Before you go out to your local department store to buy all sorts of new school supplies, WAIT! You may have a sustainable alternative in your home already, or have options available to you that you hadn’t thought of before.
First, check your home office and see what items you have around. You likely have a collection of pens, pencils and highlighters in junk drawers and pen cups around your home. The most sustainable alternative is something that you already own. Remove written-on pages in notebooks, clean up pencil cases and binders and you have some like-new items to reuse this year!
Second, check your local thrift store! Clothing, backpacks, binders and other office supplies are usually sold there, and you are more likely to find unique items to showcase your personal style! Check Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji and other online platforms for back to school items as well.
For new alternatives, check out the options I’ve highlighted below. These links are not sponsored, I just enjoy doing research and finding alternatives for people :)
1. Backpacks. When purchasing a backpack you want to ensure you are getting one that will last for years, and that your kids will want to use. Rather than getting one that has characters from their favourite movie, get one that is a solid colour that they won’t be embarrassed to use year after year. You can always add patches or pins with their favourite characters on it to make it unique and fun! Whatever brand or style you get, check that the fabric is not too thin that it will wear out with use after a year, or that the stitching is reinforced to ensure no separating. If you have a backpack that is wearing out, see if you can fix it yourself! Add patches to reinforce worn areas (whether on the inside for a subtle look or on the outside for a decorative look), sew straps and loops back into place, or replace the zipper. Try to keep it going for as long as possible!
2. Pencils. Mechanical pencils are a great tree-free, reusable alternative to classic HB pencils, as you can buy replacement lead and erasers and there is no need for a sharpener! For those that require the typical type of pencil, you can find ones like TreeSmart that are made with recycled newspaper rather than wood!
3. Erasers. Find an eraser that is made from natural rubber, or better yet, recycled rubber like these ones by Onyx + Green. Make sure that erasers you are using are PVC-free and non-toxic to ensure your safety.
4. Pens. Rather than opting for the classic disposable pen, try a refillable option this year! You only need to replace the ink cartridge in the middle, allowing you to continue using the outer casing for years. Check out Wonder Pens which is based in Toronto. I would suggest only opting for these if your children are not prone to losing their pens, as they are more expensive. Rather than buying a pack of pens, just buy one and a few replacement cartridges for the year! And remember, any dried up pens and markers that you are using can be dropped off at participating Staples locations to be recycled through Terracycle.
5. Highlighters. Check out the pencil-crayon style of highlighters by Stubby Pencil or refillable ink ones by Stabilo. Very cool options to replace plastic disposable highlighters that dry out quickly!
6. Glue Stick. Find glues sticks that are non-toxic and made from plants like Elmer’s Earth Friendly Glue Sticks.
7. Binders. Try to re-cover a binder that you already have to give it a fresh look! Otherwise, look for binders that are made from recycled cardboard and fill them with recycled paper.
8. Notebooks. See what options you have available to you for 100 percent post-consumer recycled material notebooks. They feel the same as classic notebooks, but you have less on your conscience. Or check out a reusable notebook like Rocketbook! You can write and draw in your notebook with a specific pen, and then when it is filled up or you are writing in a different subject next, use the Rocketbook app to capture and store each page digitally to whatever storage system you use (Google Drive, Cloud etc.). Then you erase with a microfibre cloth and start again! They also have academic calendars you can use year after year.
9. Pencil Case. When looking for a pencil case, you want to look for durability and versatility like with a backpack, as well as the ability to clean it easily! Pencil shavings or pen marks often create a mess inside of a pencil case, so having one that is made from easily cleanable materials like cotton is very important.
10. Phone Case. Not necessarily an “office” supply, but most of us use our phones for many everyday tasks so it is something that is good to consider eco-friendly options. Pela makes compostable phone cases that break down completely in a standard compost. They are made to protect the phone as well, so less phones get replaced due to breakage. They also make air pods cases, smart watch bands and other accessories.
11. BONUS! Want to make your online searching more eco friendly? Rather than using Google, switch to Ecosia! They use the funds generated from online searches and ads to plant trees where they are needed around the world.
