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More Tips for an Eco-Friendly Back to School
Inventory your supplies before buying more
Take a careful inventory of the school supplies you already have that can be used again. Do you have extra packs of pencils or barely used notebooks? Do you really need a new ruler? Is last year’s backpack still fully functional? Is that lunchbox still in great shape?
Pack a lunch
The average elementary school disposes of 20,000 pounds of lunch waste every year. That’s 10 tons of trash per school. By packing a whole-food lunch for your child in a reusable lunch box with a reusable bottle of water or milk, you will help reduce the amount of paper bags, food packaging and wasted food your child produces—and they will be so much healthier for it too.
Green the school commute
To help reduce air pollution—a major contributor to childhood asthma—investigate whether you live on or close to the school bus route. Even if your child stays late for chess club or soccer practice, most schools have an extended bus schedule to accommodate. If you live less than a mile from the school, arrange a “walkpool” or a “walking bus,” where parents rotate chaperoning a group on foot (or bike) to and from school. You’ll save gas, reduce smog emissions, and you and your kids will get some exercise and maybe make some new friends in the process.
Don’t idle your car in front of school
Idling your vehicle is a MAJOR source of smog. Smog is particularly an issue at schools because many bus drivers and parents sit with their vehicles idling while waiting to pick up their children, creating a huge cloud of pollution for them to walk into as they leave the building.
Explain to your kids why you’re making greener, healthier choices
Making planet-friendly choices when getting ready for school is great, but what is even more awesome is teaching your kids why you’ve made those choices.
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