels signalling that they are ecologically sustainable and/or fair trade.

As for clothes, the same techniques that people suggest for budgeting also apply to reducing waste in an era of “fast fashion.” Look into thrift shopping, clothing swaps, or buying less clothes of higher (and hopefully better) quality. After all, it takes 2 700 litres of water to produce a single t-shirt. This is one area where careful purchasing decisions could largely reduce your environmental footprint.

Vacations are a tricky case. We are lucky enough to live in a country like Canada, but we’re burdened with the fact that it is a large and cold place. Unless you’re trying to be like Greta Thunberg and sail across the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll probably want to fly from one location to the next. Regardless of how you travel to any destination, you should follow treehugger.com’s advice on “How to make travel more sustainable”, where they advocate staying in one spot, travelling at a slower rate, and travelling with reusables. 

Until the robots take over, we’ll be living in a society that relies on human contact and being somewhat social with others. Gift shopping is a great way of showing people you care about them (or, depending on who you are, the laziest way to show people you care about them). If you are part of a culture which values gift giving, this may be a way in which being environmentally-friendly is especially difficult. Some ideas for sustainable gift giving that respect a student’s budget are reusable metal water bottles, cork yoga mats, tote bags, or 100% post-consumer-waste notebooks. You could also consider gifting local experiences, like a trip to a Museum or a cooking class, in favour of purchasing physical goods. While it can be difficult, thinking about sustainability in gift giving will at least help you move away from waste-generating gifts. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Growing up, I was always told to “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” However, it seems that most of the emphasis is on the third, and least important, R—recycling. After all, it’s a pretty simple and ingenious way to help the environment: throw it out, but in a different bin. 

Reducing and reusing, however, are even greater ways to make do with what you already have, reduce waste, and save money at the same time. Craig and Marc Kielburger, in a Huffington Post op-ed, suggested some ways for people to reduce and reuse more effectively, such as switching to bamboo toothbrushes, reusing plastic shopping bags, and cleaning the house with baking soda and vinegar. 

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These are valuable and creative ways to be more sustainable, but I would conclude by saying that, as a student, you should do what works best for your budget. Do your research, be aware of the impact you have on the environment, and mitigate it as best you can.However, if you feel like reducing your own personal footprint isn’t enough, learn how to force big emitters to reduce theirs, too. Avoid shopping online, refuse to buy from any company that isn’t eco-friendly, start a network of like-minded people, and do what is in your power to hold them responsible.