Going Green: Simple Steps to Sustainable Hobbies

By Paige Lo Bianco
Paige is a biology student and Sustainability Champion at Ontario Tech University. She is passionate about environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate justice.

We're putting the spotlight on sustainability and dedicating ourselves to making our everyday lives more eco-friendly! Doing activities in our spare time is a great way to relieve stress and meet new people, but they can also be very wasteful if we’re not careful.

Here are a few of our favourite hobbies and how you can enjoy them more sustainably!

1. Gaming

Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, but it can be environmentally costly. With so many new video games being released each year, many of them go out of season and end up as waste. Additionally, MMORPGs and other games featuring advanced graphics require substantial amounts of energy to run. Did you know that some libraries offer video games that you can rent for free? Libraries throughout the GTA, including Oshawa, Whitby, and Markham have a wide selection of new and old games for a variety of consoles. Borrowing copies of games promotes resource-sharing and contributes to the sharing economy, which gives everyone in the community access to entertainment. You can also buy used games at a lower price from some stores. Not only will it save you money, but it also reduces electronic waste. When games or consoles are broken and can’t be repaired, ensure they are disposed of properly at electric drop-off centres.

2. Reading

If you love curling up with a good book, we’ve got some tips for you! To reduce consumption, we recommend buying used books or visiting your local library. You can also consider purchasing eBooks as opposed to physical copies to conserve paper. If you’re looking to unload some old books, donate them to Little Free Libraries or sell them to used bookstores to avoid adding to landfills. 

3. Photography

Taking pictures is a great way to capture the beauty of nature. You can make this hobby more sustainable by investing in energy-efficient cameras and accessories. Also, consider purchasing a camera second-hand from retired bird watchers or other photographers. Choose digital photography to reduce the amount of supplies you use, but if you’re looking to print out photos, consider using recycled paper. We also recommend photographing wildlife and landscapes to help support conservation efforts and raise awareness for environmental issues. Plus, if you’re taking photos on campus, add them to our Biodiversity Inventory on iNaturalist! We’d love to see them!

4. Gardening

Gardening is a very relaxing hobby that can also benefit the environment. To make your garden more sustainable, consider going organic by avoiding pesticides or herbicides. There are also many ways to conserve water while gardening, including collecting rainwater to water your plants and choosing drought-resistant plants that require less water. Research which species are native to your area so that you aren’t accidentally contributing to the existing invasive species problem. When in doubt, plant a mix of native wildflowers to support our pollinators!

5. Crafting

Do you enjoy making DIY crafts? They’re a fun creative outlet that also has so much potential for sustainability. You can breathe new life into materials like fabric scraps and old furniture by turning them into brand-new unique items. Also, when purchasing new materials for other projects, opt for ones that are natural or biodegradable.

Whether you’re gaming, reading, gardening, crafting, or doing photography, there are so many ways to make it more sustainable. With a bit of creativity and research, hobbies can not only be a source of fun but also promote environmental responsibility. Do you have a hobby not listed here? Let us know for our next post!