I have noticed in my academic life that I always like to challenge myself. Whether I am working in the laboratory or studying for an exam, I enjoy trying to do just a little bit better each time. Since I care about becoming more sustainable, especially as a chemistry student who will eventually work in a field that can produce large amounts of waste, I decided to make sustainability my next challenge.
During my semester abroad in Edinburgh, I will compete against myself by following a set of sustainability rules.
Every sustainable choice = +1point.
Every unnecessary, wasteful choice = -1point.
Aim for 100 points each month.
Keep a sustainability journal.
Reflect each month on where points were lost and how to improve.
Every sustainable choice is a small victory. The goal is not to compete with others, but to improve my own habits and reduce my environmental impact.
Travelling from Amsterdam to Edinburgh has a major environmental impact because I have to fly. Flying is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Still, for an exchange semester, there is no realistic lower-carbon alternative. Since this is unavoidable, it gives me extra reason to reduce my environmental impact. Edinburgh is known for its extensive public transport network, many cycling routes, walkable city centre, and many green spaces, making it possible to make environmentally responsible choices in my daily life.
To win my own sustainability race, I came up with some ideas on how to get to 100 points each month.
– Cycle or walk to university every day. (SDG 3)
– Use utilities wisely: turn off the tap while brushing my teeth, turn off lights, take short showers, unplug electronics when not used, and keep the heat at a minimum. (SDG 6, 7)
– Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Use fewer resources, find new purposes for old items, and recycle according to Edinburgh’s waste collection system. (SDG 12, 13)
– Buy local products, for example at the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, and support sustainable businesses. (SDG 8)
– Learn about Scottish sustainability initiatives through museums, cultural events, university activities, and local organisations. (SDG 4)
– Reduce food waste. (SDG 2)
– Treat the climate with respect. Respect life on land and life below water by avoiding unnecessary waste and single-use plastics. (SDG 13, 14, 15)
– If I buy something new, I first ask myself whether I could borrow or buy it second-hand. (SDG 12)
Resources that will help me are the Vinted app, Too Good to Go app, Lothian Buses app, Recycle for Scotland website and the WWF Footprint calculator website.
By making adaptations in my everyday life and starting the game before my exchange department, I hope to minimise my environmental impact. Rather than seeing sustainability as a single action, I want it to become a lifelong habit. If I can consistently follow these rules throughout my time in Edinburgh, I will have won my own race!
