Sustainability starts with making the most of what you already have. Before buying something new, ask yourself: Can I repurpose something? Can I borrow it? Can I go without? The goal isn鈥檛 just to consume 鈥渂etter鈥� but to consume less whenever possible. Still, when you do need to buy something, there are ways to make choices that are better for the planet. 

Make everyday choices more sustainable  

The way we shop and use resources impacts the world around us. Here鈥檚 how to make mindful choices: 

• Avoid single-use items. This goes beyond plastic鈥攃ompostable and recyclable single-use items still require resources to produce and break down. Instead, invest in reusables: water bottles, food containers, shopping bags and even refillable toiletries.
• Use secondhand first. Boulder has plenty of thrift stores, and online groups (like ,  Buy Nothing groups or Facebook Marketplace) make it easy to borrow or find free items. When you're done with something, donate or resell instead of tossing it.
• Eat locally, reduce waste and add more plants to your plate. Shop farmers markets, plan meals to avoid food waste and opt for more plant-based meals to lower your environmental impact.
• Buy less, but better. Fast fashion and cheaply made products don鈥檛 last. Investing in durable, high-quality items saves money in the long run and keeps waste out of landfills. 

Be a smart and informed consumer  

Not every product labeled 鈥済reen鈥� is. Here鈥檚 how to cut through the noise: 

• Watch out for greenwashing. Some brands market themselves as eco-friendly without real action. Look for transparency in their sustainability claims.
• Do a quick background check. Read reviews, check a company鈥檚 values and look for clear sustainability goals and actions.
• Support brands that do it right. Companies that pay fair wages, minimize waste and use ethical sourcing are worth backing. 

Get involved and take action  

Want to go beyond your own shopping habits? The Environmental Center offers workshops, events and a community of Sustainable Buffs working toward a better future.  

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At CU Boulder, sustainability is not just a buzzword鈥攊t's a lifestyle. Our campus has a long history of student-led sustainability efforts, starting with the founding of the Environmental Center in 1970. 

Looking to be more sustainable this year? Join the Sustainable Buffs Community to get tips and connect with like-minded students. Here are some ways to get started and opportunities to get involved. 

Limit food waste 

榴莲视频18 a third of all food in the U.S. is wasted. When eating at dining centers, take only what you plan to eat. At home, prioritize eating perishable food and plan meals around what you have. Apps like or can help you with meal planning. 

Eat more plant-based meals 

Even one day a week of plant-based meals makes a difference! Check out Meatless Monday recipes for affordable and healthy ideas. CU Boulder has also been recognized as No. 1 for plant-based dining and sustainability鈥攗蝉别 to find vegetarian/vegan options in dining centers. 

Recycle and compost 

CU Boulder makes recycling and composting easy with bins and guides around campus. Learn what items to recycle or compost and follow your neighborhood's guidelines if you live off campus. 

Reduce plastic use 

Switch to reusable items like water bottles, travel mugs and shopping bags to keep plastic out of landfills. Look for quality items that you enjoy using daily, like a bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic one. 

Get involved 

CU Boulder is a place where you can live and connect in a community of like-minded individuals striving to create a better world. Here are a few ways you can get more involved this semester: 

• Take the Sustainable Buff Pledge and join fellow students dedicated to sustainable choices. 

• Check out upcoming events at the Environmental Center. 

• Consider joining the Applied Sustainability Learning Hub. 

• Participate in the Student Ideas Showcase as part of the Campus Sustainability Summit this April 22nd & 23rd, 2025. 

• and other opportunities through the E-Center. 

Off

Biking to campus is a great way to stay active and be eco-friendly, even in winter. Whether you鈥檙e a student, faculty or staff member, you can join the Boulder community for on Feb. 14 and ride to campus. Stop by the Rec Center Plaza from 7-9 a.m. for hot beverages, snacks and swag.  

Whether you participate in Winter Bike to Work Day or not, here are tips for biking this winter. 

Register and protect your bike

If you bring a bike to campus, register it with the Environmental Center. This includes free maintenance help at two campus bike stations. It also helps police track down your bike if it鈥檚 stolen.   

