Tis that time of year again, when school buses roll around every morning and every afternoon, picking up and then dispersing loads of kids. And each kid had a backpack full of notebooks and pencils and crayons and glue sticks, (Glue sticks? Do kids still use glue sticks?), and a little bag full of munchies for lunch. Or, perhaps, money in their pockets to buy lunch at school. Either way, there are a few things you can do to make this year’s back-to-school a little bit greener.
- Go for made-from-recycled school supplies. You can find these at more and more stores (OfficeMax and Staples both have 100% recycled loose leaf paper), now, but if you still need to stock up, you can always order online. Greenline Paper Company has a nice selection of notebooks, composition books, binders, and filler paper, as well as made-from-recycled-steel paperclips and Eco-Writer pencils.
- For art supplies, it’s a little more difficult to find eco-friendly children’s products. However, when you do your shopping at local stores, be sure to buy non-toxic. That way kids will be safe while using the paints or glue, and when it’s time to recycle the containers there won’t be any nasty chemicals to deal with.
- Lunch is fun. Don’t you just love packing lunches? Okay, I’m being a bit sarcastic. Lunch has to happen every day, so if you are packing lunch for your child(ren), it’s a wise move to invest in a few good-quality, reusable lunch containers. ReusableBags.com has a great selection: Bento Boxes, aluminum snack boxes, cloth lunch bags, and lots more. Locally, look for containers that are durable and well-made; remember, your kids are going to be toting this stuff around every day. Kids are not known for being exactly gentle with their stuff. You can also reuse containers you have around the house, as long as they are clean and safe.
- Walk to school instead of driving or taking the bus. It’s great exercise for you and the kids, and it gives you some time together before and after those busy school days. The National Center for Safe Routes to School has links to state and local organizations with Safe Route to School programs.
- Annie | My Bio & Articles
What other ideas do you have for making back to school more sustainable?
Image Credit: alberto.quaglia.
I love bare feet, Dr. Bronner's, cotton skirts, summer rain, winter snow, new places, open-minded people, deep conversations.
I had a (short-lived) natural products company while I was in college: The Full Nelson Natural Products...
