It’s that time of year when school supplies need to be replenished. This provides an opportunity to think of environmentally friendly ways to stock up on necessities, such as pencils, paper, and notebooks.
However, instead of mindlessly grabbing whatever is stocked on the shelves, take some time to search for eco-friendly items. First, think recycle! Although pencils aren’t high on the list of green living offenders, some are painted or lacquered over. Pencils can be recycled from newspapers, cedar wood or even blue jeans. Anything that is recyclable can be used to turn an object into something “green.”
Some other items that can be made from recycled materials include:
*Pens
*Paper
*Notebooks
*Binders
If a backpack or lunchbox is in need of replacing, consider an eco-friendly, washable one. Many families use brown paper bags to send lunches in, but why not consider lunch containers made of natural fiber? Also consider the fact that many backpacks are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is considered to be plastic poison. Instead, look for backpacks that are made of polyester or nylon.
There is a misconception that going green with school supplies means giving up the cutesy, trendy designs often found on pencils and notebooks. Recycled school supplies do not necessarily mean drab and dull. Stylish designs can be found on recycled products as well.
It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on recycled and environmentally friendly school supplies. Recycled and eco-friendly school supplies are made by popular brands like Paper Mate and Pilot. Retailers, like Staples, are also producing “green” school supplies.
So if you are in the market to replace a backpack or lunchbox, or if you need to stock up on more school supplies, take the time to research “green” options.
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