Want to improve your environmental impact, but not sure how? We've got you.
In our November 2023 student focus groups, you asked about several important topics of sustainability, which we've summarised here. Use the links below to see how you can live a more sustainable lifestyle.
There are lots of little changes you can make to your daily routine which can have a big impact on the planet.
Try Ecosia
Lots of your current habits, activities and purchases have greener alternatives. Simple swaps can be made to lower your carbon footprint and reduce your waste. There are also subscription services that make this easy, so you don’t even have to think about it.
Below is a list of just a few; there are ideas of what you could swap to, as well as some options for subscription services which do all the work for you.
Deodorant
Swap to: A plastic-free roll on with natural ingredients.
Tap to flipTry: Fussy, Fussy™ Dragons' Den, Wild
Toothbrush
Swap to: A bamboo toothbrush.
Tap to flipTry: Bamwoo
Washing up liquid & tablets
Swap to: Plastic-free, with natural ingredients and no chemicals.
Tap to flipTry: Smol
Toilet roll
Swap to: Plastic-free, made from bamboo, or recycled paper.
Tap to flipTry: Who Gives A Crap
Soap
Swap to: Refill pouches or bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
Tap to flipTry: Kitsch, The Soap People
Buying bags of fruit and veg
Swap to: Use a green grocer or only select what you need.
Tap to flipOverbuying ingredients
Swap to: Meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes.
Tap to flipTry: Gousto, HelloFresh
Food waste
Swap to: Zero-waste refill shops with bring-your-own containers.
Tap to flipTry: Shop Zero
Food and diet
Go Plant Based
🌿 Small changes = Big impact. Going plant-based just a few days a week helps reduce your carbon footprint — no need to go full vegan.
The BBC compared the carbon emissions from different diets:
🥦 Vegan: 9.9kg CO₂e/week
🥚 Vegetarian: 16.9kg CO₂e/week
🍗 Omnivore: 48.9kg CO₂e/week
Even switching one meal can save up to 1.8kg CO₂e. That's a climate win without major lifestyle change.
Ready to try? Here are some easy vegan recipe resources:
🌱 Veganuary – plant-based revolution home.
🍲 Bunch UK – Mob’s vegan spin-off.
🧁 BBC Good Food – 100s of vegan recipes.
📱 Tip: Instagram reels have awesome quick recipes too. Get inspired and start simple.
Food Waste
♻️ Reduce food waste = Reduce emissions. It’s not just what you eat — it’s what you waste that impacts the planet.
Reducing your diet's carbon footprint isn't just about what you eat; it's also about what you buy and how you store it. Reducing food waste is something everyone should make efforts towards. Any food you put in your general waste heads to landfill and releases harmful greenhouse gases (like methane) into the atmosphere as it decomposes. Globally, this is estimated to contribute 8–10% of our total emissions.
Most food packaging gives guidance on how it should be stored to stay fresh. Use it to manage your food inventory. If you find yourself with leftover ingredients near their use-by date, don't throw them away — get creative instead.
Need inspiration to reduce food waste?
🧑🍳 Try Tesco’s Recipe Finder – enter leftover ingredients, get recipe ideas.
🌍 Visit Energy Saving Trust – more ways to cut carbon and save money.
📌 Please note: we're not in partnership with Tesco, or any of the other companies mentioned on this page.
Energy and bills
Managing your energy bills is beneficial for your bank account AND the environment.
In the UK, around 22% of our total carbon emissions come from the fossil fuels we burn to supply our homes with electricity and heat.
There are suppliers who use renewable energy sources, however they charge higher tariffs making it not accessible to a lot of people. So here are some easy steps from the Energy Saving Trust that you can take to reduce your carbon emissions and energy bills.
Take Control of Your Heating
Most modern homes are fitted with a thermostat that allows you to control room temperature. Reducing the thermostat temperature by a few degrees (e.g. from 22 to 20) and setting the heating to only be on at certain times of the day rather than 24/7 can significantly lower your energy usage bill.
Heating a single room is more energy efficient than heating a whole house, and electricity is cheaper than gas. It's more economical to keep your general house temperature low and use a small electric heater for individual rooms when needed.
