– narrated by me, a 750 ml bottle with personality.
Interviewer (I): Aqua, you’ve been Hibo’s constant companion through her Sydney study-abroad. Tell us how you kicked off her eco-journey.
Aqua (A): It all began at the airport. Hibo’s flight to Sydney produced roughly 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ for the London→LAX→Sydney route according to my climate. Once on the ground she refused single-occupant rides and mastered public transport. We rely on the Transport for NSW Trip Planner app to catch trains, buses and the Manly Ferry- each journey cutting emissions by up to 65 percent compared with private cars.
I: That’s impressive. How did you tackle daily routines to keep sustainability at the forefront?
A: Meal planning became our secret weapon. Every Saturday we stroll to the Rocks Farmers’ Market for seasonal produce. Then Hibo batch-cooks breakfast wraps and salads, freezing portions for busy weekdays. Leftover café treats are rescued via Too Good To Go. These routine slashes food waste methane and advances SDG 12 for responsible consumption.
I: You also volunteered and explored free activities. How did that blend?
A: Once a week Hibo walked 2.5 km to the Wayside Chapel in Potts Point. She spent 2–3 hours preparing plant-based meals in reusable containers, packing hygiene kits in canvas tote bags, and running a 20-minute demo on recycling and refillable water bottles. On other days we took advantage of Sydney’s free attractions- the Bondi-to-Coogee Coastal Walk, and open-air concerts in the Royal Botanic Garden. All those outings protected SDG 11 for Sustainable Cities and Communities without costing a cent.
I: Fashion choices matter too. How did you tackle that?
A: We turned second-hand shopping into treasure hunts. local markets yielded unique outfits at a fraction of the carbon cost of new clothes. Each thrifted find cuts embodied emissions and fights fast-fashion waste, championing SDG 12 once more.
I: Hydration is your specialty. How did you eliminate single-use plastics?
A: With Tap Map we locate refill stations in cafés, parks, and libraries across the city. Over five months Hibo refilled more than 250 times, preventing at least the same number of disposable bottles. We also donated a dozen bottles to shelter guests so they could stay hydrated without waste, advancing SDG 6 for clean water.
I: Which digital tools and resources powered your mission?
A: We leaned on:
• Trip Planner by Transport for NSW to design low-emission routes https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip
• https://tripview.com.au to time departures
• Too Good To Go, to claim surplus food https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-au/
• Tap Map for water refills https://choosetap.com.au/tap-finder/
• myclimate Carbon Calculator to track air travel emissions https://co2.myclimate.org/en/calculate_emissions
I: As we wrap up, what lasting lesson should readers take away?
A: Sustainability is not a list of sacrifices but a chance to build community and resilience. Every choice, from rescued croissants to reusable bottles, compounds into real impact. Tracking our efforts against the UN SDGS turns eco-anxiety into agency. The only wealth worth chasing is a liveable planet !!
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
