Be Earth Friendly with these Back-to-School Green Tips
According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2012 Back-to-School Spending Survey, parents will spend close to $700 on school supplies this year. That’s a lot of money, and we all know our kids like “new” stuff. But, why buy new markers when last year’s batch works just fine? Did you know 6 billion perfectly good pens are thrown away every year (Eco-Action.net)? We found some great websites that have tips and tricks for saving on this year’s back-to-school preps. All the while, you’re also helping Mother Earth!
What’s old is new again, especially when it comes to clothes. Earth911 suggests organizing a “swap and shop” in your neighborhood or among friends. Hand-me-downs definitely save families money, and your kids could get some pretty great duds. This can be especially helpful for school uniforms.- Earth911 also suggests buying recycled items wherever you can. For example, you can easily find recycled notebooks or pencils.
- National Geographic Kids has some wonderful ways to save. For instance, biking to school (for kids who are old enough, of course) can help save Mom and Dad money on gas, and it’s a good way to alleviate those pesky carbon emissions. Or, carpooling to kids’ events is another good tip. Carry lunchboxes instead of paper sacks, and turn off the computer when it’s not in use – this saves energy!
- Have a little fun and make some DIY supplies. After you buy some recycled paper, put it in this photo gallery’s cool notebook, made from an empty Malt-O-Meal bag, of course! Or simply get a homework space ready. We found this really great art piece from old crayons. Yes, you can recycle them, too, or you can reuse with this work of art!
We hope this is helpful! As a friendly reminder, signing up for the Cereal Bag Brigade puts money in your school’s coffers. Your kids, we’re sure, will go through a ton of Malt-O-Meal before school. Why not help their school out?
In the meantime, what other back-to-school tips can you share?
Share with friends