The beginning of school is drawing near and for most families that means shopping for school supplies and clothes. This lens will help you to make some more conscious, green choices about your purchases.
The Rule of Three
Building a Conscious Wardrobe
Kids outgrow clothes quickly, but here is a lifelong habit that you can instill that they'll never outgrow - and it has a positive impact on the environment! It's the Rule of Three.Only buy an item of clothing if it matches THREE things in your wardrobe.
How it works:
1. Before you go clothes shopping, look in your closet. What do you like? These are the items to build your wardrobe around.
2. Identify things that you need to add to your wardrobe. For example, you need 1-2 nice shirts for school and you're running low on socks.
3. Go to the store. Sometimes it helps to have a list of what you have/need.
4. Only buy an item of clothing if you can identify THREE things that you currently own that would match. When you do this, you build a wardrobe quickly and inexpensively. For example, if you like a red shirt, before you can buy it you must be able to list at least three pairs of pants that you already own that it matches.
Why not check out the local thrift store? There are always treasures to be found. I buy over 50% of my clothes at thrift stores. Today I went out dancing and I had about a dozen people tell me how great I looked. Everything I was wearing was from second-hand stores!
Even if you have lots of money to spend, this strategy leaves a lighter footprint on the planet. A great gift to the planet and you because you still get lots of outfits!
Another helpful hint: Buy classic clothes. For kids this means jeans and T-shirts. Help your kid identify what is trendy and classic. Have them identify the value of buying classic clothes.
If you or your kid want to update your look, you can do this in a way that has no impact on the environment or your budget - update your hairstyle!
You may also want to start discussing the types of fibers the clothes are made from and the time it takes for them to biodegradable.
School Supplies**
Do the "Write" Thing
Every year kids and parents flock to stores to get supplies for the new school year. Here are some things to consider when shopping for paper:* Purchase paper with the highest post-consumer recycled content
* Chlorine-free paper
* Paper that is made from sustainably managed forest
* Paper that is made from hemp or a "tree free" alternative
1. Printed paper
Look for the highest post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper. Here are some brands that you may be interested in:
* New Leaf Everest paper
* Badger Envirographic paper
* Eureka! 100 (That's 100% PCW recycled paper!)
2. Notebooks
Avoid notebooks with plastic covers. Look for a high level of PCW paper.
3. Paper clips - Look around your house first for paper clips. Avoid ones that are covered in plastic.
4. Rulers - Do you have some rulers lying around the house? If not, buy a ruler that is made of postconsumer recycled plastic. I personally like the metal rulers and have had the same for for over a decade.
5. Scissors - Check for postconsumer plastic handles.
6. Glue - As a teacher I see dozens of glue sticks left open that need to be tossed yearly. Plus you can't refill them. Perhaps it's time to shift back to the old, refillable Elmer's glue bottles.
7. Crayons - Look for ones that are made with soybean oil instead of paraffin, a petroleum-based product.
8. Pencils - Find ones that are made from recycled materials and that come in light-weight packaging. Paper Mate Earth Write recycled pencils can be found in most office supply stores.
9. Pens - Get refillable pens. Better yet get ones made from recycled materials and biodegradable cornstarch. Check out the link below to Green Earth Office Supply for pens and other supplies.
10. Colored pencils - Dixon-Ticonderoga pencils are found in lots of stores and are made from sustainably-harvested wood.
11. Markers - Buy water-based markers with refillable heads that are non-toxic. Avoid the harsh smelling, toxic permanent ones.
**information from newdream.org, grist.org, and "The Green Book"
Green Stationary Stores
- Green Earth Office Supply
- The Green Earth Office Supply has a huge selection of earth-friendly supplies. If you can't find something locally, then you'll be able to find it here.
- Auspens Markers
- Auspens has come out with xylene-free, nontoxic, refillable whiteboard markers. They come in 6 vibrant colors: red, orange, purple, blue, green and black. A box of 6 refillable pens is equivalent to 246 disposble pens at a lifetime cost of under 30 cents per refill!
Great Stuff on Amazon
Eco-Books Wirebound Recycled Book with 100% Post-consumer waste paper
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009) 
Wirebound College Rule Notebook, 3-Subject, 9-1/2" x 6", Assorted, 138 Sheet MEA06386
Amazon Price: $3.49 (as of 07/13/2009)
3M 660-RP-A 3M Recycled Post-it Notes, 4 x 6, Four Pastel Colors, Five 100-Sheet Pads/Pack
Amazon Price: $14.16 (as of 07/13/2009)
Zebra Eco Sarasa Clip Retractable Roller Ball Pen, Medium Point, 0.70 mm, Clear Barrel, Black, Refill (46510)
Amazon Price: $8.46 (as of 07/13/2009)
Green School Resources
Visit these sites for more green educational resources.
- The Green School Blog
- This blog that I created lists resources, tips and ideas on how to make schools more green. It will also include activities students can do in the classroom.
