8 Easy Tips For A Greener Back-to-School Season

Your kids are excited to start their first day of school. And you want to start them off on the right foot. Here are some simple tips for a greener, healthier back-to-school season. (From TheGreenOffice.com)

1. Reuse, reuse, reuse. You may be able to reuse some of last year’s school supplies instead of buying everything new. Check to make sure there isn’t a set of markers lurking in your kid’s room somewhere. If you do have to buy new, look for reusable products, such as a refillable, biodegradable Triggerwood pen made from FSC-certified wood, or recycled binders by Rebinder, which have replaceable covers. Instead of buying all new books, try looking in a local used bookstore for textbooks.
2. Creativity is in. Toxins are out. Make sure to only use art supplies that are labeled “AP Certified Non-Toxic”. We like Foohy® nontoxic colored pencils and Prang® washable watercolors. While you’re at it, make sure your kids’ school supplies don’t contain PVC, a toxic substance found in many vinyl products. Check out CHEJ’s PVC-Free Back-to-School Guide for safer alternatives, available at www.chej.org.
3. Aim high! In order for something to be called “recycled,” it must contain at least 30% recycled content. But why go for the bare minimum? A product made with 100% recycled (preferably post-consumer) material has the least impact on the environment. We like Aspen™ 100 multipurpose paper, a white, acid-free paper made without the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds.
4. Check the labels. You check the labels on your kids’ food. Now you can check the labels on your kids’ school supplies. TheGreenOffice.com ranks all its products based on recycled content, biodegradability, compostability, reduced chemical content, and third-party certification (such as EPA and Energy Star). Now you can know, at-a-glance, if what you’re buying is as green as you think.
5. Keep kids clean, naturally. Research shows conventional antibacterial gels may do more harm than good. Good thing there are now healthier alternatives. Clean Well makes an all-natural, plant-based hand sanitizer, available at Whole Foods and other natural foods grocers. It’s alcohol-free and proven to kill 99.99% of germs.
6. Reduce lunch waste. Purchase snacks and beverages in bulk rather than individual packages. Try packing food in reusable containers and giving kids reusable cutlery, such as Spudware utensils, which are compostable and can be reused up to 5 years.
7. Eco-friendly transportation. Encourage your kids to ride their bikes, take the bus or walk with friends to school. It’s easier on the environment… and your budget!
8. Mighty little energy savers. Teach your kids how to be mighty little energy savers by encouraging them to turn off lights when they’re not needed, unplug machines and chargers and power down their computers at night. By replacing your incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), you’ll be using 75% less power with a bulb that lasts up to 10 times longer.