Insulation Matters
Poor insulation means heat escapes your home quickly, making it harder (and more expensive) to heat. If your house gets chilly when the heating is off, try using homemade insulation like draft stoppers to keep warmth in.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Every product we buy has a carbon footprint. Reduce it by cutting waste and reusing products where possible. Avoid disposables. Sometimes, it's smarter to buy better quality once than repeatedly buy cheap.
When you entrust your money to a bank, it can be used to make loans to, or investments in, individuals or businesses. Between the years 2015–19, global banks invested more than £2.17 trillion into the fossil fuel sector, approximately £216 billion of this directly funds fossil fuel projects.
It doesn’t stop there, many banks use unethical practices, some of which are considered human rights violations. It’s important you know where your money is going and have the opportunity to make a change.
Which banks fund fossil fuels, and why does it matter? Educate yourself on the UK’s most and least sustainable banks so you make an informed decision for your money.
The 5 least ethical banks…
Chase bank is #1 in the world for fossil fuel financing, investing over £348 billion into the industry since 2016. First to fund Amazon’s Oil & Gas extraction, driving deforestation.
Europe’s top coal financer. £116 billion into fossil fuels since 2016. Poor deforestation record. In 2023, linked to human rights abuse in Hong Kong by siding with authorities.
Invested £12.1B since 2016. Pledged to stop funding new projects in 2022 but still supports companies involved in fossil fuels indirectly.
Invested £41.1B since 2016. Ranked #7 in Europe for fossil fuel expansion support.
Funded £13.24B in fossil fuels between 2016–2022. Announced complete exit from fossil fuel financing by 2025. Shift toward low-carbon energy.
Now, some greener alternatives.
The good guys…
According to Bank Green, the following big-name banks have a clear conscience when it comes to sustainability and financing the fossil fuel industry, so you can save your conscience with them as well as your money.
They actively don’t invest in fossil fuel-based energy companies (or arms or tobacco companies), and are working with Watershed, a software company that powers environmental programmes for leading businesses.
You can read more about their work here.
They support international efforts to tackle climate change through various ways. They source all of their electricity from renewable energy suppliers, they offset their residual carbon emissions plus an additional 10% to address the impact of their business activities from the past, and send zero waste to landfill.
Their packaging is 100% recyclable, and they are partnered with the National Trust, investing in school nature workshops, supporting sustainability projects, and providing staff the chance to volunteer on site with conservation and maintenance projects.
Check the status of your bank by visiting https://bank.green/
The above information is for guidance only and forms only part of the consideration in choosing a bank. Before deciding who you bank with, do your own research to find the company that works best for you (and beware of any attempted greenwashing).
Boycotting unethical banks is only part of the solution; why not contact your bank and join the growing movement of consumers demanding a defunding of fossil fuels? Some banks also allow you to choose where your money is invested, so if you don’t want to jump ship completely, see if you can opt for your money to be invested in sustainable projects instead.
Sustainable Journeys
Eco-friendly travel as an NTU student is simpler than you think — thanks to Nottingham’s push for carbon neutrality by 2028.
Sustainable Journeys
Eco-friendly travel as an NTU student is simpler than you think — thanks to Nottingham’s push for carbon neutrality by 2028.
- Trams: Powered by renewable energy.
- Biofuel buses: 84% less CO₂ emissions.
- Cycling: Citywide lanes + NTU rentals.
- Safer commutes: Secure bike sheds & lighting.
Why it matters: One mile by car = 5× emissions of cycling.
Getting to NTU Campuses
City Campus
Tram: Stops on-site. Buy passes via NetGo app or platform.
Cycle/Walk: Safe routes, secure bike storage, NTU rental £49/year.
Driving: Use park & ride (The Forest, Toton Lane) + tram. No student parking on-site.
Clifton Campus
Bus: Number 4 stops outside SU. Student ID = discounts.
Tram: Get off at Rivergreen; 15-minute walk in.
Brackenhurst Campus
Bus: Number 26 to Southwell every 30 mins. Stops directly at campus.
Confetti Campus
Walk/Cycle: Short distance from city centre.
Bus: Blue (39–42), Red (43–44), Lilac (24–27), Pathfinder 26.
Mansfield Campus
Bus: Stagecoach Pronto from Nottingham. 30% off with NTU ID.
Take the low-emission route — every mile counts.
