The school year means a variety of supplies, and it is easy to choose a variety of eco-friendly school supplies. From school lunches to recycled paper notebooks, you can easily make small changes that help the environment. Here are some easy changes you can make to be more eco-friendly.
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Reuse and shop used
Many of us are in a habit of buying a new backpack every year, but backpacks and many other school items can be reused. I also like to shop at consignment shops, where you can find like new clothes and other items at a deep discount.
Reusable bottles and drink containers
Drink containers are a great way to go sustainable. A good water bottle is a great way to reduce waste. I also like to encourage my kids to drink water, so a refillable water bottle is a perfect habit as far as both being eco-friendly and healthy as well.
If you are a parent or older student, a reusable mug for coffee, tea, etc. is a great addition to your daily routine. You could save hundreds of disposable cups in a year by making a simple switch.
Reusable food containers
Reduce lunch waste by using a reusable lunch bag as well as containers, from a thermos to snack containers and even reusable snack baggies. Instead of buying snacks in small bags, you can buy food in bulk packaging, and make your own packages using reusable containers. For example, purchase a large container of goldfish or pretzels, and divide it up yourself.
Recycled paper and other products
It is easy to find recycled paper products, and there is a wide variety of other recycled items available, from pens to other items. I absolutely love these Decomposition Notebooks!
Eco-friendly cleaning
Along with back to school comes dirty clothes and sports equipment. You can help the environment and have a more natural home by switching to laundry supplies such as natural laundry detergent, which does not have chemicals, from optical brighteners to synthetic fragrances. You can also line-dry laundry to reduce energy consumption.
Recycle
Make sure to recycle what you can, from paper to plastic. If there is not recycling available at school, bring home recyclable items if possible.
Travel smart
There are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to the school year. If possible, don’t leave your car idling in pickup lines, and carpool when possible. Public transportation, walking, and biking are also great options for going green.
We recycle as much as possible and use reusable products where possible. I agree, a good water bottle is great to reduce waste.
Packing my sons lunch every morning I always wonder on different ways I could recycle! There is always so much plastic!
We also recycle here at our home, and I just purchased some recycled water bottles for the boys which are really nice.
These are great ideas. My boys use reusable water bottles at school.
I try to do a lot of these! We have reusable bottles and use them often. We also recycle!
This is such a great list, I love using reusable food containers.
I have been lucky, my kids get used to something and they carry it until it falls apart. These are all great ideas!
These are fantastic tips, most of which I already do. I think the one I could try to work a little harder at is reusing and shopping for used!
My son takes a reusable water bottle to school. He is allowed to keep it on his desk to sip on as needed.
Thank you for these tips. All great tips. I know I can do more on my part.
We try to use as many reusable containers and bags as possible. I can’t stand all the trash from school lunches!
These are great ideas! We do many of them already, but travel was one I hadn’t thought much about.
I love the idea to use recycled and reusable items. It’s a great example for our kid. They will do in the future what we are doing now!
Those “Decomposition Books” are so cool, I definitely should order those for my girls this school year. Thanks for sharing!
I love this whole idea of reusing things for the school year. It teaches our children a great lesson about preserving and reusing.
When we picked up our son at school before, we would always turn the car engine off while waiting. We also reuse and recycle.
Reusable water and food containers are the best simple ways!!
These are such great items and ideas 🙂 I already use reusable containers, bottles, eco-friendly detergents and clothing.
These are wonderful tips; we recycle everything that is marked recycle on it label to save the planet as well.
These are great tips! I agree with you regarding the use of reusable bottles and food containers. Love these recycleable notebooks. Will check them out.
We use a reusable water bottle and containers but I am guilty of using plastic baggies for their morning snack. I’m thinking of switching to paper.
I am not familiar with this information. It is quite beneficial to me. I appreciate you sharing.