sustainable Buffs

A sustainable guide to thrifting

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 16:48:31 +0000

A sustainable guide to thrifting Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:48

Lauren Mullen and Kate Huun

Thrifting goes hand in hand with a sustainable lifestyle. With Americans throwing away over 13 million tons of clothing each year, fast fashion and overconsumption lead to excess waste in landfills, carbon emissions from textile manufacturing and depletion of resources. Thrifting promotes sustainability by diverting clothing from landfills for reuse. You can participate in thrifting by donating unwanted clothing and purchasing used clothing instead of buying new.

The importance of thrifting for sustainability

Less clothing in landfills: Most clothes are made from synthetic materials, which take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. When you thrift, you help extend the life of clothes, which can reduce the volume of clothing sent to landfills each year.
Fewer wasted resources: Making clothes takes a lot of water. One pair of jeans is estimated to use about 1,800 gallons of water in the manufacturing process and cotton growth. Thrifting keeps clothing in use for longer, which can help limit wasted resources through decreased demand for new products.
Reduce chemical pollution: Most cotton used to make clothing is genetically modified, which means the growing process is pesticide-intensive. Pesticides can lead to soil acidification and water contamination. Textile manufacturing can also involve harmful dyes and crude oil by-products. The environmental risk increases when excess chemicals leak into areas surrounding the manufacturing facilities, which can contaminate surface and groundwater.

The benefits of thrifting for consumers

Thrifting benefits not only the environment but also consumers. Here are ways you can benefit by participating in thrifting.

Save money: You can save money by purchasing secondhand clothing. Thrift stores often have much lower prices than buying new items.
Update your style: Thrifting offers a wide variety of clothing types and styles to help you develop a unique and functional wardrobe.
Lower-cost luxury: Thrift stores often have vintage items or designer products at a fraction of the initial cost. You can elevate your wardrobe on a budget.
Social responsibility: You can feel good about disposing of unwanted clothing by donating to a thrift store instead of throwing items away.

Alternatives to thrifting

Thrifting isn’t the only way to keep unwanted clothing out of landfills. The EPA estimates that 84% of donated clothing ends up in landfills and incinerators. When donating, consider whether the items are functional to avoid passing the burden of disposal on to others. Here are other ways to give your clothing a second life.

Make a trade: Plan a clothing swap with your friends, residence hall, student organization or another group.
Alternative donations: Donate directly to those in need, like to a homeless center or domestic violence shelter. Often, these organizations have information on their websites about how or where to donate.
Repair and repurpose: If you have clothing that isn’t in good condition, consider making repairs or reusing the item for a different purpose. For example, you can use old T-shirts as cleaning cloths.
Make it last: Save and store unique items that you may not wear regularly to use for costumes or theme parties.

Things to keep in mind before going thrifting

It’s easy to over-buy when thrifting due to cheaper prices. However, buying things you don’t need just continues the waste cycle. Make sure nothing you purchase ends up back in the donation box. Before you buy an item, consider the following:

Would I buy this if it were brand new?
Do I have things in my closet that I can wear with this?
If I plan to repair an item, do I have the time and materials to do so?
Do I have something like this in my closet already?
Will this fit me? (size, style, etc.)

Start thrifting

Boulder has many local thrift stores within walking distance of campus. Check out this map of thrift stores in the Boulder area.

Behaviors like thrifting instead of buying new can positively impact our environment. Join the Sustainable Buffs community to get more involved.

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Valerie Padilla — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:36:11 +0000

Test article Valerie Padilla Mon, 10/07/2024 - 09:36

Testing for related

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Sustainable Halloween ideas

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 19:53:08 +0000

Sustainable Halloween ideas Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 10/06/2024 - 13:53

Celeste Robinson and Karlie Conzachi

Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. However, the excitement of the holiday can make it easy to ignore zero waste and sustainable habits as you decorate and celebrate. Costumes are often bought specifically for the holiday and then never worn again. And candy comes in small, individually wrapped pieces, which produce much waste that is not recyclable. Halloween can be a time to celebrate and have fun. Yet, with some planning and intention, you can make choices that protect our environment. Here are ways to enjoy Halloween sustainably.

