Green Culture Inspiration - School Supplies
You can take the “reduce, recycle, and reuse” approach to school supplies by taking stock of what you already may have or having a school supply swap with friends or even taking what you have and making something new from it. The “reuse” aspect of the “3 Rs” can be fun for students, but if you must buy new for school supplies look for fun, sometimes-fashionable, kid-friendly, eco-conscious choices from paper and art supplies to backpacks.
For paper, pencils, and folders that your older child or teen can feel good about, guide your browser to Green Earth Office Supply. Recycled lined notebook paper runs you around $6.00 for pack of 200 sheets. Recycled pencils (including those cool ones made from old jeans or recycled newsprint) come in about 10 different varieties. Binders are made from a number of different recycled materials including, rubber, cardboard, and even old circuit boards. Their Hannah Montana or Jonas Brothers stickers will look just as good on an eco-friendly binder.
For the small children, you might choose colorful non-petroleum-based soy crayons or non-toxic beauties made from salvaged wood. Colored pencils made from reforested wood, “gourmet” scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers, eco finger paints, and environmentally-friendly markers made of waxed recycled paper containing inks have been made without using heavy metals or xylene or toluene solvents complete their little art kits.
Other sources for school supplies include Dolphin Blue, which has been selling eco-friendly office supplies since 1994 as well as the more easily accessible Office Max and Office Depot, just look for the “recycled” or “green” labels on their products.
There is a cool school supply that even adults who pack work lunches or dig outdoor adventures can use: the Wrap-n-Mat washable, reusable sandwich wrapper that is also a place mat.
You want the bag containing your new school supplies to be as eco-conscious as the items contained within it. Don’t worry, your kids don’t have to settle for toting their goods around in a paper bag. Hemp Sisters makes stylish messenger bags, laptop bags and backpacks out of durable, pesticide-free hemp. Or choose sturdy and funky rubber backpacks made out of recycled tires also from Green Earth Office Supply. Baum makes hot-looking recycled advertising bags and packs or choose these whimsical, PVC-free backpacks made in smaller sizes to fit smaller kids.
Some final thoughts on making your school supplies greener: Get other parents together and buy in bulk. If you are ordering online, order several reams of paper and bigger boxes of pencils or paints and split the shipping. Lastly, don’t give your kids all their supplies at once. Dole them out as needed.
