5 Easy Ways to Incorporate Sustainability into Every Day Life

One of the most pressing issues of our time is climate change and the human impact on our planet.

But what can we, as individuals, do about it? How can we live a more sustainable life and protect our environment? The truth is there are simple things you can do to live more sustainably and lessen your impact on the planet – even as a college student. 

One of our Jesuit values at Regis is that of "contemplatives in action" — that is, we believe in examining social issues and taking steps to address them. Here are five easy ways you can live a more eco-friendly life without breaking the bank. 

1. Reduce the amount of water you buy (without knowing you’re buying it). Things like shampoo and body wash, laundry detergent, dish soap and household cleaners are typically sold in liquid form. But did you know they’re mostly water? Swap these products for dehydrated or concentrated equivalents. We add water to make tea and coffee – why can’t we add water to make these products too? Not only are dehydrated or concentrated products lighter and easier to ship, they also reduce the amount of single-use plastic around your home. Which brings us to #2...
2. Use it once and throw it away? Find an alternative. Think of all the things we use just once before they hit the trash: dryer sheets, makeup remover wipes, paper towels...the list goes on. The good news is there are reusable alternatives for almost everything, like using kitchen towels instead of paper towels or wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Switching to more sustainable options not only saves you money in the long run, it also reduces the amount of trash going into our landfills. Win, win!
3. Adopt a “second-hand first” mindset. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and even your local thrift store are great places to find things you need. From furniture to kitchen items and books to electronics, check out these places before you head to Target. You might be surprised at what you find and how much money you can save while reducing your contribution to the impacts of consumerism. We know that not everything is a good idea to buy used, so when you must buy new, continue to #4.
4. Ordering from Amazon? Group your deliveries together. Pretty much everything is available on Amazon, but did you know individual products ship from different places? Even if everything in your order is sold and fulfilled directly by Amazon, chances are your items are coming from multiple warehouses across the country. Do the planet a favor and select the shipping option that groups your items together. This way you get fewer boxes and less unnecessary packaging, and delivery drivers make fewer trips, resulting in reduced fuel emissions.
5. Make one change at a time. Saving the planet can seem like a daunting task, but living a more sustainable life doesn’t have to happen all at once. You don’t have to replace all your cleaning products immediately; instead, next time you run out of something, buy a more sustainable alternative. Encourage your friends to do the same. After all, we’re all in this together.

While some of these things may feel like a drop in the bucket, every little bit helps. Sure, you might not be trading in your gas-powered car for an electric model any time soon, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint and leave our Earth better than you found it.

Interested in learning more about our sustainability initiatives? Check out the Regis University SEED Institute and the work the Regis University Student Government Association (RUSGA) has done around our campus.

Want to learn more about how you can put Jesuit values into action? Fill out the form at the top of this page or contact ruadmissions@regis.edu to learn how a Jesuit education can help you become a force for good.