Illustration on environmental sustainability

On this page, you will find tips for more sustainable higher education exchanges. The tips are suitable for both students and personnel members going on exchanges. Besides the mode of travel, there are many other ways of influencing the emissions generated by the exchange.

Rather than flying, travel by train or bus, or car pool. Trains are by far the most ecological option, while there are considerable differences in emissions from ships. This is why you should choose a ship with the lowest possible emissions and continue your journey by train if you want to reduce the carbon footprint of travel. Overland travel is an experience in itself, and you can make use of the travel time and enjoy travelling in different ways.

If completing the whole journey by train is too awkward, only go by rail one way or part of the journey; this will also have an impact on emissions.

When flying, select a direct flight with no stopovers. Choose a propeller aircraft instead of a jet plane if possible as this option has lower emissions. The weight of your luggage affects the emissions, too.

You can also offset the emissions from your flights.

A virtual exchange is another possibility of participating in an exchange with a smaller footprint.

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Even if you did fly to your destination country, you can also influence the carbon footprint of your exchange by other choices, including what you eat, where you live or how you travel at the destination.

Mobility while you are on an exchange

On an exchange you usually live close to the campus, which makes it easy to walk, cycle or use public transport. The easiest way to explore neighbouring countries is usually by train and bus. Carpooling with a larger group is also more ecological than flying.

Food

Food production is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Depending on the method of assessment, meat and milk products account for 50% to 80% of emissions from food production. Substitute plant-based products for animal products and favour locally produced and seasonal food. Pay attention to food waste. On average, a Finnish consumer produces 20 to 25 kg of food waste a year.

Climate-friendly food is also an opportunity to learn about the local food culture. Vegetarian and local foods often also save you money and are good for your health. You can also use various apps to buy leftover food from restaurants. Select organic foods where possible.

Consumption

Goods and services have been estimated to account for around 26% of the carbon footprint resulting from Finnish households’ consumption expenditure. Pay attention to your consumption during the exchange: opt for borrowing and renting. If you buy something new, choose sustainable, reusable or recyclable items. For example, it makes no sense to purchase new kitchen utensils for a short period of time, which is why you should try to find second-hand items and also pass them on to somebody else when you leave. Many exchange destinations collect items from previous exchange students and hand them to incoming ones. Various local Facebook groups make recycling easy. Also avoid excess packaging that cannot be recycled. Possibilities for recycling vary from country to country, which is why you should find out about local practices.

Housing

One of the biggest causes of emissions generated by Finnish consumers is housing. Living in a shared flat while on an exchange is an easy way of getting to know new people and local culture, and it also reduces emissions from housing. In a shared flat you can also share items, avoiding the need to buy everything. You should also pay attention to the consumption of electricity and water, especially warm water.

In staff exchanges, you should find out about the sustainability of accommodation options and choose the most ecological one. Opt for accommodation that is close to the host institution and providers who address environmental responsibility in their business.

Other ways

Respecting local culture and customs is part of sustainable travel, and one way of showing this respect is getting to know local culture and engaging in local activities instead of those aimed at tourists. On excursions, you should respect local nature and familiarise yourself with the rules of such destinations as national parks.

The exchange is an opportunity to learn about good practices and customs in another culture and bring them with you when you come home, and also to tell your hosts about good practices in your country.

Share your experiences! Talking about this topic and sharing good practices are good ways of promoting environmental responsibility. You can expand your awareness by taking courses related to environmental responsibility at your host institution or by participating in local NGO or volunteer activities.
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