- Ecological Footprint Education
- Take the carbon footprint quiz and watch some fun videos on YouTube about sustainability.
- Thriving in the 'Burbs
- This blog has a downloadable, customizable newsletter that you can use in your community or school to support people in living more sustainably and thriving in the process. Make sure you subscribe to get a copy of the monthly newsletter.
Waste-Free Lunch
Make sure to send your child off to school with reusable containers and cloth napkins. Encourage your kid to bring home scraps to compost at home, unless their school has a composting program in place. Food waste that goes into the dump decomposes anaerobically causing methane generation, which is a greenhouse gas that is over 20 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
Waxed Paper Bags Unbleached 60ct
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Zojirushi SL-NCE09 Durable stainless steel Ms. Bento Vacuum Lunch Jar
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
The Laptop Lunch User's Guide: Fresh Ideas for Making Wholesome, Earth-friendly Lunches Your Kids Will Love
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/13/2009)
Green Water Bottles
It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil annually to satisfy America's demand for bottled water.* Furthermore, there are fewer regulations around bottled water quality than what comes out of your tap. It's time to make the switch to reusable water bottles.
*From "The Green Book" by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen, Three Rivers Press, 2007.
*From "The Green Book" by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen, Three Rivers Press, 2007.
Klean Kanteen Colors Poly Sport Top Stainless Steel Reusable Water Bottles
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Klean Kanteen Poly Sports Cap
Amazon Price: $3.85 (as of 07/13/2009)
Getting to School
With the price of gas on the rise, it's worthwhile looking at transport to school.
1. Bicycle - currently only 2.5%* of students who live within a two mile radius of school get there by bike. It's time to take the bike out and get it on the road for school.
2. Walk - If you live within a two mile radius and don't like to bike, walk with a group to school.
3. Bus - See if there are any public transportation buses that can take you to school.
4. Carpool - Check around to see if there are others who want to go in on a carpool to school. Perhaps, you can even organize something through your PTA to help put parents in touch with others who are interested in carpooling.
1. Bicycle - currently only 2.5%* of students who live within a two mile radius of school get there by bike. It's time to take the bike out and get it on the road for school.
2. Walk - If you live within a two mile radius and don't like to bike, walk with a group to school.
3. Bus - See if there are any public transportation buses that can take you to school.
4. Carpool - Check around to see if there are others who want to go in on a carpool to school. Perhaps, you can even organize something through your PTA to help put parents in touch with others who are interested in carpooling.
Backpacks
At the end of each school year, many students abandon their backpacks with the unstated understanding that their parents will just buy them a new one each year. I've had the same Jansport for 8 years and I use it daily! They will often fix busted packs for free - make sure you keep the receipt. Let's look at backpacks and how we can make wiser choices.
Avoid vinyl backpacks. Most are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical known to be bad for the environment. Look for packs made from hemp or recycled rubber.
Avoid vinyl backpacks. Most are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a chemical known to be bad for the environment. Look for packs made from hemp or recycled rubber.
Trans by JanSport Connection Backpack - Thai Red Pepper
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
JanSport SuperBreak Classic Backpack (Scarlet Red)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
![Hemp Shoulder Bag [color: Sage (green)]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RWHWBTFRL._SL75_.jpg)
Hemp Shoulder Bag [color: Sage (green)]
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
My Other Lenses for School
- Fractions
- Get your child free help on fractions. Watch some of the YouTube videos to engage and educate.
- Integers
- Is your child having difficulty with positive and negative numbers? Well, help is here. Check out the video on math tools to help get a visual and physical sense of integers.
- Vedic Math: Ancient Wisdom for the Future
- Here's a fun, mental calculating system inspired by the Vedas.
- Educating Millennials
- Learn some tips about how to educate and support Millennials, the generation born between 1982-2000.
Reader Feedback
JBgreen wrote...
Awesome lens. Keep up the good work. Thanks!!
If you get the chance, check out my new Green Clothes blog. Together we can make a change!
Posted March 22, 2009
Green_everything wrote...
Great lens! There are a lot of really helpful ideas for green school supplies here. I'd love it if you would visit my lens and say hi when you get the chance.
Posted October 13, 2008
StephenC wrote...
Nice lens! Good stuff, enjoyed the visit!
Fight High Gas Prices
StephenC
Posted September 19, 2008
beachbum_gabby wrote...
Well done lens and advice. A must see lens especially for parents.
Posted September 16, 2008
CarolSue wrote...
very nice lens. Alot of good advise on just how simple it is to be green. Every little bit helps in my opinon! My lens is focused on non-toxic cleaning supplies. People are not aware just how hazardous common cleaning supplies are to thier health and the in environment. Hope you can visit a>
Posted September 15, 2008
by Rebecca_Newburn
Ms. Rebecca Newburn has been a math and science educator for 16 years. She is interested in supporting Millennials, the New Generation, by creating re...
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