Mindful consumption is the practice of using awareness of sustainability issues to inform purchasing decisions — from everyday items to longterm investments.
Mindful consumption refers to being conscious about your choices as a consumer. In other words, it means thinking carefully about the consequences of your actions as a consumer. Applying mindful consumption to your life choices allows you to reduce issues like waste, pollution, GHG emissions, and unfair labour practices.
Learn more about the benefits of mindful consumption, why it supports climate justice, and how to get started in your everyday life.
Provides students and the wider community with an accessible environment where they can learn to fix bicycles, share resources, and work together. Keep riding.
Try online communities where you can find the most unexpected items for free or for very discounted prices. You will likely find a group for every city, or even neighborhood.You never know what you’ll find.
Call2Recycle provides collection points on campus where you can bring your exhausted batteries. Take time to recharge your batteries. If you can’t, recycle them.
Get Thrifty is a secondhand clothing store in the UBC Life Building started by a small collective of UBC student designers with a passion for sustainable fashion. Everything old is new again.
The Green Depot by the UNA at Wesbrook Community Centre accepts items for recycling including small household appliances, clothing, textiles, shoes, household electronics (including cables), flexible plastics and more.
Little Free Library stations can be found in different locations on UBC campus and in Vancouver. Leave a book, take a book.
Moving out at the end of term? The Mindful Move Out Program in UBC Student Residences helps you prepare for moveout day and donate or recycle your stuff in advance.
Did you know that over 80% of waste at UBC can be recycled or composted? Use this interactive search tool to find out how to properly recycle, compost or discard any item on campus.
The Express & GO Station at UBC is located in the parking lot at 2465 Health Sciences Mall, and is open from 8am to 8pm.
Mugshare and ShareWares are two initiatives on campus that allow you to say “no” to single-use coffee cups. Pay a $1.50-2.00 deposit, enjoy your coffee in a reusable cup, then get your deposit back.
With Green2Go, you pay a $2 refundable deposit for a reusable food container. Once you return it, you get your deposit back.
A soapstand refill station in the AMS Nest makes buying any soap (laundry, dish, hand) accessible, convenient and affordable. Without any of the plastic packaging. Refilling is fulfilling.
A free store in the AMS Nest building (Room 2102) for all UBC students. Drop-off what you don't need anymore. Pick up something you do. All for free. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
The Vancouver Tool Library loans a wide variety of tools for home repair, gardening, and bicycle maintenance. They also offer affordable workshops on tool related skills and projects.
