Food

This is the topic that becomes more iffy to discuss as many find it controversial. When most people are at a grocery store or restaurant, they don't take the time to consider just how the food they are purchasing has made it to their plate. There is a lot to consider with this topic that deals intensely with energy, water, and waste.

• Most importantly, following a vegan, plant-based diet is the best thing individuals can do in terms of food to protect the health of the environment. Following a vegan diet can lower one's food carbon footprint by 73 percent. Plant-based diets reduce energy consumption, purify the air, cleans the soil, conserves water, and much, MUCH more. The leading cause of deforestation is animal agriculture. Large amounts of forest land are destroyed to raise cattle and even more land is transformed to grow soybeans to feed these cattle instead of feeding people. Plus, veggies are delicious!
• Completely shifting your diet and lifestyle is incredibly difficult so I always like to encourage people to try small changes instead of an all or nothing approach. Even eating plant-based half of the week would have major impacts on your health and the health of the planet. I encourage you to do whatever you are capable of.
• Try to purchase predominantly local foods. A lot of produce, like bananas, mangoes, avocados, and more, are grown internationally and shipped throughout the country. Shipping these goods consumes a large number of fossil fuels, releasing greenhouse gases and overall contributing to climate change. Consuming only local foods can be difficult but I encourage you to try shopping for them more and visiting local farmer's markets regularly. And if that isn't possible, always read labels at supermarkets and strive to purchase minimal internationally sourced goods/produce.
• BYOE - Bring your own everything. Visit grocery stores that have a bulk section where you can bring your own bags and jars to fill with a variety of goods, free of packaging! I have been doing this for a year and a half and it is so fun and fulfilling seeing my cart free of any and all plastic. 
• 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally every year. To prevent food waste as best you can in your own life, figure out what you actually need and will be able to consume before the expiration date whenever you go grocery shopping. Doing so will also save you money!
• Cook at home as much as possible. If you do eat out, it's a good idea to bring a tupperware with you for any leftovers to avoid the single-use container the restaurant would provide you with instead.
• Whenever you want to pack a snack to-go, pack it in tupperware or reusable ziploc bags to avoid using single-use plastic ziploc bags.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Here I'll mention a few more specifics about certain tips given throughout the blog separated by topic. Local resources to take advantage of in Ann Arbor:


Energy Conservation:

• Public transportation - With an Mcard, students can ride Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) buses free of charge. There are also public transportation services like the Michigan Flyer for rides to and from the Detroit Metro Airport. 

Waste Management:

• Composting sites can be found on campus in dining halls and in the DANA building. For more information on what can and cannot be composted, visit this page.
• Lithium-ion batteries can be taken to Washtenaw County's Home Toxics disposal site or a local Staples. More options can be found here.

Food:

• Shopping locally - 
• Ann Arbor Farmers Market
• Argus Farm Stop
• Westside Farmers Market - only from June 7 to September 27
• Pittsfield Township Farmers Market
• White Lotus Farms
• Vestergaard Farms - pasture-raised animal products
• Shopping in bulk -
• People's Food Co-op
• By the Pound
• HopCat - beer on tap

Waste Management

In 2017, the EPA found that Americans produced 267.8 million tonnes of solid waste of which 35.2% percent was recycled and another 52.1 percent was sent to landfills. Not all solid waste decomposes and even when it does, it contaminates the soil, air, and water. On top of that, there is a major pollution issue that reaches all ends of the globe, harming ecosystems and the species inhabiting them. There are five major offshore accumulation sites of trash, the largest being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) which covers a surface of 1.6 million square kilometers, equal to twice the size of Texas. While trying to consume more recyclable goods seems like a good idea, not even half of these goods end up being recycled. Here are some helpful tips to consider:

