I remember as a child the thrill of picking out school supplies in August for the upcoming year. What fancy new pens would be hanging next to the designer notebooks?  Which color would I pick for a new book bag? I gave little thought to reusing last year’s crayons and pencils, or analyzing how environmentally friendly the products were. 

Later, as a graduate student, I made an effort to make more eco-friendly choices, including reusing anything I already had, like lasts year’s binders.  I also tried buying notebooks made from recycled materials, a refillable pen, and a greener laptop with an eco-friendly shoulder bag.

Today, we have easy access to information about products’ environmental impact to make better decisions.  Here’s how.

PVC

Many of today’s school supplies are PVC-laden and expose us to toxins such as phthalates, lead and cadmium. When PVC is manufactured, it releases dioxins into the air and water, which can result in cancer and reproductive and immune disorders.  To identify products made with PVC, look for the number “3” or “vinyl” stamped on them—like three-ring binders, shiny umbrellas, backpacks, and some lunchboxes and containers.

BPA

Many of us have switched to BPA-free water bottles because of the scare about bisphenol-A and its negative effects on the brain, behavior and fetuses.  Look for the BPA-free label when buying plastic beverage bottles and other plastic containers.  Avoid using number 3 and number 7 plastic, and avoid microwaving food in plastic containers because the heat breaks down the chemicals in the plastic and releases them.  This even applies to plastic water bottles and containers left in a hot car.  Good Housekeeping’s lab recently studied various everyday plastics to see if plastic wraps and containers contained toxic chemicals, with varying results. 

Pens, Pencils and Crayons

Look for pencils made from materials such as FSC-certified wood from sustainable forests, like Forest Choice pencils, or Papermate’s biodegradable pens and pencils.  Alternatively, use refillable pens or pencils. For nontoxic crayons, check out soy crayons by companies like Prang.

Backpacks

For little ones, check out the adorable backpacks and lunch kits at Dabbawalla that are PVC- and lead-free and are Oeko-Tex–certified products.  Another bonus: they are machine-washable. 

For bigger kids and adults, check out the wide selection of eco-backpacks available at REI, many of which are made from PET recycled plastic bottles.  The Nikole Day Bag boasts that each bag keeps 28 plastic bottles out of the landfill. Alternatively, check out Dakine’s Project Blue backpack, developed to support our oceans and beaches. This pack is PVC-free, constructed with PET nylon materials, and as a bonus, Dakine donates $2 from the sale of each pack to the Surfrider Foundation.

Lunches

For eco-friendly lunch packing needs, check out Kids Konserve for BPA-free containers and cute lunch bags with trimmings, including reusable sandwich wraps and icepacks.  Throw in a reusable spork, a cloth napkin and a BPA-free water bottle and you’re set to go!  For stainless steel products, check out Lunchbots that have compartments for easy packing.  For a longer-term investment in a slick, cutting edge lunch system, check out Bento Boxes.

Paper Products

For spiral notebooks, search Staples for their Sustainable Earth notebook, made from 80% sugarcane waste.  Walgreens carries notebooks made by Oxford, which makes paper out of limestone and polypropylene to save trees, generate less waste and use less energy during manufacturing.  Look for loose-leaf paper that has a high-recycled content.

Rain Gear

See the selection of PVC-free rain gear for little ones, courtesy of Evergreen Moms, and find 100% natural rubber boots for kids at Target.

For more ideas:

• Center for Health, Environment and Justice:  Offers a downloadable wallet guide and information on other plastics to avoid. 
• Recycling products you no longer need: Consider Goodwill or other charities, or check out Earth911 for advice on how to recycle just about anything. 
• Read more about how the products we use are affecting the environment here.

It takes a little searching to switch to earth-friendly supplies, but your efforts will pay off in the end.  If choices are limited in your area, check out sites like Stubby Pencil Studio, a one-stop shopping site for innovative school supplies.

Written by :

Linda J Fox