I used to think travel was just a passport stamp and a new playlist. Then I started planning an international placement and realised: my suitcase has a carbon footprint.
Let’s be honest—getting to Taiwan means flying, and there’s no magical “eco” button on an airplane. So instead of pretending my trip is impact-free, I’m treating sustainability like chemistry: reduce what you can, control your variables, and don’t waste resources.
First, the flight. I’m planning a single ticket with the fewest connections, because take-off and landing are where aircraft burn the most fuel. If I have a choice, I’ll pick a direct or one-stop route rather than hopping through multiple airports just to shave off a few pounds. It’s better for the planet and for my sanity. That’s my small contribution to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Then comes daily life—where the real sustainability test begins. My goal is to live close enough to commute by MRT, bus, rail, or walking, not taxis. I’m also adopting a “no excuses” kit: reusable bottle, reusable coffee cup, reusable tote. It sounds simple, but it’s exactly the point of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): small habits that prevent mountains of single-use plastic.
As a chemistry student, I can’t unsee the system behind every product. Packaging isn’t “just plastic”—it’s oil, energy, manufacturing, transport, and eventually waste. So I’m trying to make choices that avoid creating waste in the first place. I’ll eat more local, seasonal food where possible, and I’ll follow Taiwan’s recycling rules properly (because “good intentions” don’t sort rubbish correctly—people do). These choices also support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), because sustainable cities only work when residents cooperate.
I’m also keeping my placement “paper-light”: digital notes, digital documents, printing only when essential. It’s not glamorous, but sustainability rarely is. It’s mostly about showing up every day and doing the responsible thing even when no one is clapping.
Travel can be a contradiction: it creates emissions, yet it also creates perspective. My aim is to make this placement worth the footprint by travelling less wastefully, living more thoughtfully, and bringing those habits back home. If I’m going to cross continents for opportunity, the least I can do is cross the street for the MRT.
