In our next blog for Student Group Sustainability Month, we're sharing a handy list of products that will help you make your life a little bit more eco-friendly.
In our next blog for Student Group Sustainability Month, we're sharing a handy list of products that will help you make your life a little bit more eco-friendly.
Smell good, feel good
There are a few companies (such as Wild or Fussy) that provide refillable deodorants, reducing the use of plastic packaging. They also focus on using natural ingredients (amongst other eco-friendly benefits!). Despite Wild’s claim that each refill will last around 4-6 weeks, I’ve found that one refill can last a few months (depending on your needs of course!). Once you have a refillable deodorant you never have to worry about plastic packaging waste again!
Chow down
When you're on campus and on the go, you’ve probably found yourself buying a quick lunch and inevitably needing single-use cutlery. Having your own set of cutlery in your bag will always be handy. There are plenty of kit options online from as little as £7. Alternatively, you don’t even need to buy a set, you can just make your on-the-go kit from the cutlery you have at home.
Squeaky clean and sustainable
Similar to the refillable deodorant, once you’ve purchased a trusty spray bottle/product bottle, you never need single-use plastic containers again! There are a wide array of companies that offer refills and/or refillable spray bottles/bottles, such as Neat., Smol (although it is subscription-based so make sure to read their website), Ocean Saver, Ecover, and more. These brands all offer different products, but the main aim is to reduce plastic use and promote one bottle per product and natural ingredients which are not harmful or toxic to the environment.
Eco-friendly Periods FTW
Not only are sustainable period products a win for the environment, but they’re also a real ££ saver. Of course, you’ve probably heard of the menstrual cup - one will set you back an average of £23. This may seem spenny but if you’re buying a £2 box of tampons every month, you are already spending the cost of a menstrual cup each year. Talk about saving you cash, the cup can last up to 10 years with proper care! Although the cup may not be for everyone, these days there are other options. You can also easily find reusable pads, reusable tampon applicators, and period-proof underwear. And, if these options don't take your fancy, there are brands that have a slightly more sustainable approach (such as TOTM), which use less plastic packaging. Single-use products unfortunately will never truly be sustainable even if they are marketed as eco-friendly.
We could go on forever about product swaps and ideas you could implement to be more sustainable but we won't bore you! Hopefully, we've shown you some easy changes you could make which will benefit the world, and the future you.
Things to bear in mind
- Watch out for green-washing (misleading claims about the positive impact that a company has on the environment) and take a moment to think about what their impact truly is, as well as researching the company.
- Remember that buying reusable items is sustainable if you purchase one or two, but purchasing a collection of them is not. Make sure to check the materials of the products to find out their actual durability.
- Make small changes to your life that add up.