Back to school is an exciting time for students, parents, and teachers eager to start a new semester. The down side is that all the shopping and consuming that takes place during August and September to get kids ready to get back to learning can take a huge toll on the environment and parents bank accounts especially during a recession, so here are a few quick tips to make going back to school a smoother and greener transition for everyone.
- 1. The best way to save money and be eco-friendly when it comes to new school supplies is to use what you already have. People have a tendency to go back-to-school shopping and end up buying way more than they actually need. The best way to avoid this is to ask the school for a class list of supplies and then check what you already have in the house. Chances are you already have a lot of the supplies your child will need and you can make a small list of what you don’t have to avoid overbuying in the store.
- 2. It’s a sad fact in today’s society that some school don’t have recycling programs or if they do have a program it isn’t always used by students and teachers. If your child’s school doesn’t have a recycling program in place it would be a great project for them and some friends to start one up. It could even be an extra credit project for a science or civics class if your child talks to the teacher and principle about it.
- School cafeterias are notorious for not having the most nutritious or tasty food around. They are also generally pretty expensive if your students are eating in the cafeteria every day for the whole school year. Have your child pack a lunch of local and organically grown food possibly from your own garden to make sure they are getting a healthy lunch and snacks during their day.
- 4. Back to school clothing can be one of the biggest expenses for September shopping both financially and environmentally. Go through your child’s closet with them and pull out all the clothes that no longer fit or that they don’t like to wear anymore. For the ones that don’t fit consider passing them on to a younger sibling or giving them to a clothing drive if they are in good shape. For the clothing that your child no longer likes try to find ways to alter it to make it exciting again. This could be a great parent/child project before back to school has you spending less time together. If new clothes are necessary try buying second hand for fun, unique, and sustainable finds.
Jessica Taylor-Cassan was born in British Columbia and has since travelled and lived all over Canada. She spent much of her life living in rural areas where she learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and continues to spend her...
