Back to school is often synonymous with shopping, preparations and a new start. What if this year we looked a little further than the new fashionable pen to think of a greener back-to-school, a cleaner back-to-school for the planet but also for children?
Starting from the ideas of actions to protect the planet proposed by theAdeme, here are some smart ideas, a few simple and easy-to-implement small gestures to save money while protecting your child’s health and the environment by preparing for back to school.
School supplies
Before you buy them
First of all, here are a few things to do before rushing into the back-to-school departments equipped with the sacrosanct list of supplies provided by the school (college, high school, etc.).
- Sort through material from seniors and / or previous years. There are surely supplies that should not be thrown away, binders to collect or sheets that are left over.
- Put aside what can be resold. For example, until the beginning of September, Bureau Vallée takes back the old schoolbags against a voucher of up to € 8 (the schoolbags are entrusted to the association Le Relais which gives them a second life.)
- Likewise, they use the FX-92 or TI-COLLEGE calculators which will be used again by other students.
- See what is missing compared to what you have in your cupboards and the list of supplies requested in order to buy only what you need.
- No need to buy “just in case”. take only what is requested (except perhaps the glue in tube for the elementary students… they will consume in large quantities, that’s for sure.). Prefer the glue in recyclable tubes.
At the time of purchase
- Favor school supplies that respect the planet.
- Some school supplies contain harmful products that can have an impact on health (solvents, perfumes, etc.). Choose organic products if possible.
- Glue stick (in any case preferred by school teachers).
- Unscented markers.
- Cardboard sleeves rather than plastic sleeves, erasers without plastic packaging.
- As far as possible, products (notebooks, sheets …) bearing a logo proving its harmlessness for the environment.
Environmental logos to trust when purchasing school supplies
Some eco-friendly products
Valley Office offers a variety of cleaner school supplies. They also give each product an ecological rating (ranging from A to E) which allows you to know where the one you want to buy is located.
For example, you can get:
- In ecological rating A : A Pilot B2P Begreen pen made from plastic from recycled bottles at € 1.99 or Exacompta Forever dividers at € 0.89 for 12 positions.
- In ecological rating B : An Equology agenda by Quo Vadis on recycled paper for € 7.99 or a pair of Fiskars scissors with the plastic rings and 100% recycled packaging for € 7.33.
Set of 8 organic natural wood pencils untreated and lead-free leads to plant once the pencil is worn out. € 11.95
Where to find environmentally friendly and health friendly supplies?
At the store, find out if there are certain green supplies.
On the Internet, you will find very complete specialized sites like An office on earth Where Toutallantvert.
For further
You can also consult the “List of school supplies to be banned”.
Wardrobe side
- No need to renew all the clothes and sports equipment of your loulou every year. Remember that equipment that is too small or for an abandoned sport can be resold (on the right corner or Decathlon) or donated.
- For purchases, think of second-hand equipment on the Internet, social networks or barter at the start of the year (Trocathlon at Decathlon for example).
Environmental logos to trust when buying clothes
Preparation for my schoolboy’s days
Travel side
Favor walking when possible. Otherwise think of the pedibus that exists in some municipalities or carpooling with neighborhood children who attend the same school. If necessary, get information from parents who are part of the parents’ association.
Side taste
Preferably choose snacks that are not packaged in individual portions and keep well (fruit, bread, etc.) that are placed in a box provided for this purpose.
For the compotes, buy reusable gourds to be able to fill them with the compotes that you have prepared (guarantee of healthy products and without additives, dyes or preservatives).
If you need to provide your child with water, provide a water bottle instead of plastic bottles.
created Aug 7, 2019