Sustainability and cost-effectiveness don’t have to be mutually exclusive—especially for students. With a few practical and budget-friendly changes, it’s possible to significantly reduce waste while saving money. This guide highlights some of the best zero-waste swaps that offer smarter, longer-lasting alternatives to common disposable items.
- Reusable Razor. Switch to a safety razor or a cartridge razor with replaceable blades to avoid disposable ones. This is a smart long-term investment due to the metal razors costing €5-€20 on average while lasting a lifetime. The average cost per blade varies from €0.05 to €0.30.
- Ditch paper towels. Use washable rags (or even old cut-up clothes) instead of paper towels to clean around your space. Each year, over 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used globally, and most of them end up in landfills. This generates millions of tons of methane. To put it into perspective, the amount of paper towels used annually could wrap around the Earth more than 50,000 times.
- Secondhand anything. Choose to buy things from secondhand stores or personally from other people. It is unbelievable what bargains you can stumble upon and what rare and unique products there are on the secondhand market. This saves you money and rescues the products from the landfill.
Places to visit in the Netherlands:
- Any kringloopwinkel sells cheap household items (let me introduce you to €0.50 plates and cups), books, DVDs, clothes, and even art pieces.
- Online platforms like Vinted and eBay allow you to buy secondhand clothes, as well as unused skincare/makeup items.
- Thrift/vintage clothing stores like KiloKilo are perfect if you are only looking for clothing, shoes, or accessories. Chances are nobody else will have the same sweater if you buy it secondhand (except if it is a fast-fashion brand).
- Hand soap bars. The easiest plastic-free swap regarding personal hygiene. Shampoo bars and conditioner bars are not for everyone, but a bar of hand soap is simple, effective, and a great budget option. There are soaps with every kind of fragrance and color. The costs start from less than €1.00.
- Digital studying. Replace physical magazines, books, and planners with digital versions. That also applies to books recommended for studying at Avans – do not overpay for paperbacks you will use once. Additionally, note-taking can be done on a laptop or phone instead of paper notebooks.
Incorporating these zero-waste swaps into your daily routine isn’t just a step toward a more sustainable lifestyle—it’s also a smart financial decision. By choosing durable, reusable alternatives over disposable options, you’re not only reducing waste but also saving money in the long run. Small changes can lead to big impacts, both for your budget and the planet. Embrace these practical swaps and join the movement toward a greener, more cost-effective future.
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