It’s not just a color and it’s more than just a trend. Green should be a way of life. Teaching your kids, instilling eco-friendly values and providing opportunities to be “green” sets the stage for ongoing environmental stewardship.
The back-to-school season is synonymous with shopping trips to stock up on a variety of school supplies. Before you head out this summer to purchase loads of new items, get creative on how you can “color” your kids green and be eco-friendly with your back-to-school preparations.
Here are some suggestions on how to get started:
- Think Reuse First! Take stock of what you have leftover from the previous school year and use those items first before buying new. Check your supply of pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, erasers, pencil cases, folders and notebooks. You will likely find unused, barely used and reusable supplies.
- Hit Garage Sales and Resale Shops. Kids grow fast…often faster than they wear out their clothes. You can find namebrand items in great condition for a fraction of the price. Keep a lookout for backpacks and lunch bags too. Fabric bags clean up nicely on the gentle cycle in the clothes washer. Decorate old or used backpacks and lunch bags with fabric markers, beads, patches and other items for a fresh and unique look.
- Look for “recycled content.” School supplies commonly found with recycled content include notebooks, writing paper and binders as well as pencils and pens. Also look for minimally packaged items. For example, buy individual notebooks instead of packs of notebooks wrapped in plastic. Remember…it’s the small steps that lead to big changes.
- Here is a simple, delicious and eco-friendly recipe for a waste-free lunch.
- Start with a reusable lunch bag/box. Add the following in any order.
- Fold in a fabric napkin. Any size or pattern will do. Let your child personalize it with fabric paints and markers.
- Add reusable utensils. Use pieces from your own everyday set or pick up spare utensils from your local resale shop or garage sale.
- Pour in a reusable beverage container for water, milk or juice. Thermos brand has insulated drink containers that seal well, have tops that open with a push of a button and have a pop-up straw. The insulation prevents condensation on the outside of the bottle.
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- Mix in reusable fabric snack bags or plastic containers. Zip-lock, Tupperware or other plastic containers work well as do fabric food bags like those found at snacktaxi.com. Whisk in a reusable food thermos for hot foods. Thermos brand makes a size that's good for kids and has a twist-on top that prevents spills.
- Blend in recycling. Choose packaging that can be recycled where you are "lunching." But keep in mind that reusable is best.
- Avoid over-packaged and single-serving size items.
- Assemble together, enjoy and feel good that you are being GREEN.
- Get the kids involved! Ask your kids to brainstorm ways in which they can be green with their back-to-school preparation. Offer an incentive or reward for ideas they come up with and implement.
Remember that little steps in the green direction lead to big changes. Get ready. Get green. Get back to school.
Tracy lives in Royal Oak with her husband and three children. She has a degree in Environmental Policy Studies from MSU and has experience in solid waste management, municipal and commercial recycling, surface water quality management and environmental education. She also helped initiate the Michigan Green School designation at her children’s elementary school. Tracy can be reached at tapurrenhage@aol.com. Website ecosizeme.com
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