As kids think about going back to school, parents think about the school supplies that need to be purchased. Today’s trend is to go green—which means to reduce, re-use and recycle whenever and whatever possible. There are many choices for going green when going back to school.
Pens and Pencils
Did you know that you can buy recycled pencils that have been made from 100% newspaper? There is even a brand where the pencils have scents like peppermint, cinnamon and watermelon. . Don’t forget the old standby, a mechanical pencil. Both the lead and the eraser can be refilled, making these highly reusable. Both of these items could make fun little gifts for the student returning to school.
According to Eco-action.net, over 6 billion pens are discarded every year. Why not try biodegradable pens? They do exist. Typical pens are made from oil based products and often use materials such as steel, nylon and polyester. Biodegradable pens are made from natural materials and can be up to 98% biodegradable. That doesn’t mean you should throw away all your current pens into the landfill but does mean you could look for the biodegradable type when you are making your next purchase. Various companies make recycled markers and markers are usually on a back to school list.
Other available recycled items that might be on your student’s supply list include paper clips, rulers, and index cards.
Paper
Speaking of index cards, changing how you use paper items is a big step toward going green, going back to school. Even though kids are increasingly using technology and not printing as much as they used to, there continues to be the need to focus on recycling and recycled papers.
Recycled printer paper can be purchased just about anywhere in the United States. Notebooks and binders can be found that are made of recycled paper. Don’t forget to recycle that paper yourself when you and your kids are done with it. And, of course, remember to recycle your used printer and toner cartridges from home.
Calculators
Most students require a calculator at some point in their studies and recycled calculators are available by some major calculator manufacturers. Canon is best known for producing a recycled calculator made from previously discarded machines and recycling them. In addition, the packaging, labels and manuals are made from recycled paper.
PVC-free Backpacks
On another note, environmentally friendly school supplies include PVC-free backpacks and school lunchboxes. PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride and is thought to contain additives that are able to leach out into the environment and are also thought to be linked to certain chronic diseases in children.
A good resource to learn about PVC-friendly school supplies is Chej.org. This organization also offers a Back to School Guide to PVC-free School Supplies that is available in a format that can be downloaded in a wallet sized version so that you can have it with you when shopping.
Since some lunchboxes can be made with PVC material, consider using recycled bags or re-usable soft sided containers. Often, these are insulated to keep foods cold as well. These are easy to find in your local stores.
How to Find Green Supplies
You can ‘google’ any of these items to find the various companies that manufacture and sell these recycled school supplies. You’ll be sure to find many more ideas along the way.
So remember. It’s more than back to school time. It’s going back to school green.
Lesley Radocy - HI. I am a Registered Nurse by profession and have been the Vice President of Patient Care at a hospital in Colorado for the past eight ...
Join the Conversation