Back to School: How to Create a Sustainability Hub at Home

Another summer has gone by. Apart from returning to work, the coming of September also means going back to school. No more holidays, chilling at home, and travelling.

As the new school year approaches, it's imperative to prioritize sustainability education for our youth. In a world increasingly impacted by climate change and environmental degradation, equipping young minds with knowledge and skills to foster a sustainable future is paramount. By integrating sustainability into the curriculum, we can cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious individuals who are empowered to make informed choices and drive positive change.

Let’s embrace this new start by thinking about how to incorporate sustainability education for the younger generations.

Children & Sustainability Education

Based on talks with parents, it has become evident that many children are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. Their motivation, curiosity, and, most importantly, creativity are a combination of character traits that can be sparked in various ways. Children and teenagers can and should engage with sustainability concepts not only in school but also in their own homes. 

Transitioning from the summer break to a new school year is a great opportunity to start developing and integrating sustainability-related ideas and activities. We can incorporate a new sustainable approach before the new year gets hectic and we get into our routine. What better way to do that than by setting the stage for eco-friendly learning at home? 

In this blog post, we would like to offer some ideas and tips on how to involve our families in sustainability. In this way, we can take steps towards building sustainable habits and informing new sustainable and eco-friendly behaviours.

Building a Green Foundation

Changing our routines, habits, and behaviour is an arguably complex task. It certainly can seem daunting since there are so many aspects of our lives that could and should be more sustainable. Being overwhelmed is completely natural, with all those tips, products, and information floating out there, so let’s take it step by step.

Establishing a Sustainable Home Mindset

First things first. We can start by establishing a sustainable home mindset. But wait. What does a sustainable home mindset entail? A home sustainability mindset involves adopting conscious and eco-friendly practices. These practices can minimize environmental impact and conserve resources within your living space. 

They can include:

1. Reducing energy and water consumption
2. Minimizing waste through recycling and composting
3. Choosing eco-friendly products
4. Using renewable energy sources
5. Incorporating sustainable design principles 

Combining the above practices can create a healthier and more efficient home environment for you and the planet. This sustainable mindset should be promoted within the household. Parents can use creative yet simple ways to encourage their children to tackle sustainability challenges. Using daily exercises, all the family can engage with the topic in a playful and meaningful manner. Below, we will explore ways for families to embrace sustainability on an everyday basis.

Eco-friendly Learning At Home

Engaging in sustainability activities as a family can be both educational and fun. These activities can include challenges, workshops, experiments, outdoor activities, and crafts. Before we jump into some of those, let’s think about compartmentalizing in the household. Do not be alarmed; this is a simple technique that can help the family distinguish between different parts of the household. It can help children better understand how a household works and its connection with sustainability.

Setting Up Sustainability Spaces

Sustainability study space

• Think about setting up a small space in your home that can be dedicated to a study space for your children. This space can be their communal office, where they engage with their homework. Most importantly, it can be a dedicated space where, for a few hours a week, the family comes together and discusses all matters of sustainability. Parents and children alike can research together, discuss and potentially come up with creative solutions for the household.

DIY Recycling Station

• Waste is the elephant of the household. It is important to teach our children how to be less wasteful. Unfortunately, since waste is an unavoidable part of our daily lives, we should also learn and communicate how to handle it correctly. Set up a designated area for recycling bins and teach your children about sorting materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Involve them in decorating the bins and making it a game to see who can correctly sort them.

Garden & Composting Stations

• Some children are fortunate enough to engage with the concepts of gardening and composting at school. But what about adults? We believe it is a wonderful opportunity for all the family to learn and engage with these two concepts. Start a small garden or herb pots to teach kids about growing their food. Introduce composting by collecting kitchen scraps for compost and showing how it turns into nutrient-rich soil. Reading our blog article "At Home Compost: A How-to Guide for Organic Waste" is a great start.

Sustainability Challenges & Activities

Applying a sustainable mindset at home does not have to become an additional burden. Although there is a steep learning and behavioural curve, sustainability provides an opportunity to be creative and have fun. The whole family can learn and maybe even ignite healthy competition by engaging in sustainability activities. Here are some home activities and challenges for families to promote sustainability concepts.

1. Energy Conservation Challenge: Have a contest to see who can remember to turn off lights, unplug devices, and conserve energy the most throughout the week. Create a chart to track progress and offer small rewards for the winners.
2. Water Conservation Experiment: Measure and compare water usage while brushing teeth, washing dishes, or taking showers to show kids how much water is used during different activities.
3. Upcycling Art Projects: Use old magazines, cardboard, and other materials to create art projects. Teach the concept of upcycling by turning discarded items into something new and valuable.
4. Sustainable Cooking: Involve kids in meal planning and preparation, focusing on using local, seasonal ingredients and reducing food waste.
5. Eco-Friendly Crafts: Explore creative crafting using natural and sustainable materials like wood, cloth, and recycled paper. Create items like bird feeders, homemade candles, or reusable cloth bags.

Remember, the key is to make these activities engaging and age-appropriate, tailoring them to your family's interests and values. By involving the whole family, you're fostering a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the environment while having meaningful quality time together.

Set Your Sustainability Goals

Coming back from the summer break every year signals the beginning of a new season. It is a great way to use our bundled-up energy to focus on making our everyday life more sustainable. Acknowledging the importance of sustainability can be the start of turning our homes into sustainability hubs. Educating the family as a whole on how the household works and how it can contribute to a sustainable future is a great way to instil in younger generations the will to be more conscious about their choices. Let us make sustainability a fun activity and challenge that can help us grow as a family.

We have the capacity to build new habits and behaviours that are embedded in a sustainable mindset. Coming back to school is not only for the little ones in our family but also for us adults. Be curious, be creative, discover your inner child, and together, you can bring balance to your household activities, taking care of your family and the environment.

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Article by Alexis Damdimopoulos. In a nutshell, I am addicted to the outdoors. I am passionate about everything surrounding food, from its production to the ethical mindset of not wasting it. I believe in a sustainable, ethical and circular mindset. Let’s meet in the GC9 blog!