At work this summer (and at home) I was teased mericlessly for my stainless steal containers that I carried my lunch in. I have them in various sizes so my entire lunch fits snuggly inside their cool, shinny interiors. I am able to pack my entire meal without using a plastic container or a paper/plastic bag.

To some people it may sound like an incredible pain to carry around so many little containers of food instead of putting snacks in bags that can be tossed when empty, but there are incredibly benefits that make the extra bulk completely worth it.

1. Plastic containers leach chemicals into our foods. It is important to keep these carcenigens out of our bodies as much as possible. This is why it is especially impotant to not pack childrens’ lunches in plastic.

2. Plastic is often a sigle use product. When the cheap plastic containers first came out people were throwing them away right and left. Even though it has since become a practice to wash and reuse these containers, they are still part of our disposable culture.

3. Plastic “snack” or “sandwich” bags are used once before they are put into our landfills and waterways where they do not break down or decompose completly. We are creating mound and mounds of this pollution that we have no way of getting rid of or breaking down. We are constantly adding to the problem without considering the consequences.

4. Plastic absorbs colors and tastes from our foods. I am sure everyone has seen a plastic container stained by a tomato sauce. If it is that easy for plastic to absorb something else, how easy do you think it is for it to leach out as well?

5. Plastic is cheap. I mean this in two ways, the price of course, but also in the durability of the product. Plastic containers are always splitting or melting in the dishwasher.

6. They are plastic. I know I am constantly talking about the dangers of plastic, but it seems like most people do no understand the true risks they take when they purchase or use plastic (let alone the harm it does to the enviornment or the workers who created the product). (Check back soon for the truth about plastic.)

Discouraged yet? Do not worry, there are quite a few options for storing food that do not involve plastic or that reduce the amount of plastic (there typically has to be some type of plastic or silicone in the lids. Just remember to not heat food with the lids on).

1. Use glass food containers. Many come with silicone lids and are easily washed and stored. In the years my family has had glass containers I think we have only broken one (and we take them in our lunches as well as store food in them at home). Durability is certainly not a problem. The best feature: you can heat your food in them in the microwave. You can find them online as well as in most kitchen stores and major stores (such as target). Also do not be afraid of reusing old jars.

3. Cloth wraps and snack bags: These are great when you do not want to carry around the extra bulk of having every item in a container. They are washable and reusable. You can find them online on etsy.com as well as through market sites like eBay and Amazon. I have seen a few in some stores as well.

4. Ceramic: At work I am not allowed to have glass containers (glass is strictly forbidden around pools because of the dangers of bare feet and broken glass) so I bought two ceramic containers that I could bring food to heat up in. The only downside is that if you use them for food storage in the fridge you cannot see what is inside of them (in my house it turns into a stalemate of dares for someone to open it up and see how gross it is inside).

5. Vintage Pyrex: you can bake and store in them. However they are not good for traveling because the lids clearly leak and do not stay on well.

As students around the country move into their dorm rooms they are faced with what often feels like endless decisions on what they should buy and what they need. Price is often the most important factor in what everyone buys with most people believing the cheaper the better.

Project Green Dorm is an online guide that gives ideas and suggestions for what to buy. Although some of their suggestions can be expensive, the site offers great ideas that can be do-able on any budget. Project Green Dorm gives suggestions for bedroom, bath and body, closet (clothing and organization), active clothing and equipment, E-gadgets, cleaning supplies, study area, break time, and DIY.

Here are some quick things to remember as you shop and move in:

1. Avoid all objects that are intended to only last a year and then be thrown out.

2. Do everything you can to avoid plastic. Not only does it harm the environment in its creation and disposal, but it also breaks easily and looks tacky. Filling your room with plastic objects can make your room feel more like your storage unit than your home away from home.

3. Dorm rooms are tiny (some make prison cells look spacious). Consider if you really need something or not. I recommend packing all clothing, school supplies, bedding, and other items you know you for sure need, and buying things you are unsure about once you move in. Typically the last minute items for me include needing an extra storage device or container.

4. Bring things to put on your walls. Whether it’s pictures of friends or something that you kept in room at home, filling your white walls with visually interesting items that you enjoy can make a big difference in making your room feel like home instead of prison. I recommend wrapping paper, pictures, posters, fabric, or anything else you can blue tape or tack to the wall (if you do not have a bulletin board in your room you can easily buy the little squares and make your own).

When faced with the task of feeding 6 people 3 meals a day, plates and bowls were a main concern. In order to not be constantly washing dishes we need enough dishes to be able to make it through an entire day of meals without being left with just the counter to eat off of.

