School Supplies
Jul
27
Written by:
Julie Jarnot
7/27/2011 12:57 PM
----can be Eco-friendly :)
It's hard to miss the school supply sales that are already in full swing at our local retail stores. How many of you are up to a Eco-friendly challenge in making a "green" choice for their children's supplies this year? It was something that I thought about after browsing the long aisles of supplies the other day. I remember well how my children all wanted the bright pretty pencils and shiny colored notebooks and folders and I'm assuming yours like and want the same.
After some research I found out that the pencils with extra lacquer (yes the bright shiny colored ones) are the biggest offenders in the pencil world; and those are the ones our children most often choose.
Mist backpacks are made out of PVC which is now considered a poisonous plastic. Polyester, nylon and hemp backpacks are your best "green" choice.
The ruler can be bad in either way; wood or plastic? Although, some rulers are now being made out of recycled materials.
Remember the cute notebooks with the fuzzy cuddly kitten, beautiful fairy princesses and of course super heroes and sport figures? Most of those covers are made out of PVC which is considered toxic. The cardboard covered ones are the best choice if you can convince your child they can decorate them.
Do your kids bring their lunch? If so, a metal lunch container is a better choice than the PVC plastic that keeps striking!
Let me know if you have found any recycled or "green" school supplies in our local area and I will pass the information onto other parents.
If your family decides to take the school supply Eco-friendly challenge let me know!