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What if sustainability didn’t mean spending more, but sharing more? This question guides the Earth Centre, a student-run hub of sustainable and accessible resources, where the ethos is “Shop Responsibly. Live Sustainably.” 

“The Earth Centre seeks to reduce overconsumption and build a sustainability-focused student community,” says Morgan Mumma, a fourth-year biology student and co-president of the Earth Centre. “Part of this mission is alleviating the financial burden for students and to achieve this, the centre operates as a not-for-profit where everything is traded or sold at cost.

The Earth Centre not only sells Canadian-made goods that are ethically and sustainably produced, but also offers resource-sharing and rental services so students can borrow items rather than buy them. For example, in partnership with QBAC (Queen’s Backing Action on Climate), the centre runs a tool rental program, lightbulb trade-in, battery recycling services, and a small library. Just outside the shop, second-hand clothing racks line the hall as part of a swap service where each item donated allows a student to take one in return.

These trade-in and rental services make items more affordable for students by reducing upfront costs and providing access to quality products they might not otherwise own. They also support sustainability by cutting waste, reusing materials, and lessening demand for new production.

Beyond the shelves is a core team of student volunteers, each contributing a few hours a week to keep the space running. Their hope is that the impact of the Earth Centre goes beyond the storefront, creating a student community at Queen’s that is focused on sustainability.

“It’s a low time commitment, but high impact. At its core, the Earth Centre isn’t just about the products and services it offers; it’s about people coming together to make sustainability more accessible, visible, and communal,” says Morgan. “My hope is that sustainability becomes an interest as a by-product of the services.”

This year, the Earth Centre will be popping up at Queen’s in the Park on August 31, the AMS Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability Hubs, and other student-led events. At a time when sustainable living can feel overwhelming—amid distressing climate news and uncertainty about which actions truly matter—it offers shared resources, collective responsibility, and the reassurance that change begins with everyday choices.