Costumes

Buy or make costumes from local thrift stores. Often, thrift stores bring out items specifically for Halloween, making it easy to find costumes. Shopping at thrift stores is also typically cheaper than buying a premade costume.
If you’re not thrifting your costumes, buy reusable costumes like an animal onesie or other items you may wear again.
There are also costume rental services, so you can get the exact costume you want without buying it for only one occasion.
You can make your costumes. Homemade costumes often use cardboard, clothing you already have or scrap fabric. You can reuse or repurpose materials and spend less money on your costume this Halloween.

Treats

Choose candy to hand out that has paper packaging (like nerds, pixie sticks, etc.)
Choose candy with aluminum foil packaging (like Hershey’s kisses)
Both paper and aluminum foil are recyclable, whereas candies wrapped in plastic are not. While it seems like a slight difference, so much candy is handed out and produced for Halloween that this subtle difference can have a significant impact.
While making treats to hand out on Halloween produces the least waste, this may not be feasible for trick-or-treaters. However, if you're getting treats to hand out to close friends and family, make treats like cookies or homemade candy.

Decorations

Keep decorations simple.
Instead of fake spider webs and plastic spiders, stick to the classics and put a carved pumpkin on the front porch. Pumpkins are entirely biodegradable, and it is fun to carve them with your friends or family. You can roast the seeds to make a delicious and nutritious snack.
Choose better quality decorations that you can reuse each year. If you decide not to store your decorations for the future, consider donating them to a thrift store.
Get creative and decorate your house using things you already own. Look for ideas online or plan a DIY night with friends. This way, you don’t have to buy anything new, and you don’t have to throw anything away after the holiday.

The positive impact of a sustainable Halloween

There are many habits you can choose to make this Halloween season more sustainable. As we continue to learn and become more eco-conscious as a community, we also continue to grow as individuals and figure out the impact of our actions. Advocating for sustainable practices goes much further than protecting wildlife and our environment. Being sustainable encompasses us and how our interactions with one another can impact our future generations and human life. When you end up composting your locally bought pumpkin, thrifting and reusing clothing or decorations, you benefit yourself, others and the environment.

During this Halloween season, we encourage you to be mindful of how you can implement sustainable practices into your life. Sustainability can look like saving money and reducing waste when celebrating Halloween this year.

Halloween kicks off the holiday season, but with a little planning, you can celebrate sustainably by reducing costume waste, avoiding non-recyclable candy wrappers, and making eco-friendly choices.

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CU Boulder Diverts the Weight of 50 Ralphies in Recycling During Move-In Week 2024

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:30:35 +0000

CU Boulder Diverts the Weight of 50 Ralphies in Recycling During Move-In Week 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/05/2024 - 09:30

This year, the CU Boulder Zero Waste Program provided recycling and composting services for over 20 welcome events. The largest of these events included the Buffs home football opener and WelcomeFest, where we coordinated the donation of over 70 leftover meals. Over 9,500 students moved into the residence halls of CU this year. CU Recycling diverted 13 tons of cardboard, 12 tons of mixed recycling, and specialty items like film plastic and Styrofoam. Additionally, CU staff led three tours of our campus recycling center and two tours of our Zero Waste football stadium for over 150 incoming students.

These results are due to the dedicated efforts of staff and students in the CU Environmental Center, Facilities Management, Housing Facilities, Residence Life, and volunteers from across campus. During move in week, facilities crews can empty cardboard dumpsters as many as seven times during a 12-hour day. Despite broken golf carts and erratic weather student staff diverted 50,000 pounds of recycling from the landfill in five days—equivalent to the weight of 50 Ralphies, CU Boulder’s beloved 1,000-pound buffalo mascot! This is one example of what being a Sustainable Buff looks like. Every student, staff and faculty member on campus can join the herd as a Sustainable buff when they recycling right and reducing their waste. If you are not sure how to start your journey into sustainability, don’t worry- sign the Sustainable Buffs Pledge and get all the information you need straight to your email.

