How to Easily Switch to Eco-Friendly School Supplies

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purchase something.  It does NOT change your purchase in any way.

Click HERE to go right to my Go-To List of
Eco-Friendly School Supplies on Amazon!

I can’t believe it!  Summer is almost over and it seems like it just started!

Time to put our heads down and get to work on getting back to school – including tackling those school supply lists!

This year mix it up a bit and keep living green in mind.  School supply lists are a great place to make some simple swaps and switch to eco-friendly school supplies instead.

What’s that?  Do I hear moaning and groaning about adding one more thing to your To-Do list?  I know, making sure you get everything on the list is hard enough – you can’t possibly switch to eco-friendly school supplies too, right?

Wrong!  In this post, I’ll share super simple ways to make some swaps and give you a quick, easy-to-reference list of eco-friendly school supplies to buy instead.

Click HERE to go right to my Go-To List of
Eco-Friendly School Supplies on Amazon!

Reuse Supplies

One of the easiest ways to switch to eco-friendly school supplies is to reuse items you already have!  My kids LOVE shopping for school supplies so this option isn’t as fun for them but I can usually distract them with some other treat!  Sneaky!

Do you really need a brand new box of pencils or do you have enough left from last year?  Can you tear out the used 20 pages from last year’s composition book instead of buying a brand new one?  And, is there enough glue left in your glue sticks?

If you do find yourself with school supplies you can’t use or have more than you need, check out my post, “How To Easily Reuse, Recycle Or Donate School Supplies” to find out how to get rid of them in eco-friendly ways.

Simple Swaps

I’ve done all of the online searching for you and pulled together a quick, go-to list of eco-friendly school supplies and where to get them.  These are items that appear on my middle and high schoolers lists. (Yep, I’m surrounded by tweens and teens! :0)

In some cases, you can pick up these eco-friendly school supplies on your regular grocery store run.  Others are available on Amazon and a few are only available through specialty retailers.

How green you go with school supplies is totally up to you.  Pick one or two things to swap out or go all in. Anything you do – no matter how small – is a green step in the right direction!

Ready?

Eco-Friendly School Supplies List

Classroom Supplies

Choosing paper made from recycled paper may not seem like a big deal, but it is!

Think about it, if you use 100% recycled paper that paper is made from other paper – NOT trees.  Using recycled paper keeps tons of paper waste from being sent to landfills.  It also means that no new trees are cut down in order to manufacture that paper, making it better for the environment.

In addition to choosing recycled paper options, you’ll also notice products on the list that are made from a more easily recycled material like the tin pencil box.  I’ve chosen this instead of a plastic version because metal can be recycled over and over, plastic can’t.

Other items (erasers) are on this list simply because they are manufactured in a more sustainable way which is better for the environment.

Recycled Paper Index Cards
https://amzn.to/2Swl1Dg

Non-Toxic White Glue Stick
https://amzn.to/2LE1zEa

Tin Pencil Box
http://amzn.to/2wymDB7

Eco-Friendly #2 Pencils
http://amzn.to/2hNNp58

Wide Ruled Recycled Filler Paper
https://amzn.to/2YbF4rS

College Ruled Recycled Filler Paper
https://amzn.to/2SzjoFa

Recycled Colored Pencils
https://amzn.to/2SArTzt

Large Recycled Rubber Eraser
http://amzn.to/2vrCRMo

Recycled Paper Spiral Notebooks
https://amzn.to/2JZ6wEm

Eco-Friendly Scissors
https://amzn.to/2K2zbIs

Stainless Steel Ruler
https://amzn.to/2XXkBvC

Recycled Paper Dividers
https://amzn.to/2YbKH9z

Recycled Paper Sticky Notes
https://fave.co/2y38Gx0
http://amzn.to/2hOncnc

Recycled Paper Pocket Folders
https://amzn.to/2LES9YV

Eco-Friendly Binder
https://amzn.to/2LDXujl

Recycled Plastic Pens
https://amzn.to/2Y82IWk

Stainless Steel Compass
https://amzn.to/2JZ7XCA

Stainless Steel Protractor
https://amzn.to/2K6dE1w

Click HERE to go right to my Go-To List of
Eco-Friendly School Supplies on Amazon!

Classroom Cleaners

Due to budget constraints, many teachers request donations of cleaning and sanitizing products from each family.  In this case, I’ve listed products that contain fewer toxins (wipes) that are safer for your kids and the environment.

You’ll also see more 100% recycled paper products.  In addition to being recycled, the paper towels and tissues are whitened with non-chlorine bleach.  Chlorine bleach, if disposed of by manufacturers into local waterways, is harmful to wildlife and water ecosystems.

Recycled Paper Towels
http://amzn.to/2vrglTB

Disinfecting Wet Wipes
https://amzn.to/2yeAvTf

Recycled Paper Tissue Box
http://amzn.to/2uLp6Gj

Lunch Supplies

In addition to all those classroom supplies, you are going to need supplies for all of the many, many lunches you are going to be packing!  Your favorite! 🙂

Lunch supplies are a GREAT place to switch to more eco-friendly school supplies.  Once you stock up at the start of the year, you’re set! The items here make the list because they are reusable and/or easily recyclable.

Lunchskins Recyclable/Sealable bags
https://amzn.to/30X61S4

Lunchskins Reusable Snack/Sandwich bags
https://amzn.to/2LIbxnQ

Lunchskins Reusable Lunch Tote
https://amzn.to/2LIzDPC

Reusable Utensils
https://amzn.to/2Yoq7Hk

Cloth Napkins
http://amzn.to/2vJNpcd

Reusable Container
http://amzn.to/2wyWMZE

Reusable Drink Bottle
https://amzn.to/2YkDNyG

Happy Shopping!

Like I said before, any swap you make – even if it’s just one – is a great green step!  Switching to all eco-friendly school supplies may not work for you.  The important thing is to begin to be more mindful of your purchases and if there is a choice that’s safer, healthier and better for your family and the planet go for it!

Have a GREAT school year!!

Thanks,
Pam

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