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Sustainable exchange

Anyone going on an exchange, or other longer trips, can make a difference by making sustainable travel plans and making wise, sustainable choices while abroad.
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Are you familiar with the UN's 17 sustainability goals? The sustainability goals are global in reach, and have three dimensions, all equally important and mutually dependent on each other: climate/environment, economy and social conditions. So even though your travel will impact the first dimension, an Exchange you will increase your intercultural competencies and the global perspectives vital for working towards a more sustainable and fair world, along all three dimensions.

So , what can you do?

Travel greener

Can you make all or parts of the journey by train or bus rather than by plane? You can use a climate calculator, e.g. https://travelandclimate.org/(travelandclimate.org), to find the most environmentally friendly means of travel. With an InterRail/Eurail ticket, you can travel affordably through Europe - a little slower, but kinder to the environment and with the added bonus of beautiful landscapes and experiences.

For travel outside Europe, you may have to fly, but by choosing the shortest route and direct flights rather than many stopovers, you make less of a carbon footprint.  Several airlines and search engines give you the opportunity to choose the flight route that has the least impact on the environment. You can also contribute to the environment by using the airline's own  climate compensation scheme. 

Make sustainable choices while in Oslo

As an exchange student, you can make sustainable choices and show respect for both nature, culture and the people you meet. Here are some concrete tips on maximizing your experiences while minimizing both your costs and the strain on the environment.

 Think about the environment when you travel around in Norway.

  • In central Oslo, you can walk most everywhere. In addition, all public transport in Oslo and the surrounding boroughs are included in one ticketing system which includes city and regional buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains and ferries. With a student card it's a cheap, easy and environmentally friendly way to get around. Tickets can be bought through the app Ruter.  ​​​

  • Bring your bike, or buy a used one,  and use it year-round. Bikes are often the fastest, cheapest way of getting around.

  • Getting to other parts of the country, or the other neighboring Nordic countries, both trains and buses are quick and viable option to taking a plane – getting to central Stockholm from central Oslo can take around 5 hours by train, while the seemingly shorter flight time of 50 minutes, does not account for transport to and from the airport, time spent in security, waiting by the gate, boarding, and so on. 

Shopping, eating, recycling and saving electricity

  • Support smaller,  local producers, rather than large international chains, when you do your grocery shopping or  eat at a restaurant. In Oslo, there are many independent green grocers in the Grønland Area, while locally sourced products can often be found at a local Farmers Market.

  • In the SiO cantinas on campus the buffet option is cheaper if you choose vegetarian. Many use the app Too good to go, where you can buy surplus food from hotel restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and other shops at a reduced price.

  • Limit your shopping: we encourage you to bring the clothes you need or buy them used.  For late Autumn, Winter and Early Spring you will need a warm jacket and layers of clothing in warm materials like wool. But don't worry if these items aren't already in your wardrobe. If you need to re-stock maybe you can find something at the small, free flea market for international students OsloMet hosts at the start of each semester? If not, Oslo is rife with second hand stores in all price segments, some of which you can find in this Guide to the best second hand stores in Oslo (asustainablecloset.com)

  • Remember to sell or pass on to other students items you won't need after returning home.

  • Use a tote bag or a back-pack when you get your groceries, or when doing other shopping, instead of expensive plastic bags. 

  • Bring a refillable drinking bottle – the tap water in Norway is of high quality and people rarely buy bottled water. If you do buy beverages in bottles or cans, notice the little PANT- symbol on them – you will get the sum indicated on the container back when you return it through one of the  recycling machines found in most grocery stores. 

  • Read up on the local rules for waste and recycling: in Oslo, plastic, paper, glass/metal,  food waste and residual waste need to be sorted in separate containers before going in the bin. There are also recycling schemes for textiles, electronics,  and hazardous waste, read more about How to recycle in Oslo (oslo.kommune.no).

Increase your sustainability skills and get the most out of your time at OsloMet

  • Be curious and seek new knowledge: Going on an exchange is a great start! It can increase your  understanding of what sustainability can be, and you can gain insight into local challenges and how they are approached. Maybe you’ll learn about an environmental initiative worth taking back home and starting a local version of?

  • Take a course, join a student group,  or volunteer in an activity focusing on sustainability:  activities that directly or indirectly relate to the sustainability goals will give you insight, experiences, and can contribute to meeting new people and, in general, making the most of your stay in Oslo. Valerie Borey, an international student in Oslo, was interviewed about her experience volunteering in the student paper Universitas (universitas.no).

 Useful links