Going Green Guide for Home, Office and School Supplies

What's in your backpack or desk? Have you considered setting up your home office, child's study space or their desk as school with environmentally friendly "school supply" choices? There are many to choose, from pencils to lunchboxes and everything in between.

Green is good write?

Every office, study space and school child needs a steady supply of #2 pencils. Paper Mate Earthwrite recycled pencils are made from 100% recycled materials from the lead tip down to the eraser. Just think of all the trees saved.

Turn your red, black and blue green. Instead of regular pens, use Paper Mate Biodegradable Retractable Medium Point Ballpoint Pens which are available in 4 Colored inks; and most of the parts of these pens are biodegradeable when disposed of.

I have journals everywhere, in my purse, car, desk and nightstand. My husband has them in his desk and my daughters need several for school. That's a whole lot of paper! Oh pooh! What can we do? You can use recycled notebooks and journals or even, those made by Elephant Poo; a paper supplier that offers odor free journals made from pulped and processed dung.

Did you know that using recycled paper made from post-consumer waste prevents used paper from going into the landfill? When purchasing loose leaf paper for the classroom or office, look for those paper products with higher recycled content. Encourage your children and even your employees to use all the paper front and back of the pages when drawing, writing, copying or printing.

Color me green!

Got kids? Then you have to have crayons and my daughter's school supply list actually requested three boxes of crayons. Soy isn't just for milk and candles. Try choosing soy crayons. They are made from soy bean oil and are non-toxic.

Glue it green!

You have to cut it before you glue it. Kleen Earth scissors have black handles that are made from recycled plastic. Scissors can even be sharpened and used over and over again, meaning less waste.

Adhesive paste is an eco-friendly alternative to white glue for your home office, work office, study space and classroom. It is more versatile and made with all natural, sustainable products like potato starch that work on paper and fabric and are safer for children.

Did you know there are recycled file and pocket folders available? Earthwise makes 100% recycled portfolio folders and report covers. You can also look for binders made from recycled computer circuit boards and recycled rubber, or binders made from 45 to 100% post-consumer waste plastic, as well as recycled cardboard.

Need a tote bag, lunch box or backpack? Use one made by Terracycle, a company that not only pays you to recycle juice boxes, but it sells the products it makes from recycled materials. There are also bags and backpacks made from organic cotton.

Let's go to lunch

Sure, Ziploc bags are useful, but with reusable sandwich bags such as Wrap-N-Mat (made with cotton) and non-PVC-vinyl-lined bags your can enjoy your lunch knowing the trash isn't ending up in a landfill. Other cute and useful options for packing your lunch include a laptop or bento box lunch. Not only are these eco-friendly choices, they also allow you to create healthy and eco-friendly meal options for the whole family's lunch, hopefully with locally grown organic foods.

One stop shopping at a mega store may not get the job done. But many stores you shop from everyday do offer the supplies you are looking for. Visit Amazon online, or many of the products mentioned here are available at Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot and Staples. It may take more effort to find some of the school and office supplies mentioned here, but isn't the time invested now worth the pay off in the future?

Using eco-friendly supplies in your home, office or study space means that those hours spend working and
studying are safer and healthier for your child and family.

For more information about keeping your office, study area or classroom sustainable visit:

Sustainable and Green Practices for the Homeschool Classroom

Going Green in Our Schools: Ideas for School Districts Teachers, Parents, and Community

The Kids Safe Chemical Act

Sources:
Personal experience
Terracycle