Recently, the UK has seen temperatures soar to new levels. June 2026 set a national record of 37.7 degrees Celsius for the daily maximum temperature in 1976 (Met Office, 2026). In light of this alarming news, it has made me think about ways in which I could implement more sustainable habits as I embark on my year abroad.
The first half of my year abroad will be in Germany, where I shall undertake a marketing internship with a company specialising in insulation and access solution. In line with the United Nation’s ninth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to build resilient infrastructure and promote sustainable industrialisation, I shall promote the company’s own sustainability targets and their commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement (KAEFER). I also aim to achieve SDG goal 3– a pledge to good health and wellbeing– by advertising health and safety campaigns in the workplace.
The rest of my year abroad shall be spent in Barcelona, where I will delight in the student experience. However, being on a budget doesn’t mean I have to compromise on sustainability: in many ways, it can promote it. One way I plan to do this is by batch cooking two portions of dinner and saving one for the next day’s lunch. This way, I can save money by reducing food waste and still enjoy some of my favourite dishes. I have also been vegan for around 4 years (as I am keen to tell people!), and plan on buying seasonal veg and pulses.
Since exams have ended, I have spent part of the summer organising my wardrobe and deciding which clothing items would be most useful to take with me. By using the Vinted app to sell my unwanted clothing, I can give my clothes to a new home and save a bit of money towards my year abroad. Naturally, I will want to purchase items once I am out there. However, rather than immediately turning to mainstream retailers, I shall try to support local businesses and take advantage of the flea markets on offer. Furthermore, my top tip is to always have a tote bag to hand– you never know when you might need one!
I hope this guide has given you some (plant-based) food for thought…Of course, what I plan to implement may not be applicable to you or travel plans. But that is the beauty of sustainability: you can tailor it to your needs. It is about making a judgement– do I need said item now, or could I re-purpose something similar which I already own? In any case, I call upon changemakers to reflect as I have done in this article, and see how the systems we are implementing have the ability to pause the devastating effects of global warming which we are already witnessing.
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References:
KAEFER Sustainability & ESG. https://kaefer.com/company/esg/.
Met Office (2026) June 2026 heatwave: A recap of the temperature records. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/june-2026-heatwave-a-recap-of-the-temperature-records.
