Everyday Eco-Habits for Going Back to School
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Once again, summer is flying by…and for many of you, the school year is just around the corner. So I thought I would focus this month’s Everyday Eco-Habits for Everyday People on how to go back to school more sustainably :) Not only will you be helping our earth, but adopting these Eco-Habits might just shorten your to-do list this fall (and we all need a shorter to-do list!).
Picture all of the pencils, crayons, markers, binders, notebooks, books and other items needed for all the kids going back to school. Now imagine all the plastic, toxins, and natural resources used to make those school supplies – it adds up fast and, sadly, much of it ends up going to waste by the end of the school year.! According to the EPA, Americans throw away about 1.6 billion– yes billion - pens a year! And that’s just pens! We also use about 90 million tons of paper each year! Bottom line, buying brand new school supplies every year adds up to a LOT of resources and a LOT of waste.
On top of the resources used and waste created, many school supplies are not only bad for the environment, they’re bad for you and your children’s health. A 2012 study tested the amount of toxic phthalates in children’s school supplies . Phthalates are a type of chemical that soften vinyl plastic. They have been linked to birth defects, early puberty, infertility, asthma, ADHD, obesity and diabetes. The study tested 20 children’s items, including backpacks, binders, and lunch bags, at random. About 75% of these items had high levels of toxic phthalates - yikes. If you have time, check out the entire article. It's mind blowing!
But, as always, there are LOTS of very easy things you can do about this. A few years ago, I wrote a comprehensive post on how Going School Supply-LESS can positively impact your wallet, kids’ health, and the environment. Some of the Eco-Habits I highlighted are: reuse and repurpose what you already have; buy nontoxic, recycled, or reusable products; and purchase waste-free/nontoxic lunch supplies. Nowadays, there are tons of companies that offer sustainably-made school supplies like Wisdom Supply Co, Klean Kanteen, and U-Konserve. My blog post on school supplies goes into much more depth on this eco-habit so make sure to give it a read! Plus, catch up on my interview with Wisdom Supply Co’s Founder, Heather Itzla, on the Realities of our Plastic Problem.
Another great way to increase your sustainable Eco-Habits this fall is to donate your kids’ clothes from last year that no longer fit to organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army, or even to family friends who have younger kids! If your kids are in need of some new clothes for fall, try your best to either buy secondhand or from sustainable brands like Colored Organics, Primary, and California Kids Collection. If you want a longer list of sustainable children's clothing brands check out this article:) And make sure you and your kids are staying hydrated this year while avoiding microplastics by investing in a reusable bottle—some of my favs are on this list!
Whether you’re driving young kids to school or attending college, one of the simplest ways you can live more sustainably this fall is by carpooling, biking, or using public transport. This only takes a couple more minutes of planning and intention, but the payoff is huge! According to the EPA, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year and transportation constitutes the largest sector of greenhouse gas emissions in California. Visit California has a comprehensive list of public transit offered throughout the state—check it out here! Walking or biking to school with your kids can better your family’s health, create more quality time with your kids, and it starts off each day with a rewarding challenge that has major environmental benefits.
Additionally, incorporating more plant-based lunches into your kids’ daily routines is a great Eco-Habit to adopt this school year! This article lays out easy plant-based lunches you can put together with your kids. Trying new fruits and veggies each week can turn into a fun way to create a well-rounded diet, eat seasonally, and expand your palate.
Lastly, in the spirit of going back to school, let’s prioritize learning whether you’ll be in a classroom or not this month. Increasing environmental education and awareness is one of the most fundamental steps in fostering a more sustainable world for future generations. Learning is an ongoing process, and no matter if you’re new to living sustainably or you call yourself an expert, there is always infinitely more to learn about the environment! My favorite environmental education nonprofit is, not surprisingly, the one I had the honor of founding with 3 other eco-moms. Check out how you and your kids can bring Grades of Green to your school (all for free). And for your readers out there, check out this list of some amazing “green reads” according to Imagine5. Please let me know what your favorites are—I’m always looking to expand my knowledge:).
So this August, Take the Pledge to Go Back to School Sustainably to help take back the health of our children and our earth. First, see what you can reuse and/or donate. Second, be more mindful of your purchases to reduce your waste - only buy what you need. Third, if you must buy new school supplies, choose eco-friendly, non-toxic, quality brands that will last for many school years. Lastly, focus on lessening your carbon footprint through simple actions like carpooling and incorporating more plants into your kids’ lunches. Done and done! And… something we can ALL do is learn something new about the Earth everyday! Saving the planet starts with raising our collective awareness. Let’s continue to make the world a cleaner, brighter place one Everyday Eco-Habit at a time.
For more information, be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter which delivers Eco-Tips like these right to your inbox. And don’t forget to share a post on how you’re going back to school more sustainably this year on my Instagram or Facebook and tag me in your post @kim_ecohabits.