Lessons learned looking back:

Prioritizing reuse and focusing on waste reduction holds the greatest potential for advancing to the circular economy model and can create a zero waste society quicker than recycling alone.

In May, CU Recycling donated over 42,000 pounds of clothing, furniture, food, textbooks and other usable items from students moving out of the residence halls during our annual Give and Go Donation Drive. Many of the items collected from this event go back to the local community, items like hangers, mirrors, and fans are stored by residence halls to be redistributed to those who arrive in the fall.
Students living on campus can reduce their impact and be a Sustainable Buff by buying thrifted goods, using a summer storage program, taking items with them when they move and donating what they cannot take with them.

Ready to take action?!
To learn more about how you can participate in CU Recycling, check out these Boulder County resources:

Boulder County Recycling Center

Eco-Cycle A-Z Guide

CU Boulder’s Zero Waste Program helped divert over 50,000 pounds of recycling from landfills during move-in week—equivalent to the weight of 50 Ralphies—proving that every Sustainable Buff makes a difference.

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Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:28:40 +0000

Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/12/2024 - 13:28

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to do something nice for anyone in your life you appreciate! As you celebrate, remember to keep sustainability in mind.

Why leave the planet out?

Valentine’s Day is heavily commercialized, with stores carrying a wide array of chocolates, cards, flowers and stuffed animals. While many people enjoy exchanging gifts, the environmental impacts are lofty. According to a video by Waste 360, on Valentine’s Day, U.S. citizens buy:

36 million heart-shaped boxes.
180 million cards.
198 million roses.
881 thousand bottles of sparkling wine.
58 million pounds of chocolate.

The environmental impact adds up to more carbon emissions than would be created from driving around the world 3,993 times. That’s not a reason to swear off the holiday altogether. It’s just a big incentive to celebrate more sustainably. Here are ideas for zero-waste gifts this Valentine’s Day.

Make your own card

Sure, it’s easy to buy a card at the grocery store. But while those pre-made slogans and heartfelt messages look nice, they lack originality and thoughtfulness. You don’t have to be artistic to make your own card; colored pencils and paper are enough. And if you’re still doubting your abilities, websites like Canva have online card creators you can use to personalize and print out cards in five minutes or less. Making a card cuts down on the paper waste produced by card companies and hopefully will create less demand for premade cards in the future.

Bake your own desserts

Often, a hand-made dessert will be more appreciated than a box of chocolates from the store. There are a ton of cookie recipes online that use five ingredients or less. Plus, baking can be therapeutic in and of itself, not to mention a bonding experience if done with others.

Make your own candle

Everyone likes getting candles. You can take a zero-waste spin on this classic gift by making someone an entirely hand-made candle. The three primary materials you need are soy wax, a wick and a vessel for the candle. Soy wax is a great, 100% natural and biodegradable alternative to other candle wax, such as paraffin, which has a more considerable environmental impact. On top of that, you can reuse any container you want in the process. You can use mason jars, metal tins, fun glasses from a thrift store and even halved lemon peels.

Make your own blanket

It’s surprisingly simple to finger-knit a blanket. You can learn to make the blanket in less than two hours using your own two hands and approximately five to seven skeins of chunky yarn. You can pick whatever color scheme you want for a cozy and cute homemade gift.

Buy sustainable options

If you don’t want to give homemade gifts, you can still choose a better present for the environment. Purchase fair trade chocolate. Look for the fair trade symbol on the packaging. Fair trade means that workers are paid fairly, have safer working conditions and have more rights.

Give ethically sourced jewelry. Unethical gemstone mining can cause soil erosion and deforestation. By going the extra mile to uncover the history of the products you buy, you can stand up against these harmful practices.

