If you study at Westminster, there is a good chance you commute. Some students travel across several zones each day, while others take shorter journeys by bus or train. Either way, commuting becomes a routine part of university life. What many students do not realise is that the way we travel also offers some of the simplest opportunities to make sustainable choices.
Sustainability does not have to involve extreme lifestyle changes or expensive products. Often, it is shaped by small, practical decisions that are easy to maintain. When these everyday choices are made consistently by large numbers of students, they can create a noticeable positive impact.
Here are the swaps that genuinely make a difference for commuter students ( backed by real, reputable UK research).
- Swap unnecessary journeys for smarter travel choices
Transport is the UK’s largest source of carbon emissions, making up 26% of the country’s total greenhouse gases. (UK GOV STATS, 2023)
For universities, commuting is also a significant contributor. Lancaster University found that about 30% of travel-related carbon emissions on campus come from daily student and staff journeys. ( Lancaster University,2023)
Swap This:
- Jumping on a Bus or Uber for short trips
For This:
- Walk the first or last part of your journey
- Use a TFL bike when it makes sense
- Avoid making the same multiple trips in one day
2. Swap rushing home for staying on campus when possible
Sometimes staying on Campus is the better option.
Research from Advance HE shows that students who spend more time on campus, whether studying, socialising, or participating in activities, report stronger well-being, a sense of belonging, and a positive academic experience. This means staying on campus between classes instead of travelling back and forth, which cuts down on unnecessary emissions and helps you feel more settled. It’s a win for the environment and your stress levels.
Swap This:
- Going home for every long break between lectures.
For This:
- Staying in the library, studying or catching up with a friend.
3. Swap single-use cups for a reusable one
The UK gets through an unbelievable 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year, and most of them aren’t recycled because of their plastic lining.
(House of Commons Library, 2023)
For a uni with thousands of caffeine-dependent students, this adds up fast.
Swap this:
- Buying coffee in a disposable cup every day.
For this:
- Bring a reusable cup, even if you only remember half the time.
Many cafés also offer discounts, which means the cup pays for itself pretty quickly.
4. Swap one or two meals a week for vegetarian options
A major Oxford University study found that reducing meat and dairy can lower your food-related carbon footprint by up to 73%. ( Oxford Environmental Study)
But sustainability in student life is about being realistic.
Swap this:
- Ordering meat-based meals by default
For this:
- Choosing a vegetarian option once or twice a week, especially when it’s the same price or even cheaper.
5. Swap digital clutter for mindful online habits
We often forget that digital activity uses energy. Ofcom reports that over 90% of UK adults use streaming services, with data usage increasing annually. (Source: Ofcom Online Nation, 2023)
That means our online habits contribute to energy demand even if we can’t see it.
Swap this:
- Streaming videos with the camera on during unnecessary meetings, or leaving dozens of tabs open.
For This:
- Turning off video when you don’t need it
- Downloading playlists instead of streaming on repeat
- Clearing old cloud files
- Closing tabs (your laptop battery will thank you)
Sustainability can often feel overwhelming, especially for busy students with deadlines, part-time jobs, long commutes, and barely enough sleep. But real sustainability is built from small, repeatable decisions, not perfection.
One reusable cup.
One fewer journey.
One veggie lunch.
One mindful online habit.
Individually, these swaps feel minor. But collectively, across thousands of commuting students, they build a genuine culture of sustainability, one that actually works with student life, not against it.
You don’t need to change your whole life. Just the tiny parts you can.