Spotlight On Students – Sustainability Stories that Inspire

Irene Klotz Maroto

Irene Klotz Maroto grew up Spain and has had a passion for healthy living since she was young.  Growing up with the Mediterranean diet set her on a path that she’s continued with her work for Healthy Trinity.  Irene has played a key role in promoting sustainable, healthy initiatives on campus alongside Martina Mullin, Health Promotion Officer for Trinity.  

Irene is half-German, half-Spanish and grew up in Alicante. She is fluent in German, English, French and Spanish and studies Business, Economics and Social Sciences (BESS).  Her work with Healthy Trinity started in her second year when she was selected to be an ambassador. She says it has been a wonderful way to get involved in the college community and loves to work with the team of other Healthy Trinity ambassadors which involves promoting student mental health, active travel, healthy eating and lifestyles.    

Part of the Ambassadors’ work is to promote Trinity’s smoke-free policy to students smoking on campus by providing them with alternatives and helpful information.  Irene adds “it is quite uncomfortable, but it is something we have to do – it is better for a student to be talking directly to a student as opposed to staff members.” She is starting to notice more vaping than smoking now, with students increasingly using single use vapes.  Healthy Trinity is trying to set up recycling areas for vapes on campus.

Irene says “it is ‘in’ now to talk more about environmental issues. People know smoking is bad but they’re not aware of the environmental impacts”.   Aside from the obvious harmful health implications, cigarette waste causes pollution and contributes to biodiversity loss through deforestation. This gives opportunities to engage with students on negative impacts that aren’t health related. 

Irene has a keen interested in healthy eating habits and posts recipes and budget-friendly meals on social media for the Healthy Trinity account.  She says if she were in charge, she would make healthy food more affordable on campus. Adding “in Germany, you can get healthy college meals for around €1-2!” Healthy eating and sustainability are also intrinsically linked.  Data on plant-based diets show positive health implications for longevity.  Plant-based diets have significantly lower carbon footprints, both in terms of growing the food and the gases released through waste and decomposition.

Mental Health is also on the agenda for Healthy Trinity’s ambassadors.  They do joint social media posts with Headspace, Trinity Sport, Trinity Global and psychology students to reach out to students in need of mental health assistance. 

Irene will be 21 when she graduates, so she would love to travel for a while and eventually start her own business.  Find out more on Healthy Trinity's work here and find those recipe’s Irene mentioned on Instagram here.