Skip the commercial flowers

Flowers are one of the most visible and well-known Valentine's Day gifts. In the U.S., 80% of cut flowers are imported from foreign countries. The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates that flights importing flowers “burn approximately 114 million liters of fuel, emitting approximately 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.” Once the flowers make it to America, they are transported to stores using refrigerated trucks, which use 25% more fuel than non-refrigerated trucks. These trucks also use diesel fuel, which produces more emissions than gasoline-fueled trucks.

Instead, buy local. Several local Boulder florists grow their flowers or are part of a local collective that allows them to source flowers from different florists or growers within the state.

Zero-waste date ideas

The best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably is to plan for unique experiences. There are many options for dates that are fun while still being environmentally friendly.

Spend time in nature. Go on a hike or a short walk at sunset to appreciate nature together. You can also have a fun photoshoot outdoors in pretty scenery, with the bonus of having a way to remember the day forever.
Go ice skating. It’s a fun winter staple activity and an excuse to hold hands.
Candlelit dinner at home. You will have more privacy and more options than in a restaurant when you do it yourself.
Movie night. Stay in and watch a romantic movie for a relaxing and cozy holiday.

Choose to celebrate sustainability

Holidays don’t have to mean going over your budget or harming the environment. You can find creative ways to recognize the special people in your life.

If you want to learn more about how to live sustainably, check out the Environmental Center website.

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Recycling contamination

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:13:34 +0000

Recycling contamination Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:13

Kate Huun and Lauren Mullen

Recycling is a tricky process that takes practice and vigilance since guidelines are often changing. According to EcoCycle, Boulder’s recycling company, there are some items that regularly contaminate their recycling machines. On campus, the Grounds and Recycling Operations Center (GROC) sorts through recycling to process them and ensure their longest and best use. Here are some common contaminants and why these items need to stay out of our recycling bins.

Plastic bags

Recycling facilities cannot handle plastic bags because they jam the processing equipment and can cause the entire recycling facility to shut down. Some recycling facilities have scheduled time daily to clear out plastic bags from the machinery since this contaminant is so common and damaging.

What you can do with plastic bags:

Reuse them.
Recycle them at CHaRM in Boulder.
Drop them off at participating grocery stores that accept used bags.
Throw them into the landfill. Although these bags will sit in this landfill for years, it is a better option than clogging recycling equipment.
The best option is to avoid plastic bags altogether. Plus, Colorado state law mandates that stores charge customers for plastic bags.

Shredded paper

This type of paper is too small to sort, and the pieces fall between the cracks of sorting machines, stick to the belts and make a mess on the floor. Follow these guidelines for disposing of shredded paper on campus.

Scrap metal

Pieces of scrap metal of any size can cause significant damage to recycling equipment. Similar to plastic bags, you can take pieces of scrap metal to CHaRM in Boulder.

Hazardous waste

You can take paint, automotive fluids, car batteries and pesticides to the Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Hazardous waste includes anything that can poison, corrode, explode or burst into flame when mishandled. Do not dispose of hazardous waste in the trash, down the drain or onto the ground since these disposal methods could lead to health and environmental problems.

Did you know vapes and other nicotine products are also considered hazardous waste? Stop by drop boxes on campus at the University Memorial Center on the first floor across from Starbucks or at the West Boulder Recycling Center on 63rd Street to properly dispose of vapes and other nicotine products.

Non-recyclable plastics

Determining which plastics to recycle can be tricky. Plastic lids, chip bags, Styrofoam and other plastics not listed in EcoCycle’s recycling guidelines are not recyclable in your curbside bin or on campus because facilities aren’t able to implement systems to recycle them. These types of products must go to landfills, which means you can throw them away.

