Being a student is tough. We’ve all been there, between classes, assignments, work, and an attempted social life, it can feel like there’s no time to think about anything else, let alone saving the planet. Believe it or not, even micro-changes in your daily routine can make an immense difference, enabling an eco-friendly student experience without sacrificing your precious time!

Kick The Coffee Cup Habit

Trust me, I understand that daily morning coffee you just cannot live without, or the afternoon pick-me-up latte during classes. You are contributing to an eco-disaster! It’s time to ditch the disposables. A habit that we as students need to work on, it is easy to end up at a coffee shop when you are on the move. However, did you know that during the manufacturing process, paper cups are covered with a plastic called polyethylene?  Although this keeps your coffee warm, it prevents the cups from being recycled. Were you aware that a reusable cup has to be used between 20-100 times to ‘offset its greenhouse gas emissions compared to a disposable cup’?

I get it, the idea of carrying your reusable coffee cup to your favourite coffee shop can seem tiresome, but most of them now offer a discount for bringing your own cup as a reward in exchange for being eco-friendly, a top tip to save money as a student, so it’s a win-win!

Re-wear, Repurpose, Reimagine

Need a new outfit for that event? Bored with your current wardrobe or struggling to keep up with the latest trends on a budget? I’ve been there, until I discovered reselling. Reselling clothes is a great way for students to be creative, saving money whilst reducing their environmental footprint! Participating has its benefits:

• It minimises the number of ‘discarded materials sent to landfills’.

• Reduces the need for production using raw or new materials.

• It is better for the planet as it ‘reduces greenhouse gas emissions as well as air and water pollution’.

The UN has launched a global alliance to combat the fast fashion industry’s biggest sustainability challenges including waste due to the industry accounting for 10% of total global carbon emissions.

The fast-fashion industry is extremely wasteful. As a consumer, I know that companies are constantly pushing us to buy more, with social media influencers showcasing the latest trends and new arrivals and our favourite brands offering student discounts, it can be so hard to keep up. This is not sustainable! Instead, investigate ethically selling your clothes through a simple process. There are many trusted sites, including Vinted, Depop, and Thrift+ with thousands of items sold daily. Visualise the clothes you own, how many do you genuinely wear? We all have those ’just in case’ we need them clothes lying around, so why not make money easily as a student? Be a part of the change- re-wear, repurpose and reimagine.

Student Hacks for Eco-Eating

Tasty, affordable, and eco-friendly food, impossible right? Wrong. There are so many ways to eat sustainably through minor changes in your daily routine that are impactful. Food production is responsible for around one-quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions, we as students can make a difference through these habit tweaks.

Meat Production

Meat production is one of the biggest issues and the single biggest cause of deforestation globally. Destroying forests to produce meat results in ‘billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere yearly, triggering a greenhouse effect’. You don’t need to cut meat from your diet, simply reducing consumption is impactful. I like to help the planet with creative steps, including implementing meat-free Mondays or one-part-plant: aiming to eat one plant-based meal daily. Did you know that these tweaks also have health benefits including improving gut health, supporting your immune system, reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol, and stabilising blood sugar levels through the high-fibre contents?

Meal Prepping

Exhausted from having to cook and decide on your meals daily? Fed up with your money going towards ordering those unhealthy meals? Meal prepping will be your lifesaver. How often do you throw away produce that you didn’t end up cooking? We have all been there. Planning and preparing meals means you will reduce food waste, with your trips to the supermarket being purposeful, quicker, and cheaper by purchasing the ingredients upfront! As a student, I know that every effort helps when it comes to cutting costs. Still not convinced? Try out meal prepping now with thousands of recipes online, including a variety of healthy recipes.