On campus, bicycles must be parked in bicycle parking racks or secure bike shelters. 96% of bikes stolen on campus had a cable lock used or no lock. Instead, park your bike using a high-quality U-lock to keep it safe. Ensure the lock goes through your bike's frame, not the front wheel. Thieves can easily remove a front wheel and take the rest of your bike.   

If you only have a cable lock, you can swap it for a free U-lock at one of the bike stations during business hours. 

Plan for the elements

Colorado weather changes quickly, so check the forecast and consider safety before heading out. 

Wear layers and choose reflective or brightly colored clothing to be seen when it鈥檚 dark. The city of Boulder also requires bikes to have lights on the front and back for night riding. Wear shoes with a good grip on your pedals and always wear a helmet. Learn more . 

Additionally, make a backup plan for bad weather:  

• Ride with a bike and your Buff OneCard. 
• Download the CU NightRide app for free late-night transportation within Boulder city limits.
• Use a ride-share service or ask someone to pick you up.   

CU Boulder also offers a guaranteed ride home to staff and faculty who commute by bike and have unexpected changes to their schedule. 

Stay up to date

, a newsletter for CU bicyclists. You鈥檒l receive updates on bike programs, events, road upgrades and construction, and tips.

Prepare for your ride

Plan your route by reviewing the . If you鈥檙e riding in snowy weather, be mindful of snow in bike lanes and roads. Often, multi-use paths are cleared first, so consider traveling on the paths and limiting road use on snowy days. Try not to brake on slick or bumpy surfaces鈥攕tay focused and relaxed to maintain control of your bike. 

If you notice issues with your bike, have a bike mechanic check it out. Students, staff and faculty with registered bikes can visit the bike mechanics at the TLC and Folsom bike stations.  

To learn even more about bike repair and maintenance, sign up for the or explore this slide show about .  

Know the rules

As a cyclist, you have responsibilities similar to those of motorists. Practice safety tips and follow the rules to avoid a citation.  

• Always stay on the right side of bike paths and bike lanes.
• Yield to pedestrians when riding your bike.
• Don鈥檛 wear headphones or ear buds when riding鈥攖his is illegal for cyclists.
• Pay attention to signage on bike paths and throughout campus for dismount zones, where bike riding is prohibited.
• Ride slowly around pedestrians and give them space. Pass on the left and ring your bell or say 鈥渙n your left.鈥�
• Signal your turns, just as you do when driving a car. A left arm straight out signals a left turn, and a right arm straight out signals a right turn.
• Ensure you have a mounted front light and rear red reflector鈥攖his is required when riding between dusk and dawn.
• Don鈥檛 drink and ride. Colorado鈥檚 DUI statute includes bicycles under its definition of 鈥渧ehicle.鈥� You can get a DUI for biking under the influence. 

Find support

Learn more about biking and transportation options to get around campus sustainably. 

• Semester bike rentals: Students have the option to rent a bike for a semester at a low price through the Environmental Center.
• : Students can sign up with BCycle for a free CU Boulder Student Pass, with access to unlimited e-bike rides for an entire year. 
• Classes and clinics: The Environmental Center offers a variety of bicycle classes and clinics to improve your skills and knowledge of bikes and bike riding. 
• Report a stolen bike: Report stolen bikes to Bike Index and either the CU Police Department or Boulder Police for the best chance of recovery. 
• Sustainable Buffs: Join the Sustainable Buffs Community! Get involved with sustainability and climate action at CU Boulder and learn how you can add more sustainable actions to every day.  

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Are you curious about incorporating more plant-based meals and snacks into your diet? Eating fewer animal products doesn鈥檛 mean you must adopt a vegan lifestyle. Maybe you want to start participating in Meatless Mondays or avoid eating meat or dairy at lunch daily. There is no right or wrong way to explore plant-based eating. 

Whether you live on or off campus, you can find ways to transition your food routine to include more plant-based options.   

Tips to transition to a plant-based diet 

When changing your food habits, consider how those changes may affect your energy levels and nutrition. Start slowly with the transition and monitor how you feel.  

