Now in my 2nd year having lived both in BT9 and rented accommodation, I have seen the varying degrees of success in how we can help the environment at home. Here are a few ideas which are easy to implement as a student and will save you money too!

Second hand shopping

This is one of my personal favourites and is easy to do. Belfast is full of charity shops, along Botanic, Lisburn Road and in the city centre. If you need an item, go and check out the charity shops to see if they have it. Having a wander down Botanic with friends while thrifting can be a great way to spend a couple hours.

Charity shops often have random knick-knacks which can be great for presents and often have unique pieces and lots of items that are brand new.

Second hand shopping is cheaper and challenges fast fashion which is contributing negatively to the environment, and the money goes to charity.

Be more thrifty!

Online apps to buy and sell second hand include the obvious Vinted and Depop and also Thrift Plus where you can donate clothes and get credits to buy new ones too.

My favourite charity shops in Belfast are the British Red Cross shop vintage and retro and the Cancer Research charity shop on Botanic.

On that note, I was in the SU recently where a clothes swap was taking place!

This was a pop up where people were able to clothes swap or buy second hand pieces at cheap prices. Keep an eye out for events like this!

Clothes swap organised by Enactus

Food glorious food…

One massive way we can help the environment is reducing food waste. This is a classic one but there are ways this can be fun.

Food apps like TooGoodToGo and Olio allow you to collect left-over food. TooGoodToGo has restaurants like Boojum, Yo Sushi, Greggs, Caffè Nero and many more where you can collect food in the middle or at end of the day that won’t be eaten at a slashed price!

Olio is where people pick up leftover food from supermarkets like Tesco and Iceland and list the food for you to collect for free as well as list household items people are giving away. 

TooGoodToGo can be fun as you can get a bargain at some of your favourite places. Who doesn’t love a reduced Boojum!

^{Enjoying a cheeky boojum with limitless toppings for only £3.99!}

Free food… (yes, you read that right)

If you are running out of the essentials like pasta, spices and oats, head to The Pantry in the SU.

This is designed to promote sustainability - getting rid of unnecessary plastic packaging and helping students get the basics for free.

^{The Pantry in the SU}

Student life = pasta so why not get it for free and help the environment and yourself at the same time? 

Also, a hack for BT9ers…in BT9 there is a community fridge in the Treehouse where unwanted food is placed for people to take - go check that out!

Reduce your carbon footprint!

It goes without saying, if you can walk to where you want to go - do so. If you normally use the car - is there a convenient bus or train you can get?

^{Rent a bike and explore the city}

For a bit of fun but also practicality, check out Belfast Bikes! Me and my friend downloaded the app and went on a bike ride. With stations all over Belfast, this can be a fun afternoon but also a cheaper alternative to cycle to where you want to go!

As with any adventure cycling, it can also be an excuse to treat yourself after to some food (as you can see here)…

^{Mackles in Cathedral Quarter}

Give up some free time to be green

Queen's offers a lot of volunteering opportunities, and many are to do with the environment.

Queen's Sustainability hosts programmes, events, and campaigns where you can get involved and help the local community and the environment. This is a start to making a difference if you have some spare time. You can help at the BT9 community allotment for example by reaching out to the residential life team.

^{Find out more about how Queen's is working towards being Net-Zero}

Learn all about Queen's initiatives and how you get involved here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/sustainability/

Being an eco-warrior starts at home

One way to help the environment and make a big difference is separating the rubbish. In BT2 and BT1, different bins are clearly labelled. In BT9 this is more difficult but you can set up different bags and assign what goes in where with your flat mates.

In student housing, only one bin is provided inside so my flatmates and I got these bags off Amazon to help with dividing the rubbish! You don’t even need to buy any, you can also just label plastic bags.

^{Try to separate your recyclables}

Putting rubbish in the correct place is something you can do every day that makes a big difference.

Want a big lifestyle change? Go veggie… My personal experience so far from a foodie!

Now, obviously this is a massive one. I am an avid foodie; I love going out for food and I also love cooking. I could not have imagined giving up chicken, EVER! I had considered going vegetarian before but did not believe one person could make a difference.

However, recently I watched two shows (Cowspiracy and You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment), and this changed my perspective. I was aware of how meat contributes to climate change and the stats but until I watched visually, I did not fully realise the extent of this.

^{A lifestyle change can make a big difference}

Obviously, this is a massive lifestyle change and seems far-fetched, which I originally thought too. Start by watching the shows and thinking about agricultural effects on the environment and then maybe start with a slow transition or a few more veggie dishes a week. Or just watching the shows and learning about the issue! I’d really recommend.

These few steps can be practical and achievable to implement into your everyday life. From shopping second hand to using food waste apps and going to the SU Pantry, it is easier than you think to be green at Queen's and help the environment as a student!

Find out more

Sustainability at Queen's

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Study French and International Relations

Jadzia Armstrong  French and International Relations| Undergraduate Student | England Hey! I am a 2nd year French and International Relations student from Nottingham, England. I am involved in various societies such as QUB Paddlesports, French and Politics. I also take part in weekly Italian classes at the Language Centre. In my free time you'll probably find me drinking hot chocolate in various cafés with friends!