Every Day is Earth Day

In honor of us occupying this Earth now and (hopefully) forever, I thought it would be important to talk about some habits, companies, and ways of life that might make our carbon footprint a little less heavy.  

We all know nothing about the college experience is easy. The schlep outside during the random 2 AM fire alarms, the essays all conveniently due the same week, or the financial aid award that never quite makes you debt-free. What can be easy, however, is the grab-n-go section, the Starbucks throw away plastic ice coffee cups, and the Forever 21 quick ship to home. It’s hard to keep track of all the build-up of all the trash and easily tossed plastic we use during our day to day lives. And truthfully, we never have to see what our waste build-up actually looks like because all we do is throw it away throughout our busy, hustling days and have another person take care of it for us. We never see the heaps of trash in pilling up every single day.

I know asking every college student to always reuse and buy second-hand is not realistic, at least immediately. Change does not happen overnight, and big change definitely does not show after a day’s worth of plastic. But what I do know is that, with a little change in a daily routine, the environment can and will be positively impacted.

Plus let me tell you, after experiencing my first east coast winter, I desperately want the world to stay green and avoid existing on a dead, freezing sphere where my most trusted piece of clothing is my winter coat and plaid wool socks.  

My first tip may be the simplest one: reuse in any way that is available to you. My old university does not provide reusable plates, bowls, or utensils for eating (unless you will personally buy a reusable box and self-clean it), so I invested in a $12 pack of easily cleaned utensils that are on-the-go ready with a backpack hook. I can’t help but feel good knowing I am saving three plastic utensils from being thrown in the trash each day. Hello, that’s 540 utensils every 180 days! Also, if you’re still on the plastic water bottle grind, hop off. It is time to get a reusable water bottle. But they’re annoying to clean, and I know I won’t do it, you might say. But just think, refilling your water everyday not only cuts trash buildup, it cuts expenses, too. More money to buy that band’s merch that costs more than the ticket to see them live. Check.

Another pro tip: go thrifting or find sustainable clothing brands. Yes, buying a new outfit feels great, but fast fashion has a costly impact on the environment that’s often hidden from the naked eye with the harsh chemicals and absurd amount of water and power used to make your $10 cotton t-shirt. I just scored a cheetah trench coat this weekend for fifteen dollars. Cut out the shoulder pads and I have myself a sustainable, cheap, new statement piece this spring.

If thrifting is not for you, at least splurge responsibly and check on how your clothes are made. I use the Good On You app to check my clothes’ labor, environment, and animal scales, as well as to find ethical and environmentally friendly clothes (plus it sometimes has discount codes!).

Knowledge about how things are made and at what cost is too often an overlooked item on our shopping to do list. I challenge you to take five minutes today to find one brand that is good for the environment (or is at least trying to be).

For the sake of it, I must also hit the basics: turn off all electronics before you leave your room, turn the running water off when brushing your teeth, and (try to) shave without the shower or sink on the entire time.

And lastly, when those finals wrap up, recycle what papers, projects, and study guides you can. Yes, they might have made you feel like trash, but not everything belongs in the trash.

Small habits lead to big change if we stick to them. I am just one person, so the things I do won’t even make a difference, you may think. But, as trivial as these things may seem, everyone’s actions do eventually add up to become something monumental. It’s going to be us dealing with the Earth we create, why not help make it great?

By Harper Wayne

BU Student, self-published author, and an enthusiastic thrifter with a soft spot for rainy days

Image by PlaygroundEquipment.com