Flattened containers

Single-stream equipment separates “flats” (like paper) from “round” objects (like containers). With flattened containers, the equipment may mistakenly send them to the wrong side of the facility and contaminate the process. You can help recycling facilities’ sorting process by avoiding flattening materials like cans, plastics and other non-paper or non-cardboard goods.

Caps and lids

Previously, recycling facilities could not recycle lids and caps. Updated guidelines now allow for plastic cap recycling. Here are some things to know if you want to recycle caps and lids.

For plastic bottles or jars, follow these guidelines:

Empty all liquids and rinse the containers.
Screw the cap back on and put it all in the bin.
Large yogurt lids can go in the bin with their container or by themselves.
Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash.

For glass bottles or jars, follow these guidelines:

Empty all liquids and rinse the containers.
Remove all metal and plastic lids from glass bottles and jars before recycling.
Put metal lids into bin by themselves.
Loose plastic lids should be put in the trash.

Liquids

When recycling bottles and jars, empty and rinse all containers before throwing them in the recycling bin. Removing the liquid helps recycling facilities work more efficiently since they don’t have to stop and clean up sticky, smelly messes.

Frozen food boxes

Frozen food boxes are made from paper that uses plastic resin to protect the food from freezer burn. Recycling facilities cannot separate this plastic from the paper before it enters the pulping process. If you have these types of boxes, opt to throw them in the trash instead of the recycling bin.

Wrappers and packets

Wrappers are made of a mix of materials, including cellophane, plastics and aluminum. Therefore, recycling facilities cannot effectively recycle these items. However, some companies use candy and chip wrappers to create new products such as bags and home decor.

Ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors

Most waste facilities cannot melt ceramics, Pyrex or mirrors. You should throw broken plates, other broken ceramics, Pyrex and mirrors in the trash since they can contaminate the glass stream in recycling facilities. If your ceramic dishes, Pyrex and mirrors are reusable, donate them to a local charity or donation center.

Compost

Items that you can compost cannot be recycled. Keep compostable items out of recycling bins, including compostable cutlery, cups, etc. CU Boulder Facilities Management and Dining Services composts food scraps and yard waste. People living in Boulder can also compost food scraps and yard waste in curbside bins. However, due to changes in composting guidelines, items like paper and compostable plastics are not accepted in Boulder.

Learn more about recycling contamination

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Campus and community compost information

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:00:46 +0000

Campus and community compost information Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:00

Putting compostable items in the compost bin instead of the trash can is one of the easiest and most effective first steps you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—specifically methane, which is generated when our food and yard waste is landfilled.

Composting also produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment that restores farmland and promotes sustainable agriculture. However, when we put items into our compost bin, we must make sure that what we put in is actually compostable in order to create compost that can be used by farmers and gardeners.

A1 Organics—the Front Range community’s compost processor—changed the types of materials it will accept in April 2023. The company limited compostable materials to food scraps and yard waste only, a change that impacts communities including Denver, Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Arvada.

What you can compost

As of April 1, 2023, A1 Organics no longer accepts previously compostable materials such as napkins, paper towels or serviceware labeled as “compostable.” CU Boulder’s Infrastructure & Sustainability, Environmental Center, Housing Facilities, Campus Dining Services and Athletics departments are exploring ways to minimize impacts to campus’s progress toward zero waste goals, but we are still operating under county conditions

Where you can compost

CU Boulder continues to compost food waste through Campus Dining Services and plant material through Facilities Management and Housing Facilities. A1 Organics still accepts our back-of-house compost from dining and facilities, which make up 80% of our compost load. The majority of our compost has continued to be composted despite A1 Organics’s guideline changes.

However, since consumer-facing compost bins were removed from campus buildings when this change was established, we are now working to reintroduce options for campus community members who would like to collect food scraps for composting in their building or residence hall. If you live or work on campus, and would like to participate in a campus composting pilot, please fill out this form today! We have a limited number of food waste collection bins available in various locations across campus for people who sign up to participate in the pilot!