CU Boulder has a Campus Dining Services dietitian who can provide nutritional consultations in person and online, including for vegan and vegetarian diets.   

Here are tips to help you transition to putting plants first. 

• People who eat a lot of meat may need to transition slowly by substituting meat dishes once or twice a week and adding more plant-based meals as desired. 

• Add plant-based foods high in protein, like tofu, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, soy products and seeds. 

• Eat more fruits and vegetables in various colors, especially orange, red and dark green vegetables. Colorful vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. 

• Enjoy whole, plant-based healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds and olives. Healthy fats help with mood stabilization, mental health, cardiovascular health, reduced inflammation, increased immunity and feeling full.     

Dining center hacks for plant-based eating 

On-campus dining locations make it easy to put plants first. You can use the menus and the vegetarian and vegan filter functions in to plan your meals.  

C4C and Village Center dining centers offer plant-based protein stations to help you easily add extra protein to your meal.  Additionally, dining centers label food items for the top nine allergens and gluten and for various food preferences. Vegan foods have a V label, and lacto-ovo vegetarian foods have a LO label. Libby on the Run, CU on the Run and the Alley at Farrand also carry many vegan entrees, sides and snacks.  

Here are a few hacks to try at dining centers on campus:

• At the C4C, ask for a vegetarian breakfast burrito and add plant-based chorizo, tofu or beans for protein. 

• Skip the meat and cheese at the deli bar and add hummus and veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers to a sandwich. After your meal, enjoy a vegan dessert like a Boulder almond cookie or acai berry sorbet. 

• At Sewell, Village Center and C4C, ask for a tofu scramble with vegetables at the breakfast scramble bar. Depending on the day, you can also enjoy a selection of vegan pastries, like coconut bread or apple strudel.  

Benefits of a plant-based diet 

Consuming fewer animal products offers many benefits.  

• Improving health outcomes and lowering the risk of diseases. A plant-based diet promotes many health benefits and can lead to a longer and healthier life. 

• Saving money on food costs. Meat and dairy products sometimes cost more than whole plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes.

• Reducing carbon emissions. The animal-based food industry produces one-quarter of the world鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Expanding the global food supply. If we reduced the consumption of animal products and increased plant-based food production, the global food supply could increase by up to 49% without expanding the amount of land used for production. 

• Reducing water usage. Producing animal-based food products uses more water than plant-based foods. Consuming fewer animal products could reduce water usage for food production by 50%. 

• Decreasing the amount of pollution in waterways, streams and oceans. Animal-based food production uses more packaging and produces more waste, which contaminates natural water supplies.  

Find support

• Learn more about food systems and making sustainable choices with the Global Food System journey on the  AWorld app. This app has recommended daily actions to reduce our carbon footprints and connects you to CU Boulder's sustainability efforts. 

• Become a Sustainable Buff and pledge to make daily sustainable lifestyle choices. 

• Join the .

• Review the Sustainable Buffs Guide for more ideas on making sustainable choices in transportation, food, shopping and more.   

• Schedule an appointment with the campus dining dietitian if you want to learn more about the nutritional benefits of a plant-based diet or need support transitioning to a plant-based diet. 

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Halloween can be a time to celebrate and have fun. And, with some planning and intention, you can make choices that protect our environment and save you money. Here are some tips from the Environmental Center to help you enjoy Halloween sustainably.   

Costumes: Thrift, rent or make 

Local thrift stores are a great place to find costumes. Thrift stores often bring out items specifically for Halloween, making it even easier to put a costume together for less money. Need inspiration? from Sustainable Buffs! 

You can also find tutorials and ideas online for making a costume. Homemade costumes often use cardboard, clothing you already have or scrap fabric. You can reuse or repurpose materials and avoid spending money on your costume this Halloween.  

If you have a specific costume idea that might be challenging to find at a thrift store or make, check out costume rental services. This allows you to get the exact costume you want without buying it for only one occasion. 

Treats: Consider packaging 

Preparing for trick-or-treaters? Choose candy to hand out that has paper packaging (like Nerds or Pixy Stix) or aluminum foil packaging (like Hershey鈥檚 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.   

