Everyday Sustainability

Wide shot overlooking lower campus facing redpath museum with students sitting on hill in background

While the bulk of sustainability work must be done through collective action to push the slow moving gears of institutions towards more sustainable practices, individual behaviour changes are also necessary to lessen our environmental impact. Below you will find a short list of practices you can perform in your everyday life at McGill to live more sustainably. Individual actions such as these are important steps in creating a sustainable community and can inspire a sense of agency and empowerment to sustain our organized efforts!

Tips for Sustainability on Campus:

  1. Bring reusable containers and mugs with you to McGill dining halls and receive a discount! Reusable containers are available at all Rez cafeterias.
  2. Buy less packaged foods and more products from local shops and markets. The McGill Farmers’ Market is a weekly fall market that features a range of foods from local suppliers and McGill-run farms!
  3. Limit your meat intake to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your health! All dining halls at McGill offer Meatless Mondays options for $6!
  4. Part of sustainability is also taking care of yourself. Remember to maintain a balanced lifestyle by making time for exercise, sleep, healthy meals, your social support networks, and your academic responsibilities.  You can stop by one of the McGill Spin Bike Gardens for five minutes as a great starting point!
  5. Avoid driving and try biking to campus! The Flat, located in the basement of SSMU, is a welcoming bicycle repair workspace that encourages cycling by sharing knowledge and tools.
  6. Join clubs and groups putting pressure on institutions to move towards sustainable practices. Your voice is important! This is your chance to turn individual action into collective action.
  7. Find and post offers for secondhand goods, like clothing and textbooks, on dedicated Facebook groups (such as the Clothing Exchange group and Book Exchange group) or other sites (such as the SSMU Marketplace). 
  8. Bring your used electronics to the Shatner (SSMU) Building to be recycled. Smalls electronics can be placed in the Electrobac box on the first floor.

 

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