We can all contribute to sustainability – regardless of age, location or job. Here are top tips for free and low-cost sustainability habits in your life.
Bentley Campus
Hop on the bus or train. Public transport is frequent, affordable, and free on Sundays! For students and staff coming to Curtin’s campus in Bentley, the 100 and 101 buses run every five minutes from Canning Bridge and Cannington stations during peak hours – check the timetables here.
Do you really need AI? Think before you prompt. AI has an enormous environmental footprint – AI tools require much more energy and water than traditional computing. Consider if a quick search could do the job.
Sustainable coffee. Bring your reusable cup, but if you forget you can borrow from the Guild cafe’s mug library! And remember that the place for disposable cups is the Simply Cups stations outside the Guild’s cafes.
Think twice before you bin. Tablet blister packs, batteries, beauty bottles and stationery can’t be recycled through your regular bin – but they can be at the Curtin Student Guild’s recycling hub, at TL Robertson Library Level 3. Visit the Recycle Right website or app to check what can be recycled in your area.
Community Connections
Join a sustainability club. Check out a sustainability-focused club, like Sustainability Collective at Curtin, Engineers without Borders and Enactus Curtin University. You can find more clubs at the Curtin Guild website.
Join the movement. Connect with a local sustainability group working on protecting nature, renewable energy, or climate change.Finding a community can help us feel more in control and make a positive difference.
Support equity, be a Curtin Ally – learn, support, speak up. Curtin’s Ally Program helps staff and students build inclusive communities. Students can join the Ally Program here. If you’re a Curtin staff member, check iPerform to find the next session.
Fix your problems – visit a repair café. A repair cafe can help fix that item that’s not quite right. Your local repair cafe will connect you with a volunteer with the repair skills your item needs. And if you’ve got the skills, how about volunteering at a repair session? Find your local repair cafe here.
Food habits
Good enough to eat. Australian food labels include either a ‘use by’ or a ‘best before’ date. ‘Use by’ means that it’s unsafe after the date. But ‘best before’ only means that the food may not be as fresh after that date – but there’s no need to discard it if it looks, smells and tastes fine.
Beautiful on the inside – don’t reject ‘ugly’ food. Up to 40% of fruit and vegetables are thrown away for cosmetic reasons. Choosing ‘ugly food’ brands will help prevent good food from going to landfill – and it’ll reduce your food bill too. A selection of ugly food is available through markets and major supermarkets. Learn how to be a ‘Food Waste Warrior’ here.
Shopping
Delay the upgrade. The environmental impact of minerals and the energy used to produce electronic devices is considerable. Hold off on replacing devices, or buy second-hand or refurbished, and look out for Curtin’s e-waste drop-off days to recycle.
Buck the trend and save on style. Australians discard an average of 23 kilograms of clothing every year, driven by the fast-fashion industry’s deliberate creation of short-term trends. Buy timeless pieces from second-hand stores and stick to just a few items that are the trend of the moment. Read Clean Up Australia’s information about sustainable fashion vs fast fashion here.
Fashion that doesn’t cost the Earth – natural fabrics. Synthetic fibres are made with plastic, which is released when clothes are washed. Instead, choose natural materials, or use guppy bags to catch plastic particles.Read more about microplastics in garments here.
Making room for nature
Start re-wilding. Plant native species to support native bees, reduce water use and build urban biodiversity. Even a few outdoor pot plants will bring life to your neighbourhood.
Create a bird bath. Help wildlife find water during rising temperatures by placing a bird bath outside. It doesn’t have to be fancy. ABC’s Gardening Australia show’s how easy it is to reuse a container.
