Back To School The Eco Friendly Way

1. Reuse Before You Rebuy School Supplies

• Last year’s notebooks that still have paper left will work just fine this year too. There is no need to buy duplicates of common school supplies when you have an inventory at home. The folders may show pictures of this year’s hottest pop stars, but they will store papers just as well. Pencils may not be as long, but if they have lead left in them, they will still get the job done. Not only will recycling school supplies help the environment, it will also help your wallet. Eco-friendly school supplies are also a creative way to help our planet. Check out this link for more ideas: Real Simple Eco Friendly Ways For Back To School

2. Try Creative Clothes Shopping

• The cost of new clothes for kids skyrockets every summer when back-to-school shopping is at its peak. However, there are alternatives out there for trendy kids and teens who want to shop in an eco friendly way. Thrift stores are all the rage for adults, and this shopping experience can make the trend exciting for kids too. Find designer clothes at a fraction of the price in your hometown’s second hand store, or go online to find some great deals. Gently used, no one will even know that your jeans are not brand new. Your kids are sure to turn heads when they go back to school wearing the hottest brand names, and only they will know the number on the price tag.

3. Find a Green Way to Get to School

• If driving your kids to school has become a habit, consider one of these eco-friendly ways to get your kids on their way. Walking, riding their bikes, or taking their scooter is a fun alternative if they live close to their school. Otherwise, taking the bus or participating in a car pool with other families is a great way to save gas and reduce your carbon footprint by reducing pollution.

4. Prepare Gourmet Lunches That are Green

• Grabbing a pre-made snack pack or deli lunch for your kids to take to school may be easy, but the packaging they come in will just add to the enormous amount of garbage that gets dumped into landfills each day. Alternatively, packing food from home in plastic containers that can be reused, and having your kids carry lunchboxes rather than brown paper bags that get tossed in the trash, will help your children do their part to improve the environment. . Put lunchbox on your list when you shop at your local second-hand stores, and watch your children’s excitement as they find just the right one.

5. Teach Your Kids How to Recycle in the Classroom

• Oftentimes, parents are the ones who sort through the trash at home and pull out the recyclable items. Teaching your kids what items can be recycled and how to properly dispose of them will enable them to continue your recycling efforts during the school day. Learn more about ways your kid’s school can participate here: