Choosing Green School Supplies

The summer months are waning, which means the new school year draws near. With it comes back-to-school shopping for new clothes and all the supplies kids need to be successful. In addition, teachers and homeschooling parents must begin to plan lessons and activities for the coming months. If you are a teacher or homeschooler looking for environmentally friendly lessons or simply a parent seeking ways to teach children about living green, you can start by shopping for green school supplies.

According to Conservatree, one ream of paper uses 6% of a tree. That may not seem like much, but when you multiply that figure by the number of reams each student uses in a school year and then multiply that figure by the number of students in the U.S. or around the world, the statistics quickly become astronomical. By seeking green school supplies, you can provide the resources your child needs while lessening the environmental impact.

Paper Mate has a new line of biodegradable pens and mechanical pencils that can help you stock up on green school supplies. These writing instruments look, feel and work just like any standard pens and pencils, with comfortable rubber grips and smooth flowing ink. The Paper Mate Biodegradable* pen comes in black, blue, red or purple ink and retails for about $1.70. The mechanical pencil is available in 0.5mm or 0.7mm lead sizes and retails for about $2.70. Both are available wherever Paper Mate office products are sold.

What makes these pens and pencils special is that not only are they packaged in 100% PVC-free recyclable material, but the tools themselves are also made largely of biodegradable components. Each package is printed with instructions that explain which components can be safely added to your compost pile. These instructions are simple and illustrated so that even a child can follow them.

On the topic of children, Paper Mate has conceived a project using their biodegradable line of pens and mechanical pencils that show students the importance of choosing green school supplies and other products. This project would be ideal for a science class, an Earth Day project or a homeschool assignment. Called the Paper Mate Plant-A-Pen Challenge, students dig up a spot of dirt in the schoolyard, at home or even in a plant pot. They then "plant" the biodegradable components of the pen or pencil alongside something not biodegradable, such as a spork from the school cafeteria.

It takes about a year for the components to decompose. If you plant a pen or pencil around the start of the school year, it should be well on its way by Earth Day. Be sure to mark the spot so that you can dig up the plastic utensil and find what is left of the writing tool.

There are other ways to choose green school supplies and shop in an environmentally friendly way. First, consider what you already own. Does your child really need a new lunchbox, backpack or binder? Do you have any half-used reams of paper that could be used to fill a notebook?

When you have determined what you do need, choose the most durable items you can find. They may be slightly more expensive, but you will save in the end since they will not need to be replaced as frequently as a flimsier version would. Green school supplies use minimal packaging or are packaged in recyclable or biodegradable materials.

In addition to buying green school supplies, you can help the environment by shopping locally, buying used or swapping with friends, and purchasing items made from recycled materials. Then you can send your kids off to school knowing they will have learned an important lesson before the first bell even rings.

Sources:

Conservatree
Papermate