It’s that time of the year again - a brand new start of the school
year for students and their parents! Take this opportunity to introduce some new
practices into your daily life that can be more environmentally friendly. You
may even be able to save costs by switching to more effective and green alternatives
for the start of the new school year!
Green Transportation
Reducing your carbon footprint and making healthy choices
To really make a difference and reduce your impact on the
environment, beginning this fall, do your best to reduce the amount you drive
your kids to and from school. One popular way is to enroll your children into a
bus program. School buses reduce a great amount of emissions, especially if
it’s a newer bus that is up to date with the current emission-reducing
standards. There’s also the possibility of carpool – either one of your neighbours can start carpooling kids from your neighbourhood or you can start your own carpool.
If your school does not offer a bus program, or if you just live
nearby, get your children to ride their bike or walk to school! A co-op walk team can help keep your kids safe by having groups walk together and alternating parent escorts if needed.
Eco Supplies
Taking
inventory and reusing what you can
Before deciding to go out and buy brand new school supplies for
your children, take some time to look at what you’re currently have and see if
anything can be reused. Why buy new pens and pencils when the old ones are
still usable? No need to buy a new
notebook just because a few pages have been used in one from last year, or
buying a new pencil case because the old one is out of style. Making smart,
economical decisions can go a long way in saving your money and reducing production
and waste emissions that comes from purchasing new supplies.
If your children get hungry or thirsty, its better that they reach
for a reusable water bottle and plastic container instead of a disposable
plastic water bottle and plastic ziplock bag. Either plastic or aluminum,
reusable water bottles make for a much better alternative. Visit Good Housekeeping to
read the list of some of the best water bottles around. Also, make sure that
any water bottle purchased for reuse is BPA-free (Bisphenol A). There are also
alternatives to plastic containers, such as SnackTAXI, who offer reusable food sacks. One
“snack-sack” can reduce the use of about 1000 plastic bags over its lifetime.
Buying new eco-friendly school supplies
When you have looked over what you have and you’ve decided that you
still need some more school supplies, try to lean towards the greener
alternative. Many major retailers are carrying recycled and renewable school
supplies such as recycled notebooks, paper and binders, and biodegradable
pencils. Paper Mate is
offering biodegradable pencils that are offered at many major retailers, such
as Staples. There is also Ecojot, who offer notebooks, journals, sketchbooks, and more made
entirely from post-consumer waste. When looking for a new backpack, look for an
environmentally as well as child friendly backpack, one that’s made from
recycled material and is padded to prevent back pain. You can check out The Ultimate
Green Store or Ecocentric Bags for
an idea on some cool backpacks being offered.
Most of the money spent on supplies will be towards new clothes
that children are always in need of. If your kids don’t mind, wearing
hand-me-down clothing from friends and family or thrift stores can be one of
the ways to save money and reduce your emissions. If your children are
style-conscious, there are many popular brands like Adidas, Levi’s and H&M
that offer clothes made from more eco-friendly material.
The most important thing to consider is that your children must
understand and be educated on the importance of the environment and that even
the little things can go a long way in sustaining our planet.
Little Steps
Go with what you know
Going green doesn't always have to mean big changes, sticking to some basic principals can make a big difference in little ways! REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE every way you can.
For more suggestions on going green with kids visit some of our other articles:
Or check out the
following links for more resources:
