As part of the EU’s Green Initiative, Erasmus+ is committed to delivering sustainable and environmentally friendly work and study programmes for its students. When you travel on your Erasmus+ trip abroad, it’s a good idea to adopt some strategies to be as Green as possible, so that we all leave a positive mark on the planet for future generations to flourish. Read our tips below to help you become an environmentally friendly warrior during your mobility abroad and together, let’s make the world a better place to live in!
1. Choose Green Travel
When you get around your Erasmus+ destination city, how will you do it? Will you take the train, use a bus, take a taxi, a bicycle or walk? While sometimes it isn’t always possible to use the Greener option, if you can, we’d always encourage you to walk or take a bicycle! You can hire or rent a bike for the duration of your stay; in doing so, you’ll save money on travelling on public transport. If you can’t walk to your university, college or place of work, then just walk whenever you can. It’s healthier for you and takes pressure off public systems. Taxis aren’t the greatest way you can travel, but if you must take one, why not ride share so as to split the cost and the impact? You could also choose electric taxis, which are kinder to the planet because they don’t emit any fumes! When you need to travel by airplane, choose flights that offset their carbon emissions, it’s not always easy to find these flights, but if you can, we’d encourage you to do so!
2. Think Before You Print
Do you need to print out that document or can you live with it on your device? Printing excessive amounts of paper is ruining our forests! We don’t need to cut down trees unnecessarily especially as we can read everything on a device nowadays. So, question your printing and if you don’t need it, don’t do it. If you do need it, consider printing using black ink rather than colour, and always print double-sided to save paper.
3. Unplug Electricals
Once your devices are charged, unplug them and turn plug point switches to the off setting so as not to waste excess electricity. Don’t leave phones on charge when they’re already at 100%, the same applies to your computers, televisions, radios etc. Switch lights off too – and when you do your washing, choose low-cost electricity times to reduce the cost to you but also to save electricity for the environment.
4. Use Reusable Bottles
Don’t buy disposable bottles of water, instead, have a reusable cup and refill it throughout the day. Single use plastic bottles damage the environment. They release fumes from the plastics involved and end up sitting on landfill waiting years to decompose. The bottles that end up in our streams, lakes and seas harm marine life, so think twice about buying that bottle of water and if you absolutely need to do so, please dispose of it responsibly.
5. Always Recycle
That brings us onto recycling. Don’t throw things out that could be recycled and use the correct dustbins. If in doubt, ask, because every country has its own system which will probably be very different to those you’re used to back home. Never throw things out that could have a second life, such as clothing, shoes, furniture etc. You could always do a clothes swap with other students or take unwanted items to a charity shop.
6. Buy Preloved
Why buy new when you can buy preloved? There are lots of charity shops in every city, and markets often sell second-hand items. It’s fun to find things that you’d never find anywhere else, and by giving them a new lease of life, you’re helping the circular economy. Plus, it’s fun to revamp old items and make them into something new to you (and it’s cheaper than buying brand new!).
7. Shop Locally
Support your destination city by shopping locally. Small, independent businesses always benefit from your patronage so buy your groceries from little shops or markets. You’ll be giving back to your community and helping local businesses who will appreciate your custom.
8. Take a Reusable Bag With You When You Shop
Rather than collecting even more plastic bags, take a reusable shopping bag with you when you go shopping. This is far better for the environment than bringing back yet another unwanted bag that ends up in the dustbin. If you forget your reusable bag, or you have no choice but to use a shop’s plastic carrier bag, don’t bin it, save it and reuse it at a later date.
9. Use Biological Products
Rather than using non-bio laundry products, for example, always choose biological products which are kinder to the environment. They’re just as good too – so next time you go shopping, put these types into your basket.
10. Don’t Waste Food
Only buy what you need, but if you have leftover food (depending on what it is), don’t throw it out if it’s still got some life in it. Make a soup, bake a cake, use up what you’ve got and find something to prepare with leftovers – a good soup is also freezable so portion it up and you’ll have meals ready-prepared for when you haven’t had time to cook.
Final Words
Discover what TravelEdventures can do for your student group, whether you’re looking for a work or study placement, we put together unforgettable Erasmus+ and Turing Scheme work and study placements in Europe and beyond. Find out more about what we do and how we take the pressure off you by clicking here to talk to our team.
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