For campus community members who live off campus or frequent off-campus locations, Boulder County published a composting changes FAQ explaining how A1 Organics’ changes will impact trash collection in the surrounding Boulder community. For campus community members who live outside of Boulder County, Eco-Cycle published composting guidelines for the Front Range region.

Learn the do's and don'ts of campus composting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure proper composting of food and yard waste, and participate in CU Boulder’s efforts to reintroduce composting options after changes to A1 Organics’ accepted materials.

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Ways to celebrate Earth Day

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:48:58 +0000

Ways to celebrate Earth Day Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:48

Earth Day began in 1970 as more people in the United States and across the globe became aware of the environmental impact caused by humans. Before the 1970’s, many people considered air and water pollution a normal and expected part of life. Celebrating Earth Day each year is vital because it recognizes the harm caused to the environment while showing support across the globe for protecting the Earth. You can take steps this Earth Day to support sustainability through your own collective and individual actions.

How to contribute to Earth Day every day

You can be a part of Earth Day by coming together with the CU Boulder community to protect our planet. Whether you are on campus or not, you can get involved and make a difference in numerous ways. Here are some of the ways you can participate in Earth Day today and every day.

Participate in advocacy: One of the best ways to make a difference is through advocacy. You can sign petitions and participate in Earth Day events on campus and in your community. You can also write to your local, state and national officials. Ask them to support legislation that protects our planet.
Sustainable fashion: Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment by increasing clothing waste and pollution from textile production. Donate or sell your unwanted clothing instead of throwing items away to reduce waste and give your clothes a new life. You can also make an impact by shopping at thrift stores, buying fewer new clothing items and supporting brands that intentionally support sustainability in their production processes.
Take part in a community or global cleanup: The Environmental Center hosts events to support sustainability locally, like their Boulder Creek cleanup and the annual Campus Sustainability Summit. If you're not in Boulder, you can search for cleanup opportunities in your area or connect with a local organization to offer your support.
Make your next meal plant-based: Choosing more plant-based meals can help lower carbon emissions and reduce the impact of food production on the environment. Transition your breakfast, lunch or dinner to plant-based options and look for plant-based meals at the dining halls on campus. While you can opt for a fully vegan diet, choosing one plant-based meal a day can still have an impact.
Get inspired: Explore ways to take action and make a difference throughout the year. A few standout ideas include picking up trash while you run (hello, plogging), switching to reusable bags, meal prepping and growing a container garden on your patio.
Join the CU community via the AWorld App: The AWorld app supports the United Nations ActNow campaign, encouraging individual action on climate change. Once you download the app, you can join the CU community to track your sustainable actions. Actions include daily tasks like meditating, eating a vegetarian or vegan meal, carpooling or taking public transportation.

Remember, every small action adds up to make a significant impact. Let's work together to create a sustainable future for generations to come. These are just a few examples of how you can make a difference.

The impacts of Earth Day

Since its inception, Earth Day has continued to grow and increase awareness of environmental issues and the actions people can take to support sustainability.

Just one year after the first Earth Day, 25% of Americans believed protecting the environment was important.
In the years that followed, many national environmental policies passed, including:
The Clean Air Act
The Water Quality Improvement Act
The Endangered Species Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, following the first Earth Day marches.
Earth Day celebrations every April 22 continue to make an impact across the globe.

The importance of Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual reminder that climate change has a major impact on our planet, our lives and our future. It can also increase awareness and drives change. Earth Day continues to evolve and add value to sustainability movements across the globe.

Earth Day provides a day to focus on education about environmental issues affecting our planet.
Demonstrations on Earth Day help signal to government representatives the importance of environmental issues to their constituents.
Earth Day sets aside a day each year to reflect on the significance of the planet's health and what we can all do to positively impact our environment.
Earth Day has influenced major national policy in the past and will continue to do so.

The history of Earth Day

Author Rachel Caron released her book Silent Spring in 1962. The book brought attention to how the use of harmful chemicals, such as DDT, caused everlasting damage to wildlife, nature and people, and it called for humans to act responsibly as stewards of the living earth.

