Last Minute And Eco-Friendly Back To School Supplies

Photo Credit: Flickr/claudia snell

Just when it seems that summer has started, it is almost over and back to school time has hit us again.  This year it really snuck up on me and wouldn’t you know, I didn’t have time to order all of the eco-friendly supplies from online sources that I would have liked to for my returning student.  But, all is not lost – I was able to find a few eco products at our local Staples store:

B2P – Bottle 2 Pen by Pilot are just as they sound.  Pens made from recycled water bottles.  In fact, the pens actually have the look of a water bottle, very cute.  I bought a set for my son and a set for myself so that I could try them out and they write beautifully and feel comfortable in your hand.   The pens themselves are made from 89% recycled content, so there is a little bit of new plastic going into these.  The packaging is also recycled material – including the molded plastic blister packaging.  And while these appear to be a disposable product, Pilot actually sells refill cartridges for these so the shell can be used again and again.  I think that might be my favorite part!

Sustainable Earth Sugarcane paper products – We bought both spiral notebooks and composition books that are stamped with this label.  These are made from sugarcane waste, or at least the products I purchased contain 80% of this salvaged material.  This is great because not only does this mean that less fresh trees are being used for this paper, but this product also gives a second life to a waste material that would otherwise need to be disposed of.  Both products I bought come with very sturdy ‘eco-friendly brown’ covers which I think are very attractive.  They are also nice if your student does homework on the sofa or sitting on the floor, the cover gives a durable writing surface as they are using their knees for a table.

Not too bad for last minute shopping, huh?  Of course these weren’t the best back-to-school products I could have bought, but better than I thought I would have found at a conventional store.  In fact, I found it refreshing that this store, like many others, is carrying products that us greenies can feel good about.  You just have to walk your kids past the flashy plastics and vinyl to get there.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, look for products made with recycled materials, in minimal packaging, things that will last as opposed to things that look like they will have a short life.  And of course, if you see anything labeled ‘Eco’ or ‘Green’, read the label to see exactly what they are basing this claim on so that you aren’t fooled by deceptive marketing.

Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household.  Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.