Dutch Learning Community and Resources

Tips to live a more sustainable life 

1. Limit plastic usage 
   Plastic is everywhere in the modern world, and while it may be near impossible to completely bring your plastic usage to zero, you can reduce it significantly. Instead of buying plastic bags at the grocery store, make it a habit to take your own bags. It’s also worth it to invest in a reusable coffee cup and a reusable water bottle. As a bonus: at many coffee places you even get a discount for bringing your own cup! 
   
   
2. Buy second-hand 
   As a mobility student buying second-hand is a great, fun and cost-effective way to live more sustainably. In many European cities like Stockholm and Amsterdam, the second-hand market is booming. And it’s not only a wide variety of clothing that is on offer, also home items, books and gifts can be easily bought second-hand. 
   
   
3. Travel choices 
   As a mobility student, you will likely have to and want to travel at several points of your mobility journey. For example, if you are visiting friends and family in your home country, consider taking the train instead of an airplane. Additionally, while commuting to school, you can go for the very Dutch option of cycling or, if you live further away, take public transport.
   
   
4. Use less 
   Did you know you only need one tablespoon of laundry detergent to get your clothes squeaky clean? And that if you see bubbles in your washing machine it means you’re using too much detergent? Almost every one of us uses way too much of everyday products like washing liquid, shampoo and conditioner. If we’re more mindful of how we use these products we could do our part in reducing waste that is harmful to our planet. 
   
   
5. Food choices 
   Making smarter food choices is not only better for the planet, but also for your own health. It’s not necessarily about eliminating one food group together, but if you simply start by adding more plant foods, local foods and in-season products to your plate you’re halfway there. Another great way to make smarter food choices is to see if your supermarket has an ‘ugly food’ section in the produce aisle. In many Dutch supermarkets, for instance, you can often buy fruits and vegetables that look a little different and would have otherwise been thrown away. 
   
   
6. Save on electricity 
   Using less electricity is a great way to live more sustainably. There are many small ways you can do this like unplugging your electrical appliances when you’re not using them, washing the dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher and drying your clothes on a drying rack instead of the dryer. 
   
   
7. Be smart with heating 
   During the winter months heating our homes can be a significant expense and incredibly taxing on our environment. While putting your heating on 21 degrees Celsius may be comfortable to many, it’s worth it to lower the thermostat down to 19 degrees and put on a jumper to stay warm. Another great way to be smart with heating is to not or barely heat the rooms you don’t use and to put your heating at 14 or 15 degrees at night. As a bonus tip: when you use your oven open it after using it to get some additional warmth into your home.  
   
   
8. Reduce water waste 
   There are many big and small ways you can reduce water waste. Some ways to make a difference in your water usage are taking shorter showers (max. 5 minutes), turning off the water tap while you brush your teeth, putting your dishwasher or washing machine on the eco cycle, and keeping a bottle of water in your fridge to prevent running the tap until the water is cool.  
   
   
9. Shift your mindset  
   Embracing a minimalist mindset may be one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself and the earth. In a world of consumerism and advertising, it can be challenging to live life differently to most people, but it can truly bring peace of mind knowing that you’re not taxing yourself and the planet with too much stuff.  
   
   
10. Get your friends involved 
    Finally, involving your friends in your effort to live more sustainably can make the journey much more fun and impactful. You can educate and inspire your friends by sharing what you’ve learnt in this article, or you can do a sustainability challenge together. In the end, the more people you inspire to make an effort to live more sustainably, the more impact it will have. 

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I hope you enjoyed reading and learning from this article. Now it’s up to you to put some of these ‘green skills’ into action. And remember, you don’t have to do it perfectly to start making a change.

>>>Let us know here in the forums which of these tips you’ll be implementing in your life.<<<