As summer starts turning to fall, and kids are getting ready to go back to school, it’s a good time to consider the impact of school supply purchases on the environment. Since I was a kid, school supply lists have gotten longer and more people seem to purchase new supplies each year. If you gather reusable items at the end of the school year, they will be handy for the following year. Many notebooks still have many empty pages to fill, and kids don’t need a new pair of scissors or new pens and pencils every year. When you do need to replenish school supplies, look for notebooks with recycled paper and paper covers, rather than plastic. Many stores sell refillable pens and pencils, or pens made of recycled materials. Check out local stores that carry used clothing — both Ort in Highland Park and Winnetka Thrift Shop have good selections. Make sure you have containers ready to pack zero waste lunches. Here is a good video about zero waste choices for back to school, and here is an article with more tips.
