Do Your Part to Celebrate Earth Day at U of A

University Relations

Climate change can feel like an insurmountable challenge, but you can take action in your daily routine to have a positive impact.

"But I'm just one person," said 7.9 billion people. Integrating just one small habit into your daily routine can make a difference. Check out these suggestions from the Office of Sustainability to see what you can do to make your daily life more environmentally responsible.

Live Simply: The more you know, the less you need. Every product has an environmental footprint. The best way to reduce those negative externalities is to stop waste before it starts by prioritizing relationships and experiences over material goods.

Reduce: Avoid needless waste. It's easy and enjoyable to carry a reusable water bottle, use digital documents and turn down excessive packaging. None of these efforts have to be inconvenient but can make a real difference.

Pick up litter: Unfortunately, campus has litter escape trash cans on a daily basis. Lend a hand by picking up a few pieces of trash along your walk around campus. It doesn't require much extra time or effort. If we all do a little, campus could be pristine.

Think Beyond the Car: Choosing to commute without a car will keep money in your pocket, reduce traffic/parking headaches and keep you healthier without a gym membership. The Office for Sustainability has a Commuter Menu program that will lay out your options.

Help Others: Volunteering fosters empathy and understanding. There are countless great organizations around campus that are looking for helpful volunteers to tackle social and environmental challenges. Lend a hand at uark.givepulse.com.

Get Thrifty: Thrift stores are a great way to save money and dramatically reduce the environmental footprint of the textile industry (the second largest polluter in the world). Shopping and donating to thrift stores can give consumer goods a second or third life.

Vote With Your Dollar: Every purchase you make is an opportunity to vote for the world you want to live in. Voting in November is equally important, but your daily dollars spent are a chance to support local businesses, considerate people and responsible technologies.

Check Your Thermostat: On campus, heating and cooling our spaces consumes the most energy of any category. It doesn't have to be uncomfortable. Turning down the intensity on nights, weekends and holidays has a measurable impact on both campus consumption and your home utility bill.

Eat Lower on the Food Chain: Plant-based diets tend to have lower environmental footprint and can be healthier. You don't need to go full vegetarian or vegan to get these benefits. Consider just skipping meat sometimes or using it as more of a side dish rather than the main event. Chartwells has this great dining guide to help you out.

Clean Your Plate: Food waste is a serious problem from multiple perspectives. At the dining halls, start with small portions and go back for seconds or thirds if desired. Be respectful. A massive amount of effort has gone into producing that food and getting it to your plate.

If you're interested in learning more about what the U of A campus is doing around environmental sustainability, please take a look at the most recent U of A Sustainability Report. 

About the Office for Sustainability: The mission of the University of Arkansas Office for Sustainability is to motivate, facilitate, and coordinate responsible practices through partnerships with students, faculty, and staff across all campus departments. The Office for Sustainability uses the campus as a living laboratory by overseeing the implementation of the University of Arkansas environmental goals. These programs are part of the U of A Resiliency Center, hosted by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and are supported by UA Facilities Management.