Caron’s book motivated Junior Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to create Earth Day. He selected April 22 because it fell perfectly between spring break and final exams and would allow space for college students to get involved.

On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million people gathered at schools, universities and community centers across the U.S. to host inaugural events that brought awareness to the need for more environmental laws. These events also brought attention to a wide variety of environmental issues.

Denis Hayes, who helped organize the first Earth Day with Gaylord Nelson, went on to found the Earth Day Network, which spread Earth Day internationally, helping organize events in over 141 countries.

Earth Day Monumental Moments:

1970: First Earth Day celebrated.
1990: Twentieth anniversary, an estimated 200 million people in over 141 countries celebrate.
2010: Fortieth anniversary, an estimated 1 billion people worldwide gathered to celebrate.
2020: Fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, in-person events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but people globally celebrated via social media.

Want to learn more? Check out the official Earth Day website for more information on the history of Earth Day, different projects you can participate in and simple ways to change the planet. You can also connect with the Environmental Center to learn ways to get involved.

April 22 is only one day each year, but you can treat every day like Earth Day!

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Ways to reduce food waste

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:42:08 +0000

Ways to reduce food waste Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:42

In the United States, 103 million tons of food are wasted annually, with the average person generating one pound of food waste daily. Food waste includes any edible food that is discarded instead of being consumed.

While often discussed in climate change conversations, reducing food waste also impacts other areas of life. By intentionally decreasing food waste, you can save money and consume better-quality foods. Here is information about food waste and how to reduce it.

Top wasted foods

Bread, milk and potatoes are the top foods typically thrown out each year. Keep this in mind when grocery shopping. Buy only what you need or can use before it goes bad. It can be helpful to also plan meals around the items you already have on hand rather than going to the store for more.

Expiration dates

One reason Americans waste so much food is due to misunderstanding expiration dates. The "best if used by" date refers to when a product will be at peak flavor or quality, while the "sell by" date tells the store how long they can display the product for sale. The "use by" date is the last date recommended to consume the product at peak quality. The "freeze by" date indicates when to freeze a product to maintain peak flavor or quality.

Composting

When you need to toss out food, consider composting it instead. The campus composting policy has recently changed due to changes with the composting service provider. Only food scraps and yard or plant trimmings are compostable on campus. Food scraps include bread, bones, cheese, eggshells, coffee grounds and produce. Yard and plant trimmings include leaves, twigs, flowers and grass.

Shop smarter

Before you grocery shop, take time to get organized. Make a weekly meal plan and only buy the foods you need to cover your planned meals and snacks. Create a shopping list to keep you on track at the store. This not only helps prevent food waste but can also help you save money. If you have leftover food, consider creative ways to incorporate those items into your daily meals and snacks or freeze leftovers to use later. Check out more meal planning tips.

Use foods in season

When you plan meals, consider items that are in season. There are many benefits to getting foods that are fresh and local. They taste better, have higher nutritional value and are more environmentally friendly. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has an easy-to-use guide that can help you pick local fruits and vegetables based on the season.

Find creative ways to save your food

Even with the best meal and food shopping plans, you can sometimes end up with more food than you can use. Here are a few tips to use the food you have on hand instead of letting it go bad.

Freeze fruits and vegetables to use later.
You can extend the life of herbs or save them for later by storing them whole in a freezer bag or chopping them and storing them in oil in an ice cube tray. You can also dry fresh herbs by hanging them in a dry location and then, once dry, crushing and storing them in glass jars.
When you notice fruits or vegetables going bad in a bunch, separate the good ones to keep and discard the spoiled ones. This will help the good ones stay that way longer.
Create an “eat first section” in your fridge for the items with the shortest shelf life so you can remember to use those first.
Use leftover vegetables to make vegetable stock, which you can store in glass jars in the fridge or freeze to use later. This is also a great way to use any scraps you may have from preparing other dishes. Simply keep your scraps in a freezer-safe bag and pull them out once you’ve accumulated enough for a good pot of stock.

