OK. Let’s face it, we’re all going to use a lot of paper when we’re in college. There’s note taking, essay drafting, clubs and society stuff, and whatever personal writing we engage in. So how do we cut it down to a sustainable minimum?
Confession: I have an addiction to new stationery. I love the thrill of writing the first line on a crisp new notebook or writing pad, experimenting with different pens to see which I like best. I like using good quality paper and pens, so far fountain pens and archival paper are my favourites. But that’s a luxury that on my budget I cannot afford, and it’s not exactly sustainable. So back to the drawing board.
Where’s the best place to buy notebooks made from recycled, low-impact paper? Most newsagents have one or two brands, hell even Tesco have them. Any of the sites I checked on Google provided recycled paper (some notebooks even boasting that their covers used to be car tyres!) but there’s a catch. These bad boys are expensive! You’re looking at around a fiver for these notebooks. It’s worth it though. Have one less pint this week and buy one, and then recycle it again when you’re done!
When it comes to printing stuff off in college, be sensible about it. Print double-sided if the printer allows it – ask someone in the computer centre to help if you don’t know how. If you’re printing off slides, put 6 to 9 slides per sheet. And print as little as possible. If you can read notes off a screen, and your lecturer puts their notes on Moodle or a similar resource, use it! Wow. This is a really dull entry. I’ll try to write up something more interesting for the next one.