• Compost! Not all schools have a composting program but if the one you attend does, it is extremely feasible to collect organic waste and drop it off at a composting site. The easiest way to do this while avoiding the smell of rotting food is by keeping a large tupperware in the freezer and adding waste from fruits and vegetables to it over time, then taking it to a composting site when full. If your university doesn't have a composting program, your city might!
• Bring your own utensils - I always keep a set of utensils including a reusable straw in my bag. This can be as simple as grabbing a couple utensils from home and wrapping them in cloth. By doing so, you can avoid having to use single-use plastic utensils.
• Bring your own bag - the most obvious one. Opt out of plastic and paper bags by bringing your own to the grocery store, the mall, and anywhere else you plan to buy thins you will need a bag for. The best option is going to a second-hand store and purchasing cloth tote bags instead of buying plastic reusable bags that many grocery stores offer.
• Reusable bags for produce are also important. Usually, I just leave my produce free but for certain things like kale and other leafy greens, I like using a bag. Some can be purchased on Amazon or for a more ethical (but expensive) option there is this website and others.
• Bring your own cup - if you like to buy coffee every morning, bringing your own cup greatly reduces your consumption of single-use products. I encourage you all to make your coffee at home instead of doing this. Costco is one place where customers are able to get coffee beans in bulk, free of plastic packaging, and they have a grinder on-site for customers to make their own coffee grounds. One could then use a stovetop coffee maker or Moka pot to make their own coffee every morning with no waste created in the process.
• Whatever you do, AVOID using a Keurig.
• Reuse whenever possible. Before throwing out anything, consider the possibilities.
• Dispose of goods properly. Every city has different rules for the disposal of certain products. It is important to be informed on what can be thrown in the regular trash and recycling bins to avoid hazardous wase from entering landfills.
• VAPE PRODUCTS: this is one thing that I think about often. Too many people are depending on disposable vape products and end up throwing these devices into normal garbage cans as if the product isn't hazardous waste due to the nicotine residue inside and the lithium battery that powers it. Disposal of lithium-ion batteries varies by location so it is important to be wary of this. There are steps one should follow to recycle the cartridge of the disposable vape which I will link here.
• Avoid buying things you do not actually need. When you do have to replace something, try to find a biodegradable or sustainable alternative. 

https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

https://earth911.com/living-well-being/health/e-cigarettes/

Energy Conservation

Most of the energy we depend on comes from fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources that directly contribute to a major pollution problem. The best way to avert this is by using renewable energy sources but as a college student, this isn't exactly an option. Here are some relatively obvious yet simple solutions:

• Make sure to turn off all lights, fans, vents, etc when not in use
• If possible, switch to LED or other energy-efficient lightbulbs
• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Try to take less hot showers / use cold water while washing dishes and doing laundry
• If capable, choose the stairs over the elevator 
• Drive less. If you cannot get somewhere by walking, use public transportation or try to carpool
• Only print when absolutely necessary
• If you prefer taking notes on paper, opt for notebooks made of recycled materials (those with the highest post-consumer waste paper are best). Paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is also a great option. This is paper that is certified to have been sourced responsibly.

Water Conservation

Although 71% of the Earth is covered in water, only about 2.5% of it is fresh. Being cautious of our water consumption not only protects aquatic environments and slows the depletion of our water supply but also saves money in the long run. Here are a few simple things that can be done to minimize water consumption:

• Take shorter showers - this is the obvious one. The average American shower lasts eight minutes and consumes 2.5 gallons of water per minute. By reducing our daily showers by only a couple minutes, several gallons of water can be saved. 
•           For a less feasible option, one could replace their regular showerhead with one that has the "WaterSense" label. These showerheads use less than 2 gallons of water per minute.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
• Avoid doing frequent small loads of laundry and instead, try to do as much laundry in each load as possible on the quick wash setting to save water and energy.

https://www.epa.gov/watersense/showerheads

Welcome to the ~Future~

Hi, welcome to my blog! I'm Priscila and I am a sophomore at the University of Michigan majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in writing.
As we are in the midst of a climate crisis, sustainability has become an overused buzzword for products individuals can purchase or choices they can make to reduce their impact on the planet. As a college student who has been following an almost entirely plant-based diet for five years and has been working to reduce my overall impact on natural resources, I find myself in a significant position to influence my peers to try their best to do the same. It would be ignorant to claim that these singular choices can completely turn our present crisis around, but being a responsible and informed consumer is a crucial step in the journey toward environmental stability.
My goal with this blog is to offer college students simple tips and changes to daily lifestyle choices that have a profound, positive impact on the health of our planet. In doing so, I hope to raise and spread awareness on ways to tackle certain issues that are beneficial in the long run.
I do not expect every person to follow every tip. Every bit of change makes a large difference.
If you have any unique questions or comments, feel free to send me an email, post a comment, or turn to my *FAQs page!



*FAQs page updated as questions are received.