This project aligns exactly with my skills and experience. I communicate current green news and topics in a way that is informative, attractive, but most of all, relatable. Below is a short article I wrote for a blog. I can send you more technical writing samples if you need. Thank you.
Tips for Making College a Little Less Plastic:
1. Buy laundry detergent that comes in a box. It will be in powder form, which may not be what you are used to…but it’s exactly the same. Do the same with dishwasher detergent if you have a dishwasher.
2. If you’re a beer drinker, choose bottled beer. Most college bars will serve you beer in a plastic cup. If they serve it to you in a glass, go ahead and get the draft beer. If not, choose a bottled beer.
3. This goes for other drinks, too. Water, teas, and iced coffees are all available in glass bottles. When the situation presents itself, pick glass over plastic. Keep the bottle when you’re done, wash it, and reuse it. You can brew your own teas and coffee at home and sweeten them with natural sweeteners of your own. Fill the bottles with water and flavor them with slices of cucumber and strawberries. Yum.
4. School supplies should be paper. Folders, dividers, notebooks, should consist entirely of paper. Paper is great. It’s a renewable resource…unlike plastic. I know that paper school supplies probably won’t last as long as plastic ones, but the cost of something like a folder is so minimal, even a college girl can afford to buy a few.
5. Know the basics of a minimally-platic lifestyle- Cut the bottled water habit. Buy a water bottle or reuse the glass bottle from another drink. Use reusable shopping bags. Keep one rolled up in your school bag, purse, or car. Invest in a thermos or travel coffee/tea mug of some sort. You can save TONS of money by brewing your own coffee and tea at home and taking it to-go. And almost all coffee shops will give you a discount for bringing your own travel mug. Buy from bulk bins when you can. Things like granola, dried fruit, beans, rice, quinoa, and popcorn, can all be purchased from bulk bins. This will cut out the plastic used in packaging and will also save you money because you can buy the exact amount you want.
On a positive note…
Things you’re probably already doing to limit the plastic in your life…and I bet you didn’t even know it.
Getting your music online or from itunes. CDs are packaged in a lot of plastic.
Eating in at the diner or at home. This will save you money and limit the plastic used in to-go containers.
Buying used books. New books usually come wrapped in plastic.