You could also consider making items like cookies or homemade candy to share this season. There are many opportunities to harvest local food in Boulder, such as through the . You can use those apples to make cider or apple butter cookies! While homemade items may not be suitable for trick-or-treaters, making treats for a party or friend produces the least waste. 

Decorations: Keep it simple 

Instead of fake spider webs and plastic spiders, stick to the classics and put a carved pumpkin. Pumpkins are entirely biodegradable, and it鈥檚 fun to carve them with your friends or family. Plus, you can roast the seeds to make a delicious snack and use them for composting after Halloween! 

If you鈥檙e shopping for additional decorations, choose better-quality items you can reuse each year. You can also get creative and decorate your house using your own things. Look for ideas online or plan a DIY night with friends. Find an old painting and like this Sustainable Buff! Repurposing old items adds a fun and personal vibe to your space.   

Learn more and get involved 

Beyond Halloween, you can remain sustainable all year long. 

• Become a Sustainable Buff and pledge to make daily sustainable lifestyle choices.
• Join the .
• Review the Sustainable Buffs Guide for more ideas on making sustainable choices in transportation, food, shopping and more.  
• Join upcoming , and check out student groups on .

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Biking is one of the most popular ways to navigate campus and Boulder. Here are some tips to help you maintain and protect your bike for a convenient and sustainable way to get around. 

Register your bike  

If you bring a bike to campus, register it with the Environmental Center. Registering your bike includes free maintenance assistance at two campus bike stations. It also helps police track down your bike if it鈥檚 ever stolen.  

Park on campus  

Bicycles must be parked in bicycle parking racks or secure bike shelters. 96% of bikes stolen on campus had a cable lock used or no lock. Instead, park your bike using a high-quality U-lock to keep it safe. Ensure the lock goes through your bike's frame, not the front wheel. Thieves can easily remove a front wheel and take the rest of your bike.  

If you don鈥檛 have a U-lock, you can trade in your cable lock at one of the bike stations during business hours for a free U-lock. 

Know the rules   

As a cyclist, you have responsibilities similar to those of motorists. Practice safety tips and follow the rules to avoid a citation. 

• Always stay on the right side of bike paths and bike lanes.
• Yield to pedestrians when riding your bike.
• Don鈥檛 wear headphones or ear buds when riding鈥攖his is illegal for cyclists.
• Pay attention to signage on bike paths and throughout campus for dismount zones, where bike riding is prohibited.
• Ride slowly around pedestrians and give them space. Pass on the left and ring your bell or say 鈥渙n your left.鈥�
• Signal your turns, just as you do when driving a car. A left arm straight out signals a left turn, and a right arm straight out signals a right turn.
• Ensure you have a mounted front light and rear red reflector鈥攖his is required when riding between dusk and dawn.
• Don鈥檛 drink and ride. Colorado鈥檚 DUI statute includes bicycles under its You can get a DUI for biking under the influence. 

Wear a helmet  

Wear a helmet anytime you ride to protect your head from serious injury. If you鈥檝e been in an accident, replace your helmet as soon as possible. While you may not be able to see any visible damage, impacts can cause internal damage to the foam cushioning in most helmets, leaving you more vulnerable in the future. 

There is no such thing as a concussion-proof helmet. If you hit your head while biking, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to check for a concussion. Learn more about concussion care and symptoms from Medical Services. 

Prepare for your bike ride  

If you notice issues with your bike, have a bike mechanic check it out. Students with registered bikes can visit our bike mechanics at the TLC and Folsom bike stations. 

To learn even more about bike repair and maintenance, sign up for our or explore this slide show about . 

Have a backup plan  

While we do our best to prepare for the unexpected, it鈥檚 good to have a backup plan if you get a flat tire or caught in bad weather. Here are a few options: 

• Ride with a bike and your Buff OneCard.
• Download the CU NightRide app for free late-night transportation within Boulder city limits.
• Use a ride-share service or ask someone to pick you up.  

CU Boulder also offers a guaranteed ride home to staff and faculty who commute by bike and have unexpected changes to their schedule. 

Check out events and resources 

Other (sustainable) ways to get around campus

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