Ride Your Way to a Greener Future

Always on-the-go? Does it seem like no matter how much you try to time manage; you are always late? I know the feeling! Although driving seems convenient, transport is a key climate change contributor. Did you know that ‘transport accounted for 34% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions in 2022’, mainly due to road vehicles? Consider cycling, an eco-friendlier approach with benefits including ‘less CO2 emissions and lower costs, stress and fatigue’. Cycling is a fun way to explore the city quickly with London’s bicycle lanes. Still not convinced? Here are a few benefits of cycling:

• Easily Accessible: Bicycles are easy to spot, with Santander Cycles placed around London. Download the app and head to your nearest docking station. Get started now, I recommend signing up with Student Beans for 25% off the cost of annual memberships for students aged 18 or over! Alternatively, try the Lime bike app, prioritising sustainability and safety to get you around London!

• E-bikes: The new e-bikes give you the ‘potential to explore London without exerting more energy’, plus you’ll be fresher upon arrival. Look out for the lightning symbol on the Santander Cycles app to spot e-bike locations. Begin pedalling and ‘feel the power’.

• Health benefits: Looking for an easy way to implement exercise into your daily routine? Cycling improves ‘cardiovascular health- strengthens your heart, improves blood circulation, and lowers blood pressure’. Struggling to make time to hit the gym? Cycling burns calories easily due to its low-impact nature, whilst improving sleep and mental health.

• Environmental benefits: Considering bicycles are human-powered, they are zero emission so do not add pollution to the environment- saving fossil fuels, whilst reducing the number of cars on the road and noise pollution.

Implementing Habits

Remember, every effort helps. Implementing some of these changes in your daily habits can make an impactful difference for the planet. So, what are you waiting for? Start hacking your habits now and become an eco-friendlier student, whilst saving money- a true win-win!

References:

Barnes, M. (2022). Why Is Eating Meat Bad for the environment? | Green Element Blog. [online] Green Element. Available at: https://www.greenelement.co.uk/blog/why-is-eating-meat-bad-for-the-environment/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Collins, P. (2021). Sustainable transport: What Is It and Why Is It important? [online] Selectra. Available at: https://climate.selectra.com/en/advice/sustainable-transport [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Comfort World (2023). Different Ways to Upcycle Clothes. [online] Comfort. Available at: https://www.comfortworld.co.uk/sustainability/from-riches-to-rich-rags-upcycling-clothes.html [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Fehér, A., Gazdecki, M., Véha, M., Szakály, M. and Szakály, Z. (2020). A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits of and the Barriers to the Switch to a Plant-Based Diet. Sustainability, [online] 12(10), p.4136. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104136.

Funke, L. (2018). Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes. [online] Fit Foodie Finds. Available at: https://fitfoodiefinds.com/best-healthy-meal-prep-recipes/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Good Start Packaging (2023). Why Are Paper Coffee Cups Bad for the Environment? [online] www.goodstartpackaging.com. Available at: https://www.goodstartpackaging.com/paper-coffee-cups/#:~:text=Disposable%20coffee%20cups%20typically%20have [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

GreenMatch (2015). Effects of Paper Coffee Cups on Environment | GreenMatch. [online] Greenmatch.co.uk. Available at: https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2015/06/the-effects-of-paper-coffee-cups-on-the-environment [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Herbert, T. (2019). Reusable Coffee Cup discounts: Which London Cafés Reward You for Being eco-friendly? [online] Evening Standard. Available at: https://www.standard.co.uk/futurelondon/theplasticfreeproject/reusable-coffee-cups-discounts-london-cafes-single-use-plastic-eco-friendly-rewards-a4053251.html [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Maiti, R. (2023). Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact. [online] Earth.org. Available at: https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Newsroom, E. (2019). UN Launches Global Alliance to Combat Fast fashion’s Biggest Sustainability Challenges – Edie. [online] https://www.edie.net/. Available at: https://www.edie.net/un-launches-global-alliance-to-combat-fast-fashions-biggest-sustainability-challenges/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Penguin, M.H. (2023). A Fresh & Healthy Meal Prep Delivery Service by Christine. [online] My Healthy Penguin. Available at: https://myhealthypenguin.com/blogs/whats-new-in-meal-prep/meal-prep-to-save-the-planet [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Purition (2023). How to Eat More Sustainably | Blog | Purition. [online] Purition UK. Available at: https://www.purition.co.uk/blogs/articles/how-to-eat-more-sustainably [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Ritchie, H. and Roser, M. (2022). Environmental Impacts of Food Production. [online] Our World in Data. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food#:~:text=used%20for%20agriculture.- [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

