As the title already reveals, this post is going to be a wee environmental article. If we want to keep going around and pretend we’re Dora the Explorer, we need more than an Erasmus grant. We need places to go to. Thus we must take care of our planet, right? For that reason, I’ve made a list of things I personally do to alleviate the damage done to our environment, things that give me peace of mind and ensure that future students have plenty to explore.
In my view, being eco-friendly is not a one-way path. There are too many factors which affect the Earth, either positively or negatively, and it’s beyond our control to live purely 100% of our time. What we can do, however, is do our best and when given a choice, always act according to the lesser of two evils principle. But enough of this philosophical talk, I think you know where I’m heading.
1) Adopt a vegan diet. Yes, I know this might sound a bit too harsh and for some people patronising, but if you just stop for a second and think about it, it’s one of the best things you can do. By eating plant-based unprocessed foods, not only your body will thank you and you will thrive, but the Earth will thank you. The animals will thank you. The oceans. The land. Your wallet. Animal agriculture is the world’s number one pollutant so why not ditch animal products? Plant-based meals can be just as delicious and nutritionally rich as any other, it’s all about the spices. I know most people’s argument will be “but cheese…”, but please bear in mind the lesser of two evils principle. If not eating cheese means your immediate death, first you should realise that you’re addicted and then try to cut down on it. Enjoy it once a week. Same with meat and other dairy products. But please give it a go. I went vegan two years ago and it didn’t happen effortlessly overnigh (an article about it here). I used to love the taste of cheese and meat just like anybody else.
2) Let your legs carry you because cars don’t help the environment either. Anywhere you go, if you can, walk or ride a bike. Isn’t that the reason why we have our legs, anyway? To get from one place to another? Unfortunately, our fast-paced lives have caused many to forget that it’s their main purpose. We’re constantly trying to make our lives easier and faster. We go to work by car, we go to the shops by car, or we even just go for a ride for fun. What’s more, it’s normal that every family has got one, two or even more cars. That leads to a lot of pollution. I know sometimes you need to get somewhere further, but hand on heart, most people drive even when the destination is only 5km away. So let’s move a bit more, shall we? Again, your health and bank account will thank you.
3) Use public transport. This point goes hand in hand with the previous one. We’re naturally curious creatures and we want to explore, especially on a year abroad. However, your desired destination can be hundreds of kilometres away and in that case, you can’t walk to get there. Though following the lesser of two evils principle, you can take the bus, train or tram. This year I’ve discovered an app called Blablacar, which connects you to people going on the same journey as you, helping you organise a rideshare. It’s worked really well, and if you go online, there are plenty more alternatives that can help you travel in a more sustainable way.
4) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Why? Because our planet is overwhelmed with manmade things which usually end up in garbage (read oceans, nature, developing countries etc.) after a very short period. In fact, we might not even have enough space for all the rubbish in the future. That’s why we should try our hardest to reduce, reuse and recycle. Don’t just buy a cute t-shirt for a party then never use it again. Be more minimalistic and stop buying things you don’t need.
To be fair, this is way harder than it seems at far glance. Consumerism is our way of life and we are surrounded by adverts in real life and online. You can’t escape them. Everywhere you look there’s a catchy description making us believe that buying the latest product will make us happier.
However, the opposite is true. Belongings do not make people happy. Instead, the more we possess, the more we crave. It’s a vicious circle. You’re chasing something that doesn’t exist. You don’t have to become a monk, but minimise your purchases, buy second-hand and sell or donate things you don’t use anymore. Invest your money and time in something that will make you (and the Earth) genuinely happy. Family, friends, coffee and experiences for example. After all, you’re going abroad and the planet’s holy trinity (Reduce&Reuse&Recycle) comes in really handy as it’s much easier to travel when you only have a few things.
5) Save water. I know, that’s a very broad topic so I will focus specifically on washing your hair. I tend to take quick showers but when I have to wash my hair, it takes me forever. And as a woman with long hair, I‘m telling you, it can be tough. I do sports and go to the gym regularly and thought that washing my hair every other day was a must. I would use dry shampoo from time to time as well, but my scalp always got so irritated I had to wash it anyway. And again, it’s a vicious circle. The more you wash it, the greasier it gets as a defence against over-drying your scalp.
There’s nothing worse than having to wash your hair every (other) day when you’re travelling. Therefore, I did some research and found various recipes for homemade dry shampoos. I found that a mixture of raw cacao and cornstarch (1:1 ratio) works best. It leaves your hair clean, without any grease, gives it volume and even boosts your hair’s growth and overall health. As a result, I now only wash my hair once or twice a week. So in the end, you save water, time, money and your hair.
P.S. the only drawback is that you will smell like chocolate which might trigger chocolate cravings
6) Avoid plastic. This may seem easy at first, but imagine this scenario. You go shopping and you want to buy vegetables because you’re trying to be more mindful of the environment. But the carrots are wrapped in plastic. And so is spinach. And avocados. Nearly everything. You pay at the till and again, you’re given a plastic bag. It’s unstoppable. It’s literally everywhere you look. I know some foods need some kind of container, but avocados, seriously?
To avoid this issue, I always bring my own bag to the supermarket and never pack fruits or vegetables. If you feel you need your fruit covered, just buy or make reusable pouches. Another good way to avoid plastic is by purchasing local products such as at a farmer’s market. That means you also get better quality ingredients and it’s usually a bargain too. You can also buy reusable water bottles and food containers.
7) Share your findings with others. It eases development. I’ve made some really good friends in Spain and by sharing our opinions, we’ve influenced each other so much and grown as people. For instance, one of them showed me how to make a homemade deodorant and in return, I cooked her some of my vegan meals. She told me that she never knew that a meal could taste rich and complete without meat. You can imagine the joy I felt hearing that. Thanks to another friend, I even started using a menstrual cup. #ZeroWaste So don’t just keep everything for yourself. Get out of your cave. Share. Spread your knowledge.
By all means, these seven points that I’ve just written are not the only actions that we can take to save our planet. There is an abundance of little things that each of us can do to rescue the Earth and if we all do something (while there’s time), things will change. As I’ve heard it a thousand times already, we don’t need a few perfect people living in a flawless symbiosis with our planet, but we do need millions of people endeavouring for the future. I’m pretty sure there’s something that you do for our planet which I’m not aware of. So getting back to my last point, please share it in your comments below. Let’s learn from each other. #EveryIndividualMatters
P.S. If you overcome that slight discomfort at the beginning when you change your deeply rooted habits, you’ll reap great benefits from it in the end too. I’m convinced that your wallet will be brimming with money, your heart with love and your body with health. Peace.
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This article was originally written for the University of Glasgow and published on their blog.
Adios,