Eco-Friendly School Supplies
August 29, 2008 by Megan
It’s almost time for that much anticipated first day of school. For some of your kids, this is their first school year. Children may be excited or nervous. Preparation is key to alleviating some of the first day jitters. This week I’ll highlight some popular eco-friendly alternatives to school supplies.
Paper, pens, notebooks…you know your child needs them. Many companies now offer sustainable products as a safer alternative for your kids and the environment. Choose recycled paper, pens/pencils, notebooks, scissors and more when shopping at your office supply companies such as Office Depot, Office Max, and Staples.
My preconceived notion of recycled anything was that it was drab…both in color and quality. I was pleasantly surprised to find an array of companies sporting stylish eco-friendly school supplies.
Traditional paper is bleached with chlorine which creates dioxins. Choose recycled, chlorine-free paper or tree-free paper from one of the following companies:
New Leaf Paper (available at Whole Foods)
Poo Poo Paper (yes…it’s made from Elephant Dung!)
For more information on dioxins, read this WHO article on it’s inherent hazards
In your search for eco-friendly school supplies, look for products stating they are recycled and/or post-consumer. Here is a shopping list of sustainable school supplies:
Recycled Notebooks:
Ecojot’s stylish selection of recycled notebooks are simply adorable! (available at Barnes and Noble)
Sukie’s Rescued Paper Notebooks are assembled in India (available at Mod Cloth)
EcoPaper’s Banana Paper Recycled Notebooks are stylish and affordable at only $4.99
Recycled/Eco-Friendly Pens, Pencils, and Crayons:
Fresh Impressions’ Slim Eco Pens are made from cornstarch and 80% biodegradable materials.
Stubby Pencil Studio has a vast assortment of pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers and soy crayons.
Smencils’ Gourmet Scented Pencils are made from recycled newspapers and maintain their scent for two years. Yum!
Creativity for Kids’ EcoPencils come in 12 colors and are made with 100% FSC certified reforested wood.
I always wonder whether or not those Crayola Crayons my son loves to put in his mouth are really non-toxic. A better alternative is the increasingly popular soybean crayons made from environmentally friendly soybean oil. Check them out on Prang Power or Crayon Rocks.
Stockmar’s Beeswax crayons are made in Germany without additives. Purchase them on Amazon.com.
Note: Many Australian and British companies carry eco-friendly office and school supplies but I was unable to locate an online or brick and mortar store to purchase these products.
Misc.
KleenEarth’s Steel Children’s Safety Scissors contain 70% recycled plastic handles.
TerraCycle’s Eco-Binder is made from 100% recycled paper and 90% recycled steel. Available at Office Max.
Earth Hugger’s Recycled Rulers are made from recycled polystyrene packaging and come in pink and blue.
Check out this Brit-inspired Eco-Stapler which clips 3 pages together by cutting and folding the paper in one action. It’s a great way to save on staples unless you need to clip more than three pages together. Buy a similar version on SharperBrand.com.
I know you’re very familiar with the uniquely handcrafted inspirations
available on Etsy. What you may not know is that they have an entire eco-friendly selection although you’ll have to search for it. Check out SoSheSews Eco Pencil Cases from Recycled Plastic Bags. And while you’re there, check out the almost 300 school-related items that make the eco-grade!
Next week I’ll highlight the hippest eco-fashions around to find that perfect first day outfit!
This is a great resource for eco-families! Hopefully one change at a time can start here.