Back to School: Eco-Friendly Supplies and Lunch Ideas

As we gear up for another school year it’s the perfect time to embrace eco-friendly alternatives that not only benefit our planet but also enhance our health and daily routines. Whether your kid is heading to K-12 or off to college, we’ve got a perfectly curated collection of products to make this school year greener than ever. 

The Waste Problem in Schools

Public schools in the US produce over 14,500 tons of waste every single day. Recycling and composting rates are low at schools. As a result, many schools rely on trash disposal to deal with their plastic and food waste. It’s important not only for school administrators, but kids & parents as well, to boost recycling and composting at the schools but also to utilize zero waste products that are refillable, reusable, and/or can be recycled or composted at end of use. 

It’s important to advocate to the school district, principal, or community about effective alternatives to waste production ranging from the products you purchase, to educating about and providing appropriate bins for recycling and composting, to creating school supply banks of items that can be reused the next year. Movements like these can make huge differences in the livelihoods of future cohorts. 

Greener Back-to-School Supplies

The traditional back-to-school shopping frenzy contributes significantly to environmental waste. Majority of the time, new is not needed! The first place to start in creating a greener school year is to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle what you already have. Start with reviewing what you have and what you can repurpose or continue using like pens with ink left, notebooks with blank pages, and even just patching up & fixing pencil bags or backpacks instead of replacing entirely. 

We’ve curated a great selection of back-to-school essentials that are zero-waste and great alternatives to conventional school supplies.

	Decomposition Notebook These notebooks are made from 100% recycled materials. Available in two designs, this decomposition notebook is perfect for class notes. Plus, they are made in the USA and can be composted or recycled at its end of life. $10.99
	Stasher Snack and Sandwich Bag Say goodbye to plastic snack or sandwich bags! These Stashers are incredibly convenient, durable, and easy to use over and over again. They are perfect for school snacks and lunch and they can easily be cleaned for use the next day. Stashers are dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe.  $10.99 - $33.29
	Compostable Sandwich Bags Another great alternative for plastic snack and sandwich bags are these compostable sandwich bags. These are reusable and have strong resealable zippers that are leak resistant and good for the fridge and freezer. These bags are compostable.  $7.99
	Bamboo Utensil Set Plastic utensils, along with other disposable lunch products, like straws and bags make up roughly 67 pounds of waste during a nine-month school year. It’s time to say NO to plastic utensils with this handy bamboo utensil set that is easy to use, clean and reuse! They also come with a carrying case for easy transport.  $14.99
	Unpaper Towels A lot of napkins and paper towels in schools end up in the landfill vs. being composted correctly. Reusable paper towels are a great alternative to traditional disposable paper towels. They are durable, highly absorbent, and can be rinsed and reused over and over again!  $2.59 - $29.99
	College Essentials Bundle Available in a mini and deluxe size, the college essentials bundle includes a variety of sustainable products for cleaning, laundry, brushing your teeth, and more at the dorms or college housing.  $40.89 - $74.19
	Laundry Soda Tin Doing laundry whilst in the dorms or college housing may not be the easiest, but we’ve got a convenient way to do it more sustainably. Traditional laundry pods or detergent is filled with plastic, dyes, and more that are not great for you or your skin. This Laundry Soda is a highly concentrated formula that dissolves quickly and cleans your clothes effortlessly. Each tin cleans up to 100 loads as you only need 1 tablespoon per regular load. Plus, it’s refillable at Tare Market.  $30.99
	Textile Recycling Bag We get it — as your child is growing, they outgrow their clothes and need new ones that actually fit, or they fall and rip their clothes. The Take Back Bag is a great way to start a circular revolution and end fashion waste. Whether the textiles are wearable, or they are torn/un-repairable, you can send it in to Trashie to recycle and/or repurpose.  $21.99

As we embark on this new school year, let’s remember that sustainability begins with small, intentional choices. By opting for even just one eco-friendly alternative and practicing the three R’s, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, we not only lessen our environmental impact but also set a powerful example for future generations. 

Together, let’s make this school year not just about learning in the classroom, but also about educating ourselves and our communities on the importance of sustainable practices. One person can make a huge difference. Here’s to a year filled with creativity, learning, and a commitment to a greener, healthier planet.

We wish you all a safe and exciting school year! 

Sources:

• https://escholarship.org/content/qt3934c4zh/qt3934c4zh_noSplash_aba91153fd1417ff27084a74a6b25fd3.pdf?t=rf25og