Roy, P.-O. (2017). Reusable or Disposable: Which Coffee Cup Has a Smaller footprint? [online] Anthropocene magazine. Available at: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2017/07/reusable-or-disposable-which-coffee-cup-has-a-smaller-footprint/ [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

TFL Community Team (2023). Eco-friendly Ways to Get around London. [online] Experience London blog. Available at: https://londonblog.tfl.gov.uk/2023/09/22/green-travel-london/ [Accessed 23 Dec. 2023].

The Monday Campaigns (2021). The Physical and Environmental Benefits of Biking. [online] The Monday Campaigns. Available at: https://www.mondaycampaigns.org/move-it-monday/physical-environmental-benefits-of-biking [Accessed 4 Jan. 2024].

Transport for London | Every Journey Matters (2023). Using Our E-bikes. [online] Transport for London. Available at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles/using-our-e-bikes [Accessed 4 Jan. 2024].

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University is a formative and pivotal time in life, filled with new experiences, learning and personal growth. This is what I was told upon starting university. However, I wasn’t warned about or prepared for the overwhelmingness, difficulty finding like-minded people, and loneliness. It is beyond the lecture halls that lies another dynamic world, the realm of student societies.

The Importance of Societies

Societies encapsulate a variety of interests and cultures. The diversity that societies provide fosters a sense of belonging and connection for students throughout their university experience, enabling the representation of different voices. Realistically, amongst the excitement and eagerness, for me beginning university felt overwhelming and sometimes lonely. Having a welcoming space to meet new like-minded people and build friendships helped combat the occasional loneliness that I felt.

My Personal Experience Building Bridges through the Lebanese Society

Representation at university is vital for inclusivity. Unfortunately, I began university with a glaring absence of representation as a Lebanese student, I felt a disconnect from my cultural heritage. I saw all the wonderful societies that the university possessed but could not help but feel like there was not one that I fit into. This lack of representation sparked a passion for me to co-found the Lebanese Society at the University of Westminster alongside two friends who felt the same way. Leading the society, as the president, has been one of the most enriching experiences throughout my university years. From organising cultural events, conferences, and fundraisers for charities in Lebanon, to meeting with the Ambassador in London, providing a safe space for students to share their stories and experiences has been extremely rewarding.

Despite respectable university efforts of EDI, international students tend to feel excluded and lonely at times. Fostering a sense of community to combat the loneliness and homesickness that international Lebanese students felt was a key intention of the society which became a bridge for appreciating Lebanese culture within the wider university community, as well as connecting the diaspora. Fortunately, the society has members from all over the world, who share a passion for the Lebanese culture, food, music, traditions, and people. As a verified EDI society, we have completed inclusivity and allyship training as well as collaborating on events with the Lebanese societies from other London universities and the Middle Eastern North African Society at the University of Westminster to expose students to other cultures within the Middle East and gain clearer perspectives, enabling students to form connections.

Societies as Catalysts of Inclusivity

The impact of societies extends beyond individual growth, they play a crucial role in creating a more inclusive and representative university. An inclusive university culture is one in which ‘everyone feels that they belong through feeling safe in being themselves, that their contributions matter, that policies and practices are fair, and that a diverse range of people are encouraged to work together effectively’. The University of Westminster community is inclusive and united to provide grounded, holistic education and ‘opportunities so that people from every background can realise their true potential, contributing to a happier society’. The university is progressive, with ‘EDI as part of the DNA, committed to being and becoming better’. Higher educational institutions are ‘actively trying to identify and confront systemic issues of marginalisation’ and exclusion of minoritised groups.

Accordingly, by celebrating diversity and providing platforms for marginalised voices, societies can act as catalysts of inclusivity by providing students with a safe space and representation, which positively correlates with learning, academic excellence, and student retention as well as fostering a sense of belonging. Student societies provide safe spaces for open discussion and empathy across cultures and backgrounds, enabling students to get the best out of their time at university.

