Top 5 Green School Supplies

It’s time for school shopping again, and you can make green choices by seeking products that are lighter on the planet. It’s so much easier now than it was a few years ago– just Google “eco school supplies” and you’ll find tons of sites. And the prices are reasonable.

Here are five items from kids to teens that offer up eco qualities.

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1. ID Carrying Case, $12

   For your teenager… this 3×4” colorful fabric ID carrying case is made from eight recycled plastic sachets, and the interior is lined with waterproof plastic. Each one includes a recycled glass key chain on the zipper and a handmade bead charm. The best part? Buying one of these supports A Ban Against Neglect (ABAN) — a non-profit in Ghana that empowers street girls while cleaning up the environment. Purchasing one of these cases provides an ABAN girl with one month of math and English education.

2. Kids EcoGear Panda Backpack, $17.95

   This PVC-free backpack is constructed from cotton with non-toxic dyes and buckles and buttons made of sustainable wood. Plus, it’s machine washable. The roomy backpack comes in four colors, measures 14”x10”x5” and serves double duty as an overnight bag or day pack. For littler kids, EcoGear offers their EcoZoo collection of backpacks that includes panda, monkeys and pigs.

3. Eco Lunch Box, $7-25

   Bringing your own lunch is cool again, and what better way to store it than these sleek, waste-free, stainless steel lunch boxes. Buy them singly or get the three-in-one bento box. The food-grade stainless steel is dishwasher safe. Reusable containers like these are one easy way to end plastic pollution.

4. Used Textbooks

   The cost of textbooks can really add up (especially for college!), and there’s another cost to the planet: In the U.S. paper comprises 40% of what’s dumped into landfills.

   Buying books secondhand reduces waste and puts money in your pocketbook. Washington-based Thrift Books offers millions of titles including a wide selection of textbooks for a fraction of the “new book” price. Plus, shipping is FREE!

5. Pens, Scissors and More – oh my!

   Get the world’s first biodegradable pen made from corn. Constructed from Mater-Bi (a material derived from corn starch), these pens break down completely only eight months after being discarded in your compost bin. Acme KleenEarth stainless steel scissors have handles made from 70% recycled plastic. And check out this 12-piece set of math tools made from corn plastic! The product is made with 85% post-industrial recycled material, and the packaging is 100% biodegradable. The set includes compass, protractor, triangles, pencils, ruler and more.

This post is featured at Tuned-In Tuesdays, Small Footprint Fridays and Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.