finally, here it is:
ravxnstudies's guide to earth-friendly studying!
sometimes we don't realise the environmental impact related to our studying habits. we use a lot of paper, Post-It notes, highlighters, washi tape; we go to cafés, we have snacks during all-nighters, etc. studying is a part of our daily lives. it's good and it's necessary, but we might need to change the way we're doing it.
where should you start?
there isn't just one correct way to begin changing. still, i'd suggest you start by changing paper.
most of the paper we use comes from trees. recently-cut ones. why don't we use recycled paper instead? i've been doing that for a whole semester, and it's just as good as brand new paper. it's even better for my eyesight, since it's not so bright.
another way to solve this problem is reusing old paper sheets! some of them have only been written/printed on one side, and the other side is still good to use.
what else should we do?
1. coffee shops:
most people in the studyblr community love going to coffee shops. that's great! the issue is, we often end up using disposable cups, forks, plates, etc when we're there.
try going to shops that use reusable cutlery instead, or bring your own! i love going to Starbucks, and they let me bring my own mug. (i don't know if that policy applies worldwide, but if it doesn't, there's probably a lot of other shops that'll allow you to bring your own things. you might even get a discount!) if you look at the photo, you'll see i brought my own mug and metal straw.
2. Post-It notes:
i personally don't use these, but i know a lot of my classmates do.
what's the problem with these? they're really hard to recycle because of the glue.
what can you use instead? a good, practical idea is writing on paper (recycled, if possible) and using a paper clip to hold it!
3. highlighters (and other stationery):
if you've been following me for a while, you'll know i find highlighting very useful. however, most stationery is made of plastic, and as you can't recharge the ink, you just buy new ones when it runs out.
instead, try using pencils. colour pencils are great for highlighting (especially if you like pastel colours). besides, some pencils have seeds at the bottom for you to plant when they're too small to keep using them.
4. snacking:
we all do it, but have we stopped to think about it? most snacks are sold with packagings. besides, they're not exactly healthy.
what can you do? eat more natural things. fruit is your best friend, and the peels are biodegradable! but be careful: make sure you buy plastic-free fruit. most of the fruit you can find in supermarkets is wrapped in plastic (why? it's not necessary, it's already got a peel!).
remember! if you still have materials you haven't finished using (paper, highlighters, markers, etc) don't throw them away yet! you'd only be adding up to the waste. only get rid of them when you can't use them any longer, and when you do, bring them to a recycling bin/centre.
reblog to let other people know how they can help; and if you have any more creative ideas, please let me know so i can add them to this post!
