Written by MEA Environmental Club founder and president, Megan Phelps School supplies used to be one of my favorite parts of going back to school. I loved the blank notebooks begging to be filled with thoughts and doodles, the colorful sticky notes, and the perfectly sharpened pencil tips. All the do-dads and knick-knacks seemed to promise productivity and organization. When I began to examine my buying patterns, I began to realize that this demand for school supplies was not healthy for the Earth. For example--erasers, glue, markers, mechanical pencils, pens, and binders all contain petroleum. Petroleum is not only harmful to extract (think harmful oil spills from fracking), it also takes thousands of years to break down. Worst of all, plastic (one of the most common forms of petroleum) contains many toxins that have been found to be endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. Not something we want to expose growing kiddos to! The unfortunate truth is that conventional school supplies are just not good for the planet or for our bodies. I compiled the following list to help you and your family move towards more sustainable and healthier choices throughout the school year. You can read it in blog format, or check out our Pinterest board. **Use What You Have!** Before buying anything new, I suggest you search your house for existing items. Make reusing more exciting by sharpening tired pencils, reassembling previously used colored pencils and markers, and “reinventing” old binders by redecorating them with recycled paper. Reusing what you have will help the environment (by reducing the amount of resources needed to make new supplies), and also help your wallet! Last year, I didn’t purchase any new school supplies by just using what we already had around the house. Pencils {Option One} Zebra Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencil $14.95 Eco-friendly how? These can last indefinitely, meaning they require very few resources--so long as your student doesn’t lose them! One reviewer said, "I've had my Zebra pencil for 9½ years now. Yes, almost a decade. It still functions the same as when I bought it...." {Option Two} Forest Choice wooden pencils 12 for $2.95 (less than $0.25 each) Eco-friendly how? FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, a certification given to companies that manage forests sustainably, meaning the pencil is made from responsibly harvested wood. Be sure to compost the shavings! {Option One} TreeSmart StartNow pencils 24 for $8.78 Eco-Write Pencils $0.40 each Recycled Old Money Pencils $0.45 each Eco-friendly how? Instead of cutting down trees, these pencils repurpose materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Erasers {Option One} Recycled Rubber Erasers $0.99 Made by Humans Eco Eraser Sticks $5.99 Eco-friendly how? Conventional erasers are made out of petroleum product. Recycled natural rubber erasers uses natural rubber that might otherwise be thrown away. Plus, they're better for our bodies! Pens {Option One} Zebra Retractable Ballpoint Pen 9 for $14.99 Zebra Pen Refill 2 for $5.16 Eco-friendly how? Instead of throwing away entire pens as soon as they run out of ink, these pens enable consumers to simply purchase new ink--making for less waste. {Option Two} ZEBRA ECO Pen 1 for $1.99 ZEBRA ECO Pen Refills 3 for $2.99 Eco-friendly how? These pens divert materials from the landfill and eliminate demand for new resources, and include the benefits of being refillable (listed above). Folders {Option One} Naked Folders $1.99 Eco-friendly how? I'm sure you know the benefits of recycling by now! Binders {Option One} The Naked Binder Woodie $15 Eco-friendly how? This product is durable, making it perfect if you'd rather not have to replace items year after year. Also, it is made from FSC-certified wood and is 100% recyclable! {Option Two} The Naked Binder $7-9 Eco-friendly how? Made from recycled materials (instead of the typical vinyl and/or plastic), this binder makes use of otherwise landfill-destined materials. Also, it is fully recyclable. Paperclips {Option One} Use what you find Simply look for paperclips scattered on the ground wherever you are--I've collected over 60 within the past few months by doing this! {Option Two} Recycled Steel Paperclips 100 for $1.39 Eco-friendly how? Instead of mining for new metals (which is destructive of the land and harmful to mine workers), these paperclips use recycled materials, and come in a recyclable box! Staples {Option One} Replace them with paper clips! Eco friendly how? Instead of using staples once and then discarding, paperclips provide a reusable alternative. See above for ideas! Glue {Option One} DIY Cornstarch Glue Eco-Friendly how? This glue is made from three food-grade ingredients (cornstarch, water, and white vinegar), making it totally non-toxic (perfect for kids!). Also, you can store it in a glass jar (like we did) for a zero waste version. {Option Two} DIY Flour Paste Eco-friendly how? See above! Colored Pencils {Option One} Lyra Color-Giants $34.95 Eco-friendly how? These ultra durable, richly colored pencils are eco-friendly because they will last for a LONG time! {Option Two} Natural Twig Colored Pencils $6.95 Eco-friendly how? These colored pencils are made from sustainably harvested wood. "The texture of the natural bark adds a great sensory experience to a child's practice of writing or drawing." {Option Three} Recycled 7" Colored Pencils $7.49 Eco-friendly how? These colored pencils are tree-free! Crayons {Option One} Organic Beeswax Stick Crayons $19.95 12 Organic Beeswax Block Crayons $19.95 8 Organic Beeswax Block Crayons $14.95 Eco-friendly how? Beeswax is totally non-toxic, and organic beekeeping promotes colonies of our precious pollinators! Furthermore, these crayons will last for an entire childhood (I still use my beeswax crayons that we've had for about 18 years!). {Option One} Organic Veggie Crayons $11.95 Eco-friendly how? Made from food-grade soy wax, these crayons are colored with vegetable powders and are completely vegan and non-toxic! Keep an eye out for upcoming posts about sustainable paper products, backpacks, and school lunches! Did I miss anything? Tell me in the comments below! This blog post was written by Environmental Club founder and president Megan.
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