Ah, back-to-school.The impact on the earth, the frenzy at Walmart, the appalling cost of it all. This year, why not stay home, make a list, and spend an afternoon hunting through the house?
It’s likely you already have most things you need.
Start by sorting through all the school supplies you find hanging around from last year, used and unused. Get the kids involved. It’s probable you can fill a bin with duo-tangs, binders, paper, rulers, pencil crayons and pens.
Organize into sets for each child, and note any missing items. To round out the selection, see if family or friends are interested in trading to fulfill everyone’s school-supply lists.
For those items you do need to pick up, choose earth-friendly versions. Recycled paper notebooks, corn pens, staple-less staplers, even scissors, rulers and erasers made of recycled materials.
Backpacks, pencil cases and the like should not need to be replaced every year. A quick wash, maybe a little tailoring, and you should be set.
And hold off on getting everything paper-related under the sun – chances are, the first week of school will bring with it requests for agendas, specific notebooks, and school books that need to be purchased from your child’s school anyway.
Ah, lunches.
With garbage-free lunches now the norm at most schools, the challenge is to get everything into reusable containers. Do away with plastic sandwich and snack bags and excess packaging.
ReUsies makes bags that can be tossed in the wash when they get dirty. They are 100% cotton and lined with water-resistant 100% nylon (BPA, lead and phthalate free), use Velcro to stay closed, and are big enough for sandwiches, bagels and wraps.
As for what to pack, start with healthy fruits and veggies. Make things a lot easier – especially during the colder months - by having local, organic produce delivered right to your home. In Toronto, try Mama Earth Organics for friendly service.
Ah, career changes.
For us big kids, this time of year can bring thoughts of new challenges, new opportunities, and change – such as a career. If you’ve been considering a switch to something a little more earth-oriented, check out WorkCabin for inspiration, resources and job postings.
Credits: Victoria and Vancouver Times Colonist
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