Instead of trying to find 8 or more dinner plates, smaller plates, and bowls on Craigslist, eBay, or in used stores I decided to buy two sets of dishes. I chose plain, timeless, white dishes that are easily replaceable if we break a few.

Every time I am at the library I always wonder why there are not more people there. It seems like most of the people who understand the amazing resource that the library is are over 50. Where is my generation?

It seems as though my peers are are constantly watching something on TV, going to the movies, listening to music, or playing around on their phones. Whenever I pull out a book I get the weirdest looks, like I’m practicing math equations instead of reading an enticing story about a chaotic trip to France. It seems like people think that reading is only for learning and education and never for pleasure or fun.

So for those of you who cannot remember the last you stepped foot in a library or read without the threat of an essay or a test, here are my top reasons I love libraries:

• The options are endless! There are no limits on what I can borrow including books, magazines, comics, music, newspapers, and DVD’s. (I do not think people realize that the library has way more than books these days).

• It’s wonderfully quiet. Whether I am studying at school or on a break from work, I enjoy being in a quiet spot.

• It’s free! Over the summer I read about a book a week, which would be a ton of money if I was always heading to the bookstore. The most I pay for a book is 75 cents — the fee for requesting a book from another library.

• I never have to make room in my tiny bedroom/dorm for piles of books. I read it and send it back.

• Libraries are a great way to decrease your material consumption without sacrificing anything. Because the books are used by so many people and stored in one place it cuts down on the carbon for creating and shipping all of those books to every person who borrows them (assuming they would have bought the book instead). It also means that you are not increasing the use of paper made from virgin wood.

• If you are picky and pick up a book/ music/magazine/ect. only to realize you hate it, then the library is the place for you. When I hate a book I just give it back and try something else.

• Before you write off the library as some antiquated place that is slowly dying out, consider all of the things it can give. You can learn how to do something (through free classes or books), read a book, listen to music (and put it on your iTunes), read a magazine, escape from the heat or noise, rent a movie or a TV series, meet some new people, and get endless ideas.

I have been looking for pots and pans since about May with little luck. I really wanted to buy nice, used pots to save money and resources, but it seems as though no one really gives them up. I stalked Craigslist and eBay regularly with little reward.

Ultimately I ended up buying a new set off of overstock.com. For $25 per pot/pan with a lid, the price was reasonable for the quality and durability of the set. Although this is more money than I had hoped on spending, they are items I will have long after I leave college.

– Watch craigslist and local used stores
– Do not be enticed by extremely cheap pans. They break easily, have carcinogenic materials in the non-stick surfaces, and will not be economically or environmentally worth the money you paid for them in the first place.
– Beg your relatives for their pots and pans. It’s helpful if you can convince them that new ones might serve them better or that the one pot isn’t being used anyways.
– Buy one large pot and one large pan to start. You can make most dishes with a single pot/pan.

I know this makes me sound incredibly nerdy, but I am already kind of looking forward to school starting (although I am glad I do not start school until September). Even though I may not be going back to school this month, students across the country are.

Before you rush out to the store to get your school supplies I have a few tips that will save you money and help you find sustainable school supplies.

1. Make a list. Plan ahead for items you will need for each class. There are some classes where I know I will use my computer to take notes and other classes where I need a notebook. I also know which classes I will need a binder for. Planning ahead not only means you will have a game plan for what you will need, it also means that you will not buy more than you need.

2. Stay away from plastic! I know it’s often the cheapest option, but most plastic items do not last — in the long run plastic can easily be more expensive. Plus plastic does not break down in landfills and it leaches harmful chemicals throughout its creation, use, and end of life.

3. Search for items that are made out of cardboard, wood, soy inks, and other eco-friendly materials. (They are typically also more  visually interesting and different from what most of your classmates or office mates will have.)

Typically your first few years of dorm life (or when you are living at home) furniture is provided for you, but once you move out on your own (or into housing with minimal furnishings) furniture becomes an expensive necessity.

Although some places like Ikea sell their items fairly cheap, the quality can be poor and all of the items you need end up being quite expensive all together. So what do you do to furnish your place on as little money as possible?

Find things on Craigslist, eBay, goodwill/ used/ thrift stores, garage sales, and flee markets. Whether the items are in great condition and can be used right away or need a little TLC, the prices are hard to beat. Just remember to not ignore an item because it’s ugly, furniture is incredibly easy to change.

Be creative, find new uses for items you have already or for new finds. See if you can make something yourself to fill a need. As always, planning ahead makes a big difference — you can hunt for the best price/ item and have enough time to make all necessary modifications.

(I am going to make one of these for my dorm/ room before the end of the summer.)

Need some ideas of what you can do to transform an item? Check out Apartment Therapy, Better After, Sunset, Tip Junkie, Design Sponge, and Pad Style.