The Kent State of Well-Being encouraged students to take steps toward positive environmental impacts during its meeting Wednesday.

The event involved students making their own eco-friendly reusable bags and learning about sustainable ways to dispose of plastic wrappers via ecobricks. 

Ecobricks are simple ways to limit the greenhouse gasses that get sent into the atmosphere after plastic sits in the sun. All you need is a dry plastic bottle, dry plastic and a stick for packing to begin creating your own.

Using old recreation center T-shirts, participants were able to tie knots to create a sustainable bag that can be used for class, markets or grocery shopping.

Evan Coates, a junior public health major, said he wanted this event to not only be informative, but also be interactive. He used the ecobrick as an educational factor and the bags as an eye-catcher. 

“We had leftover shirts that we were gonna get rid of so I just thought, well, let’s show students what they can turn these into,” Coates said. 

Plastic pollution is becoming more of an issue as time goes on. Reusable bags are one of many ways people can limit waste and reduce their footprint. 

In addition to plastic waste, reusable bags hold more items than the average grocery store bag. Therefore, the trips you take and the waste you create are all minimized. 

Reusable bags in general can be stronger and more durable. Heavy items while grocery shopping, such as milk or soda, typically need to be outside of the plastic bag due to fear of breakage. Reusable bags made of thick and layered material leave you stress-free while carrying in your groceries. 

While ecobricks weren’t actively being made at the event, Coates was there to explain more about how to create one, how it’s beneficial, and the impact it could make if everyone takes part in it. 

“We wanted to get involved with the community, and I felt like this would spread education about environmental topics,” he said.

The Kent State of Well-Being is located to the right of the campus recreation center entrance. Employees here are referred to as “peer educators,” and work to encourage balance in students’ lives.

Brynn Kler, a sophomore exercise science major and employee for the Kent State of Well-Being, said that wellness is all-encompassing and they try to educate students about that. 

The center uses the eight dimensions of wellness when planning events and resources. The eight dimensions are the following: social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial and occupational.

“We preach a lot about how our wellness is all individual,” Kler said. “You know, my wellness may not look the same as yours, and that is completely normal.”

With wellness and sustainability tied together at this event, students got an educational and hands-on event promoting environmental well-being. 

For connection to more resources, visit the Kent State of Well-Being center.

Morgan Hoover is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].