For all those environment conscious parents on the lookout for ‘greening up’ things for kids, here is some great news.There is a wide range of sustainable environment friendly school products for every possible use, from backpacks to lunchboxes and books. You can train your kids to be environment friendly with these ‘green’ school supplies. Kids will be amazed by the range of ‘green’ school products that are available. Just check out these top 5 ‘green’ sustainable school supplies compiled below.
1. Eco-friendly writing and coloring material
a. Recycled newspaper pencils
Tree Smart offers trendy pencils made entirely from 100% recycled newspaper. The pencil barrels are made by tightly rolling torn strips of recycled newspapers that makes them as hard as wood. These pencils are smooth in writing and will not break when you drop them.
Recycled newspaper pencils from Tree Smart – $11 (pack of 24)
b. Biodegradable soya bean crayons
These crayons are made from a mix of soybean oil and wax derived from sustainable, agricultural products, including steraic acid compounds. Unlike petroleum based paraffin wax crayons, these are completely bio degradable. They are brighter than paraffin wax crayons and non toxic for children.
Prang soya bean blend crayons from Dixon Ticonderoga – $2.45 (pack of 24)
c. Eco-friendly color pencils
Faber Castle offers a pack of 24 Eco friendly color pencils that are FSC certified – i.e. the wood used to make them is obtained from sustainable and renewable sources. The colors are non-toxic and acid free with an easy-to-hold triangular shape. Attractively packaged in eco-friendly packaging material, this set of color pencils is sure to hone your child’s drawing and coloring skills.
Faber-Castell Eco friendly color pencils – $8.95 (pack of 24 pencils)
d. Dry Erase Markers
Green Apple School Supply offers a pack of 4 environment friendly dry erase markers with bullet tips. The marker tubes are made from recycled paper. The ink used is non-toxic and alcohol based, free from Volatile Organic Compounds like Xylene and Toluene. This pack offers 4 colors – red, green, blue and black.
Eco friendly dry erase markers by Green Apple School Supply – $8.25 (pack of 4)
2. Recycled pencil cases
Terracycle offers sustainable pencil cases made by stitching together used juice pouches, reducing landfill debris to a great extent. You can even send it back to Terracycle, once you are done using this product. They recycle and reform it into rigid packaging material.
Terracycle drink pouch pencil case – $6.95
3. Eco-friendly lunch boxes and water bottles
a. ‘Green’ lunchboxes
A green alternative to plastic lunchboxes is a recyclable stainless steel lunch box from LunchBot. Non toxic, dishwasher safe and free from BPA, lead and pthalates, these steel lunch boxes are a healthy way to pack nutritional lunches for kids. It lets you pack both hot and cold food. Besides you can avoid packing lunches in paper lunch bags.
LunchBot Duo Stainless Steel Snack Container – $14.99
b. ‘Green’ water bottles
Reusable and 100% recyclable water bottles by Sigg are a safe substitute for plastic water bottles and sippers. These 0.3 L bottles are made from a single piece of pure aluminum lined with an eco-friendly liner that is resistant to acids from fruit juices and energy drinks. The exterior comes in appealing and colorful design themes like jungle fun, desert fun etc. that kids are sure to love. Sigg uses heavy metal free and solvent free paints for all its bottles. Besides, these bottles have a leak proof spout that is protected by a dust cap.
Sigg 0.3L Kids reusable water bottle – $15.95
4. Solar powered school backpacks
Solar powered backpacks by Eclipse are a trendy way to save energy. This backpack has a 4W thin film solar panel that can be used to charge small electronic gadgets like cellphones, iPods, mp3 players etc., while walking or commuting to school. It has a 12V charging outlet in addition to a compartment for laptops up to 15″.
The Eclipse Solar Backpack – $179.99
5. Recycled paper notebooks and binders
Back to school bundle from New Leaf products is a neat pack of 4 notebooks, 2 half inch binders, 2 packages of filler paper, one 5 tab divider and 2 Eco retractable pens that are all made of 100% post consumer recycled waste. Affordable and attractive, this tree friendly product is a great ‘green’ idea loved by school students.
Back to School Value Bundle from New Leaf Paper – $39.99