Building Confidence

Societies are architects of confidence among students. Beyond the lecture hall, confidence is one of the main predictors of academic achievement and a vital skill to be mastered. Throughout my university experience, I have come to realise that confidence increases a learner’s employability. I know it can seem daunting to put yourself out there, but this will open so many doors for you. Educators believe that students change in confidence from their involvement in student-led societies throughout their university experience including enhanced ‘personal confidence and changes in confidence in their personal skills’. Whether it is through organising events as a committee member, voicing opinions at an event or simply interacting with other society members, societies empower students to step out of their comfort zone and build skills in a safe space.

Through my personal experience as a committee member of a society and current president, I recall my own transformation that occurred in my confidence both in myself and my ability to interact with a variety of people from diverse backgrounds, forming connections that have positively impacted my university experience. Regardless of feeling hesitant initially, I highly recommend joining a society and finding your voice. Finding like-minded people who share your passion will help build your confidence throughout your university experience.

Amplifying Representation

Students from diverse backgrounds should see themselves reflected throughout their university experience. Diverse representation in education is necessary for critical thinking, students should be encouraged to ‘question assumptions and stereotypes upon encountering a diverse range of perspectives to lead to a more profound understanding of complex matters’. Societies serve as amplifiers of voices that may otherwise go unheard by providing platforms for students from underrepresented groups to showcase their cultures, interests, perspectives, talents and to advocate for their communities. Representation is best achieved when ‘diverse groups are engaged in meaningful interactions through formal and informal activities’. Societies provide representation whilst supporting students who share similar backgrounds, interests, or common causes, which is vital in creating a university environment that reflects the diversity of the wider world.

Beyond The Lecture Hall

University experiences should be enjoyable, amongst the education and despite the stress. Beyond the lecture hall, university societies are more than extracurricular activities, they are catalysts for inclusivity, confidence, and representation throughout students’ university experiences. They have provided many other students and I with a safe space and continue to contribute to a more diverse and welcoming environment throughout this pivotal time at university. Consider joining a society, you won’t regret it!

References:

CIPD (2022). CIPD | Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace | Factsheets. [online] CIPD. Available at: https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/diversity-factsheet/#:~:text=An%20inclusive%20workplace%20culture%20is [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Gill, R. (2023). Why Building Confidence Can Benefit Learners and Help Them to Achieve. [online] NCFE. Available at: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/all-articles/confidence-benefits-learners/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20learners [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Ikpeh, C. (2023). Blog #31: Ten Reasons Why Representation Matters in Education. [online] Rara Education Project. Available at: https://raraeducationproject.org/the-peoples-blog/why-does-representation-matter-in-education#:~:text=Promotes%20Critical%20Thinking%20%2D%20Diverse%20representation [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

Karimi, F. and Matous, P. (2018). Mapping Diversity and Inclusion in Student societies: a Social Network Perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 88(0747-5632), pp.184–194. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.07.001.

Ousman, Y.I. and Nazi̇rT. (2023). Loneliness among University Students as a Growing Concerne. Journal of Family Counseling and Education, [online] 8(2), pp.85–99. doi:https://doi.org/10.32568/jfce.1312556.

Pittaway, L.A., Gazzard, J., Shore, A. and Williamson, T. (2015). Student clubs: Experiences in Entrepreneurial Learning. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 27(3-4), pp.127–153. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2015.1014865.

Tavares, V. (2021). Feeling excluded: International Students Experience equity, Diversity and Inclusion. International Journal of Inclusive Education, (1360-3116), pp.1–18. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.2008536.

University of Westminster (2021). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. [online] University of Westminster. Available at: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/sites/default/public-files/general-documents/Equality-Diversity-and-Inclusion-Policy-and-Strategy.pdf [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

West, J. (2022). Belonging: Why It Is the next Step on the equity, Diversity and Inclusion Ladder. [online] THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect. Available at: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/belonging-why-it-next-step-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-ladder [Accessed 22 Dec. 2023].

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