“One rainy autumn day, I ransacked my kitchen cupboards and attic for mugs that could get a second life on campus. And for months now there's been a changing and colourful assortment of mugs on shelves near the Espressobar. Anyone can pick up a mug and use it for their coffee or tea. It means we use fewer cardboard cups and can work together on creating a more sustainable NHL Stenden.
If anyone asks if I've got faith in the future of the earth, I want my answer to be a wholehearted ‘yes’. But then I need to be able to say it's because I'm making a difference too. Which is why I'm so conscious of living sustainably. And I like my actions to be practical and manageable. For instance, I constantly ask myself if I could possibly make a more sustainable choice. I've recently started using the water I've cooked vegetables in to water the garden. Less wastage and it's really good!
I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the things we could do to live better and more consciously. It can mean I can't see the wood for the trees. And so I completely understand if others have no idea where they should start. Sometimes, though, we can make the biggest difference by making the smallest of changes. Like bringing in a mug, or buying a vintage dress instead of a new one. And you don't have to make that difference on your own. It's only if everyone makes their own sustainable difference, that we can have a positive impact together.”
Lieneke van der Wal, practical facilitator coffee corners