With a little effort, you can save money by using and saving your food instead of throwing it out.

Reduce food waste to practice sustainability

By reducing food waste, we can all do our part in creating a sustainable future. Start by double-checking expiration dates before throwing food away and consider composting instead of tossing items in the trash. With small changes to our daily routines, we can make a big impact on reducing food waste. Don't forget to track your sustainable actions in the AWorld app! It makes it easy to see your positive impact on the environment. Download the app and join the CU team today!

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Tips for sustainable travel

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:33:41 +0000

Tips for sustainable travel Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/14/2023 - 13:33

Natasha Smith and Karlie Conzachi

Travel can be exciting, but it can also negatively impact the environment. Whether you travel for vacation, to visit family or out of necessity, there are many ways to incorporate sustainable, eco-friendly practices into your travel plans.

Here are some tips to help you stay green the next time you head out of town.

Consider your mode of transportation

Flying is probably the quickest way to get to your destination, but it typically has more carbon emissions than other forms of transportation. If you choose to travel by plane, travel with intention.

Choose direct flights because they produce less carbon emissions than connecting flights, plus you get to your destination faster.
Take advantage of the RTD Sky Ride, which can take you from campus to the airport. You can save money since you don’t have to pay to park your car at the airport.
Look into carpooling. Plan to travel as a group if you and your friends go to the same destination.

Pack reusable items

Choose sustainable and zero-waste alternatives to popular travel items. By making the switch, you can make even the smallest aspects of your trip eco-friendly.

Solid toiletries, like shampoo bars, conditioner bars and toothpaste capsules, help combat plastic waste. You can also buy toiletries in bulk and transfer to reusable travel-size containers.
Organic and reef-safe sunscreen can help protect marine life.
Bamboo toothbrushes are widely available and are a simple biodegradable switch from traditional plastic toothbrushes.
Bringing a portable water purifier to places without safe drinking water is an excellent alternative to buying countless plastic water bottles.
Bring reusable utensils, bags and containers.
Pack snacks to take with you and store them in reusable containers.
Bring your reusable water bottle and thermos with you.
Pack reusable period products, such as a menstrual cup.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Keep tickets and passes on your phone to reduce waste and save on printing costs.

Go camping

Camping is a great way to plan an eco-friendly vacation. Many popular tourist destinations have campsites available nearby. Camping can help you reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less water and electricity than in a hotel. Also, follow “leave no trace” principles to keep the earth as beautiful as you found it.

Camping has many benefits, from access to better air quality to circadian rhythm improvements and stress relief.

The Boulder area has countless campsites. In addition, the CU Rec Center offers equipment rentals to students through Outdoor Pursuits to help you achieve your backpacking and camping adventure goals.

Stay sustainably

If camping isn’t an option, you can find an eco-friendly indoor option. Booking a vacation rental in a small residence can produce a smaller carbon footprint than a large hotel chain. You can also vet your hotels to make sure they are sustainably certified. You can use the website bookdifferent.com, which specializes in finding and aggregating eco-certified hotels for environmentally conscious vacationers.

Support the local economy

One of the best things you can do while traveling is to support the local economy. Dine at locally owned restaurants since small restaurants are more likely to source their goods locally than large chains. Also, they prevent food waste during many parts of the food chain, including food loss in produce packing houses, manufacturing facilities and transportation and distribution networks.

Buying local, handmade goods also impacts the environment by providing an alternative to cheap, manufactured items. Handmade gifts also often carry more sentimental value because of their one-of-a-kind nature. And buying from local artisans helps them keep doing what they love.

Plan for sustainable travel

Implementing sustainable travel practices takes planning and intention. Remember, you don’t have to be perfect. Making a few small choices can have a significant impact over time. You may also influence others to follow your example.

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