At an individual level, our pursuit of environmental sustainability can come through lifestyle changes. How we travel and dispose of our waste, what products we use, where we buy our food, and our energy usage are all areas in which we can make choices that contribute to a greener lifestyle. Here we will show you the different things you have at your disposal on campus and around Santa Barbara to make that a little bit easier.

It is helpful to understand which types of food and eating practices are best for the planet and for yourself. Eating more plants and less meat is great for the environment and you can easily find local vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants through websites and apps such as HappyCow and Vegan Maps. It's also helpful to shop local at farmer's markets, buy in-season produce and buy in bulk. There are also companies, such as Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market, that reduce food waste by selling imperfect foods that wouldn't be sold at grocery stores.

Incorporating sustainability into your personal care and wardrobe can be fun and impactful at the same time. If it's time to replace old makeup or tools, Ecotools and ELF are brands that use biodegradable and recycled materials both in their products and packaging. For your wardrobe, second-hand shopping is a great way to swap out unwanted pieces of clothing for unique ones. You can check out the best thrift stores around our campus here.

When discarding waste on campus, it is important to know what is recyclable, compostable, and what is real waste. On the UMN recycling page you can learn how to recycle on campus and keep an eye out for the color coded waste bins around the campus for your organics, paper, and plastic waste. A little effort towards using the correct bins can make a difference!

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