Five Environmental Essentials Students Can’t Live Without

Being green is certainly a priority to the majority of American college students. Many exchanged green gifts for the holidays and others resolved to be more environmentally-conscientious in the new year. In order to help students with this goal, GlobalShift is proud to present the top five green products students shouldn’t live without.

1. Reusable bags

Unica's tote is environmentally friendly and adorable

Since their introduction by green chains like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods several years ago, reusable bags have cut the annual production of six billion plastic bags in half, greatly reducing waste. Now retailers, including IKEA and Toys ‘R’ Us, are offering their own reusable bags, sparking a fashion craze that ranks right up there with Crocs. Beware, anti-establishment types; states are taking a hardline stance about non-reusable bags. So start toting those heavy textbooks around in Unica’s picnica tote, which folds up into a cute bunny.

2. Fibered towels

Skoy's juicy-colored squares can absorb 15 times their own weight

According to Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, with around 90 billion tons of paper products consumed in Americans annually. However, students who use paper towels to sponge up the party foul in beer pong should instead be reaching for a towel of a different fiber–specifically, cotton. Try Skoy, a colorful square made of natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp that absorbs 15 times its own weight. Best of all, the dishwasher and washing machine-safe Skoy, at $5.99 for a pack of four, is incredibly affordable.

3. Recycled toilet paper

Getting behind eco-friendly paper

Clever marketing campaigns by tissue giants Charmin and Cottonelle have consumers obsessed with “squeezable softness.” However, the trees producing that soft plushness are roughly harvested from rare, old-growth forests. Select a brand of recycled toilet paper to cut down on deforestation–there are certainly plenty to chose from. Earth Essentials, a Greenpeace approved product, is sold through CVS Pharmacy, with a four-pack for the reasonable price of $4.69.

4. ECO-rated hair dryers

The end of big hair and big environmental damage

No longer the companions of Aquanet and Debbie Gibson, hair dryers have become unisex tools of survival. But big hair leaves a big impact on the environment. Choose a model without a traditional heating coil, which converts energy into radiation. Try the Barbar Ceramic ECO 8000, which boasts a 90 percent heat-into-energy conversion. Greenhome.com offers the model for $105, and free shipping on orders over $99.

5. Green energy saving

Just call this product Solar Stackhouse

The amount of waste generated from expired electronics has increased in the last two decades, and the green movement has been slow in advancing alternative technologies. Now, a wide variety of green gadgets are available to consumers at reasonable costs with all of the strength of main stream technology. Essential for every college student is the PC TrickleSaver, an energy vampire-banishing product which cuts of the power flow of electronics in “stand by” mode. Available for just $16.50 through Greenhome, students can breathe easy as their electric bill decreases.
WEIGH IN: Which are your essential green products?