Eco-Friendly Dorm Room Essentials

The internet is filled with lists like Dorm Room Essentials, Ultimate College Packing List, and 51 Things to Bring to Campus. Our suggestion: stay away from these lists. While it's tempting and exciting to buy new stuff, you might not need a lot of it, or you probably already have it.

‍

And in case you do need to buy new stuff, there are sustainable brands that sell everything from boots and sweaters to bedding and books. Scroll down to check out our sustainability guides.

‍

As you prepare for your dorm movie-in date, start a list of needs and wants. You can get advice from alumni to find out what they found useful in their first year, and what they didn’t!

‍

Get your first few months of needs as sustainably as possible. As for your wants, choose a few select things that will help you settle in comfortably. But wait a few months before indulging in the rest. You may find you don’t want them anymore!

‍

Here are planet-friendly hacks to get everything on your list:

‍

Buy Secondhand

‍

You can get almost anything secondhand. Whether it’s books, utensils, interior decor items for your room, or gadgets, you can thrift almost anything these days. If thrift stores are your thing, you can spend the summer perusing for the right pieces. But you can also browse online options with sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

‍

Rent or Ask Your Neighbors

‍

Another sustainable alternative is to check your local Buy Nothing Groups. It’s a local Facebook Group where people give away anything for free, including furniture, clothes, food, shoes, artwork, and cleaning products. You can even ask for something that you’re in need of, and if you’re lucky, a neighbor may have just the thing. You can also browse through other posts to find something interesting.

‍

There are certain things, like board games, that you might not need every day, but it’s good to have them. So instead of buying them, you can rent them from your local library. Yes, some local libraries rent out stuff beyond books.

‍

5 Things You Didn't Know You Can Rent from the Library

‍

Buy From Sustainable Brands

‍

For clothes, appliances you need to buy new, try to buy them from sustainable brands. These brands use more planet-friendly materials, have sustainable manufacturing practices in place, and some of them even have a take-back or repair program for their products. Their products will most likely stay with you beyond your college years. Here are some sustainable guides to help you get started:

‍