Top 5 Ways to Go Green with Back to School Shopping
We all wish summer could last forever, but soon the lazy days will give way to tight schedules of back to school. And that means it’s time to start thinking about school supplies for the new year.
We have pulled together some great ideas on how you can take some small steps that have a big impact on being more eco-friendly this school year. These are some of our favourites for Metro Vancouver families:
Litterless Lunches
What we love about this:
No surprise that we love litterless lunch kits whether they are bento style or more traditional. Not only are you eliminating the need for hundreds of plastic bags but you are opening up the possibility for more varied and interesting lunch options. Check out our amazing list of back to school snacks ideas.
Some of our favourites:
3 sprouts , Systema, Bentgo, Go Green, Yumbox
Recycled Backpacks
What we love about this:
We are not talking hand-me-downs from and older brother here ( although we do like to reuse within the family when ever possible) . We mean new back packs made with recycled materials.
Our Favourites: Ecogear
Innovative Supplies
What we love about this:
The world of school supplies is showing it’s ingenuity when it comes to replacing paper and plastic. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and is being used in place of plastic, biodegradable corn plastics are becoming more common and now there is even water resistance stone paper. “What? It that even a thing?” … it is! The pages in the notebook are tree free! And it will stay dry through the wet winter months which is a great way to cut down on waste.
Our Favourites:
Onyx & Green from London Drugs, The Ultimate Green Store , EcoPaper
Consignment Clothing
What we love about this:
As parents we know that they are some items that your kids hang on to until they are thread bare or full of holes. But there are even more that they wore a handful of times and then grew out of. Consignment stores are a great place to find nearly new stylish outfits for your kids without adding to the land fill. Clothing is a huge part of yearly waste.
Our Favourites:
Once Upon A Child, MacGillycuddy’s Children’s Consignment
Labels on Everything
What we love about this:
Hands down the easiest way to reduce your back to school waste and to keep your sanity is to make sure all the items you buy come home from school. Labeling everything… and we mean EVERYTHING. will save you money and many grey hairs!
Our Favourites:
Mabel’s Labels , Emily Press Reusable Labels
Other ideas!
Check out our Eco Friendly Pinterest board for tons of amazing ideas to make back to school fun & green! Let us know in the comments your favourite eco-friendly back to school items!
Born & raised in Vancouver, and co-founder of Healthy Family Media and the Healthy Family Expo, Angela is a reformed divorce lawyer turned healthy family champion! By day, she thrives on connecting conscious brands with busy Vancouver families. By night, you’ll find her wrangling two feisty daughters, choosing between instant pot or healthy freezer meals for dinner, and singing with MomChoir. She especially loves sharing her favourite family-friendly finds with other Lower Mainland parents!
