The use of paper has a huge impact on the environment through increased deforestation and waste generation. Fortunately, the digitization of information offers new opportunities to study paperless and to be environmentally conscious.
In this blog, we explore some sustainable study habits you can adopt to reduce your carbon footprint and do your part for a greener planet.
Reuse first
An important step towards a sustainable lifestyle is to reuse what you already have at home. Instead of always buying new things, it's better to give the stuff you already own a second life.
There are several ways you can do this:
- To repair Think, for example, of restoring the cover of your notepads. In this way you extend the life of existing products and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
- Upcycling Do you like to be creative? Then consider to upcycle. Think of using old clothing to make a new tote bag or reusing glass jars as storage containers for school.
- To share You can also consider borrowing or sharing items rather than buying new. For example, you can share that expensive calculator with your friend: a profit for the planet and your wallet!
By reusing what you already have, you make a valuable contribution to a more sustainable society. It saves money, reduces waste and reduces the burden on precious resources. On the right track!
E-books a digitization
One of the most obvious ways to study paperless is by using e-books and digital resources.
The advantages
Instead of purchasing printed books and handouts, you can download electronic versions or access your school's online library. This way you prevent unnecessary paper from being lost, you save on ink consumption and you limit the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with the printing process.
In addition, digital resources often offer additional benefits, such as search functions,annotation capabilities and the ability to share notes with fellow students. By switching to e-books and digital resources, you can not only study sustainably, but also learn more efficiently.
Digital Resources
- Online bookstores
Popular online bookstores such as Amazon Kindle Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble in Google Play Books have an extensive collection of ebooks that you can purchase with the greatest of ease.
- The library
In addition to your school's online librariesoften you too local library ebooks. Usually you can register online as a member of a library and gain access to their digital collection.
- subscription services
There are also subscription services such as Scribd and Kindle Unlimited that offer unlimited ebooks and digital resources for a fixed monthly fee. If you read a lot, this option is definitely worth considering!
Online collaboration tools
Traditionally, group projects and collaborations often involved piles of paper documents and notes. Today, however, there are tons of online collaboration tools available that you can use to collaborate paperlessly and efficiently.
Platforms like Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, Miro and Trello enable you to share documents, assign tasks, and collaborate in real-time, all without paper.
By using these online collaboration tools you not only save paper, but also time and energy. You can easily track changes, provide feedback, and communicate with your team members wherever you are. In addition, you reduce the need for physical meetings, which is both time-saving and environmentally friendly - you don't have toso after all to travel less.
Sustainable study supplies
In addition to reducing the use of paper, you can also purchase eco-friendly study supplies to make your study habits more sustainable.
For example, choose reusable notebooks that you can erase and reuse instead of disposable paper. Brands that sell these notebooks are for example Bambook and Greenstory.
In addition, you can invest in a whiteboard or a chalkboard to take notes that you can erase later.
You can take notesuse of environmentally friendly pens and pencils made from recycled materials. Avoid plastic and choose instead recycled paper pens or bamboo enclosures.
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If you enjoyed this blog, we recommend you to also read the blogs below:
- "Going green: 8 habits for a sustainable lifestyle - Part 1" - https://www.byewaste.nl/post/going-green-8-habits-for-a-sustainable-lifestyle-pt-1
- Going green: 8 habits for a sustainable lifestyle - Part 2" - https://www.byewaste.nl/post/going-green-8-habits-for-a-sustainable-lifestyle-pt-2
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