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If you are in a Penn State community, you know that WE strive to protect the environment and adhere to the three (3) basic Rs as the foundations of environmental stewardship. Anywhere you go on campus, you are organically encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle. Many events take place around how to protect the environment and how to leave lighter footprints on the planet. The main purpose is to help conserve energy, resources, and divert trash from the landfill. As a consumer, you have the power to dictate which items make it to the market by making financial decisions to buy or reject those items.

How to

Let's look at each R in more detail and debunk the myth that it costs more to buy environmentally friendly products:

Reduce

In financial literacy, you use budgeting as a guide to reducing your spending on items you do not necessarily need (after you analyze your needs and wants lists). Reducing in environmental stewardship means producing less waste, consuming less, and consciously avoiding products with unnecessary packaging. Reducing is king in both disciplines: financial literacy and environmental stewardship. You can save a lot of money in reducing your consumption of material products or making choices between products. For example, using paper or foam plates and paper napkins for dinner is more expensive than running the dishwasher every few days. Buying items that are excessively and needlessly packaged costs more than buying fresh items off the cart. Also, carrying reusable bags for your shopping trips helps you avoid filling the trash with plastic.

Reuse

In financial literacy, you learn to economize and find an alternative use for different items to save money and allow for investing. So before you throw anything away, think of how you can reuse it or re-purpose it for another use. You can always sell it if it brings you any money back or you can donate it if it has life left in it. Just refrain from throwing it in the trash if you can salvage its use. For example, a newspaper can be used as wrapping paper or be cushioning for packaged items or even can be composted in your garden. Refillable containers can be used in many ways, for example, as seed starting containers for the garden, storing different size nails in the workshop, or storing coloring supplies for children. An old sweater can be salvaged into a cushion cover or even a pair of mittens for gardening. Be creative, save money as you save the environment.

Recycle

Approximately 50% of household waste can be either recycled or composted. As a consumer, a practitioner of financial literacy, and a steward of the environment, you need to always strive at reducing waste. It should be your first indication of failure or success. If you are producing too much waste, recyclable or not, it means you are over purchasing and not following the reduce and reuse principles explained above. Trash should be your last resort.

Practice

Now you know the foundation of environmental stewardship. Then, think of paying it forward and discuss how you can practice having lighter footprints on the environment with a friend or a family member.

Congratulations! You can move on to Chapter 2. Foundation of financial literacy

To review the full module on Environmental Stewardship, click here.