10 Steps to Promote Sustainability on College Campuses

Environmental concerns may not be the top priority for most students. It's a sad fact,

but local ecosystems are always altered by human presence. With the way the environment is changing, society needs eco-innovation and a focus on sustainability more than ever.

Can one student make a difference in the way the world works? Well, each student who starts to change their habits to protect the environment will be able to make a real difference in the big picture, and that is what we aim for, making a difference all together in terms of sustainable living.

In this photo essay project, as three university students who strive to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our lives, we tried to demonstrate how a few minor changes may make our school habits more eco-friendly. Sustainable efforts are sometimes misunderstood to be far more difficult

to achieve than they actually are, but we are here attempting to prove otherwise with

10 basic steps we, as the students of Bilkent University, follow in our daily habits at school!

Cycle for Sustainable Transport!

Gizem Yılmaz rides her bicycle to Bilkent University from her house in Bilkent 2 Park Sitesi on days when the weather is not too cold since it is healthy, safe, and economical,

as well as environmentally beneficial and incredibly advantageous in terms of accessibility. Since bicycles do not require fuel to operate, they do not emit any smoke or toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. As a result, it reduces the detrimental impacts on both human health and urban living.

Protect Your Computer with Upcyled Laptop Sleeves!

I prefer a laptop cover recycled from waste textile fabrics rather than a leather material, and suggest: Why not use a more sustainable option that serves the same purpose when the production of leather causes the suffering of animals, climate change, and other serious issues? Fabrics that have been used or thrown away can also be used to make new things. If interested, this laptop sleeve is available on Unimportant Things website.

Choose Organic Menstrual Products
To Feel More Comfortable!

It is a scientific fact that periods can be painful. Especially at school,

we want to feel comfortable. We, Merve and Öykü, after meeting the products of Beije, feel much better. Thanks to its bamboo structure, it does not contain hypoallergenic or carcinogenic substances. Beije not only provide products such as organic pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, but they also provide many services, such as informative blog posts on its website, as well as a PMS support line. If you would like to give Beije a chance, we left a pad at the Bilkent FF building!

Notebooks with Voices: Choose Plant-Based Leather, Be Kind to Planet!

The material used in PREV's products is apple leather.

I like to keep my diary and school notes in these vegan notebooks since apple peels cut down on the effects of carbon dioxide more than fake leather made from fossil fuels. This brand which embraces the plant revolution with its visual appeal and slogans can be found online as Prev Shop!

Sustainable Water Solutions:

I use water treatment systems since they provide me with great convenience because of the amount of water I need at the time in school. I usually carry a cup or SuCo in my bag and fill it with water from water treatment devices. As a result, I continually avoid unnecessary plastic bottle trash, plus it is also economical!

From Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Pencil-Cases

I purchased this bag from 100% İstanbul, and I decided to use it as a pencil case. This company creates brand-new things out of recycled materials, including discarded food sacks, truck tarps, vintage fabrics, and old advertising posters to promote sustainability and upcycling.

Reusable Glass Straws

I carry a glass straw to school every day in case I need it. Even though there are very few businesses left that are still using plastic straws, they are a big part of the plastic waste since they cannot be recycled. Carrying a glass straw in your bag (no worries, it wouldn’t break) would decrease the risk of using a plastic straw to zero!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

After drinking my soda, I use recycle bins at the university. The rush of running to a class from another can make you skip small details like recycling, yet it’s the small details that lead to major changes. Using the RE-Bilkent recycling bins is much more effective in the terms of sustainability!

Glass Bottles To Keep You Hydrated All The Time!

Glass is 100% eternally recyclable, which is one of the key reasons it is environmentally friendly. These days when everyone reminds each other to keep hydrated, the usage of plastic bottles magnificently increases. 80 percent of the plastic water bottles we buy end up in landfills. Each bottle leaks harmful chemicals into our environment along the way as it decomposes. I eliminate all these problems by carrying a glass bottle with me and using the water treatment machines to refill my bottle!

Bring Your Own Thermos: Act Sustainable and Save Money!

At some places, such as Starbucks, it is encouraged to bring your own thermos since the single-use cups go to landfill. I usually go to FF Starbucks to buy coffee with my own thermos. Additionally, I take advantage of Starbucks' promises of a discount of 25 cents on every coffee preferred with a thermos.