Save resources, save cash on school supplies, clothes

School has started up again, and the kids have no doubt been begging for the newest in school supplies, new clothes and radical new shoes. But, going back to school doesn’t mean you have to lose your whole Green sense.

The average family spends $594.26 per child on back-to-school supplies, including clothes and shoes. In fact, too often we turn to disposable supplies to do the job. Did you know that 6 billion pens are thrown away in the U.S. every year! In order to save some money, avoid waste, and keep the planet Green while keeping our kids satisfied with some nifty new supplies, here are some back-to-school Green tips.

Go through the old stuff first: The first thing is to pull out last year’s supplies and see what can be re-used. The rectangular pink eraser, ruler, pens, pencils, and scissors are always top of the list. After you’ve gone through your current school supplies and determined what can be reused, make a list of what is needed.

Only on the list: Just like the Grocery Golden Rule – purchase only what’s on the list. Don’t fall for any fancy packaging or displays at the store. If it’s not on your list, you don’t need it.

Buy only the amount needed: If your school list requires two ballpoint pens, buy two. Resist the urge to purchase the package of 24 disposable pens. The other 22 will sit at the bottom of the drawer until they dry up and you have to throw them out. (How many pens do you have in your kitchen drawer? Donate some of these to the cause and clean out your drawer at the same time.)

Buy Green when you can: Refillable pens and biodegradable pencils, with recycled options for both, can be found. You may have to search, but they’re out there.

Green paper: Paper is always on the school list, so make sure your choice is post-consumer recycled paper and that the school recycles its paper, too! The average school tosses 38 tons of paper – the equivalent of 644 trees – each year.

Buy durable: It can be hard, but try passing up the adorable pink and blue character backpacks with the silk-screened imprints on vinyl. They may be cute and your child is begging for them, but you’ll be lucky if they last till Christmas. One year, I really bit the bullet and bought my middle school kids expensive back packs. They were from a well-known sports retailer. They were extremely good quality, with heavily padded shoulder straps with lots of pockets and zippers. They were probably three times as expensive as the regular backpacks, but I knew they would last more than a year. They are now about 10 years old and some of my kids are still using them for traveling, overnight bags, etc. They turned out to be a wise investment.

Give up the brown bag: There are better alternatives than the ol’ bag for lunches. Avoid vinyl lunch boxes, which have been shown to contain harmful levels of lead. Try investing in a PVC-free, thermally insulated bag from organic cotton or recycled juice boxes. Give up the baggie system, too, and purchase re-usable plastic containers. See how much the cafeteria trash can will shrink!

Back-to-school wardrobe: This doesn’t mean everything has to be brand new. If you don’t have hand-me-downs, then try hitting some thrift stores. Kids can really get into the incredible prices at thrift stores. When they see they can find cool shirts for $1.99, or a pair of jeans for $2 or $3, their whole world may change. And, you’re helping to keep these clothes out of the landfill. Local thrift stores almost always support a social service agency in the community. Supporting thrift stores keeps them open and encourages folks to donate the items rather than dumping them. It’s a win-win situation. After going through the hand-me-downs and thrift shop, and you still need some new threads, keep looking until you find the organic cotton or bamboo clothing. These items are far better for the earth than regular fabrics.

Even though not everything will be new, the kids will enjoy getting into the Green of things. After all, anyone who has kids will tell you ... they are the Green police! Happy school year!