College is your first big step into independence, and with it comes the opportunity to live according to your values. If sustainability is important to you like it is to me, creating an eco-friendly dorm room is one of the best ways to align your lifestyle with environmental responsibility.
Because let’s face it, most dorm move-in checklists are full of plastic junk. So I thought it’d be helpful to share how you can do better (without doing the most).
Consider this the guide that I wish I could send to my freshman self.
Whether you're moving in for your first semester or looking to upgrade your current setup, this guide covers all your eco-friendly dorm room essentials.
(Cover image by sakana/unsplash)
( r e )think your dorm setup & start with what you can control
Before the moving trucks roll in, it’s time to plan your packing list. Many students tend to overpack or buy unnecessary, low-quality items that quickly wear out or end up in landfills. It’s too easy!
I just graduated myself, and the amount of time I have spent trying to sell things on FaceBook marketplace and running around to donation centers, should be a crime. But here we are. All because my freshman self bought way more than I was ever gonna need.
The reality of dorm-living is that you are just simply not going to have a lot of space (trust me on this one).
To live comfortably (and sustainably), it’s going to have to come with a bit of a mindset shift: less stuff = better. So, if you’re going to have to make do with less, then you need more durable, better stuff!
This means choosing items that are going to last you beyond one single school year.
I mean, think about hangers alone for a second:
- 85% of plastic clothing hangers end up in landfills annually
- which translates to around 34 billion hangers per year in the US.
- That’s enough to fill the Empire State Building about 20 times.
We can do better.
And the planet aside, buying items that serve multiple purposes, last longer, and make the most of your nearly-non-existent closet space just makes a whole lotta sense.
A minimalist and mindful packing list can prevent waste from day one and save both your money and your time in the future.
sustainable dorm essentials checklist: replace the waste with sustainable swaps
Photo by Sonia Sanmartin
for your closet:
- use durable, sustainably made hangers from ( r e )x (of course) that you won’t have to replace anytime soon. Seriously, these will last well into your post-college life.
- find multi-purpose items — like a laundry basket that doubles as storage).
- use collapsible storage bins made from recycled fabric — these are a lifesaver!
for your kitchen/food life:
- reusable food containers for snacks and leftovers
- a stainless steel water bottle or filtered pitcher to avoid single-use plastic
- compost bin — if your campus supports it
- reusable shopping and produce bags
for your bedding/decor:
- use bamboo or organic cotton sheets and linens
- thrift thrift thrift! Use sites like Facebook Marketplace to look for second-hand decor or furniture
- store under-bed items in cardboard boxes or the suitcases you brought with you rather than plastic totes
I was fortunate enough to go to school in Chicago meaning I had an excellent selection of alleyways to shop from and thriftstores to run to. And I can certainly thank facebook marketplace for roughly 90% of my furniture and wall decor.
for your bathroom:
- refillable toiletry containers. You can always look for cute ones at thrift stores!
- biodegradable toothbrush & other toiletries (this is bamboo’s time to shine)
- menstrual cup or reusable period products
Bonus tip: Check if your school has a dorm move-out donation program of sorts. These often collect unused or gently-used dorm materials like storage bins, decor, and kitchen supplies for reuse!
And your school doesn’t have one, this could be your sign to start one!
( r e )imagine your space with smart storage + small space hacks
Living in a dorm is about more than trendy wall decor and LED lights. It’s about getting creative and making the most of your space. Luckily, living this way and living sustainably, tend to go hand-in-hand.
There are numerous storage hacks for dorm-living that can be life savers when you’re looking to buy less stuff:
- movie night in a bottom bunk: hook two hangers through the metal gate of the top bunk close together. Slide your iPad in the middle of both so each hanger is on either side of the iPad. There ya have it, your very own little hands free movie theater!
- bathroom accessories: use one ( r e ) ˣ hanger to carry your towel, washcloth, face towel, and hair towel. Loop it over the shower rod or on the hook and you’ll have everything in one place!
- use double-duty furniture: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so always check thrift stores for items like storage ottomans or cubes and use them as seating, footrests, and stash spots for books or clothes
( r e )commit to low-waste living & keep it going all year
Photo by Stephen Han
Sustainability doesn’t have to stop at move-in. Trying to live in an eco-conscious way can be much simpler and easier on your wallet than one might think.
Because it’s not always about buying the coolest new sustainable, biodegradable, “green” products (although they certainly can be great). But it’s also about making do with what you already have and contributing as little as possible to excessive waste.
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Over 200 million pounds of waste are generated each year from college campuses in the U.S. alone, especially during the move-out period. (At some large universities, this adds up to 100+ tons of trash in just a few days!)
- A study at the University of New Hampshire found that during the move-out period, only 30% of what students threw away was actual trash. The remaining 70% could have been reused, donated, or recycled.
- In 2022, the University of Michigan’s “Sustainable Move-Out” program collected 50,000 pounds of goods, diverting them from landfills and redistributing them through donation and resale programs. That’s just one school!
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Americans throw away 11 million tons of clothing annually. College students often discard barely-used garments simply to reduce packing during move-out.
Why so much waste?
It's incredibly tempting to overpack and overbuy at the start of the year. But much of what is being sold to us as “dorm essentials” is low quality and cheap, meant to last for no more than a year.
Even from my freshman year to my graduation in May 2025, the increase of ‘dorm aesthetic’ accounts, shops, and pressure to buy has increased exponentially. When I was first going into university, sure I wanted cute things but there wasn’t the online exposure and pressure to have a ‘dorm aesthetic’ like there is now.
Also, it’s understandably much, MUCH easier to throw things out than it is to figure out how to donate or recycle things, as these programs aren’t always the most robust.
The convenience of “buy new every year” trumps sustainable habits for a lot of us. That’s why it’s important to consider all these factors before you set up your space so that you can be prepared to live your best little sustainable dorm life.
live light, live green:
There are so many ways to live in a sustainable way, and dorm life is no exception. Beyond your dorm, there are more ways to make your college experience align with your values. The key is to start small and have fun with it:
- Join sustainability groups on your campus
- Compost if it’s offered — or start a program if it's not!
- Thrift, shop second-hand, or build a robust sustainable wardrobe
- Make the most out of your closet space — shop ( r e )ˣ & other brands who care about making high-quality products
- Bonus: download our sustainable dorm essentials checklist and share with others!
Creating an eco-friendly dorm room isn’t about perfection, it’s about thoughtful choices. From selecting the right dorm materials to organizing your space efficiently, every action counts.
Your dorm is your home for now, make it a haven for both you and the planet.