1. Shop consignment
and thrift stores. Thrift stores like Goodwill often have great
deals at the beginning of the school year, just
like most major retailers. The difference is you won’t be
wearing the exact same thing as one your classmates on the first
day of school.
2. Reuse
last year’s backpack and unused school supplies.
Each year, people feel like they have to start off with
all new things. If there’s nothing wrong with your
old backpack, keep using it. If your binder is in good
shape, keep using it. If you need one, buy a repurposed
one from a handmade clothing artist.
3. Use mechanical pencils instead of wooden pencils. Wooden pencils
contribute to deforestation and need to be sharpened regularly.
Mechanical pencils can be refilled and are always sharp and ready
to go.
4. Buy refillable pens. Refillable pens are great, and generally
more reliable than their disposable counterparts. Many refillable
pens also come with several refill cartridges, which are recyclable
when emptied.
5. Use recycled
notebook paper. Seems like common sense, but using
recycled paper is good for the environment and is available where
you buy all of your school supplies.
6. Look for
green binders and notebooks. Just like notebook paper, many companies
are making
binders and notebooks out of recycled
materials. Look for eco-friendly binders and notebooks when you’re
out looking for your school supplies.
7. Wear
organic clothing. Major retailers like Target and Wal-Mart
carry organic clothing lines in their stores. However,
online, you can find lots of cool styles and designs
can be found as well.
8. Sport eco-friendly footwear. Online and in stores alike, one
of the newest trends is eco-friendly
footwear. Companies like Simple
and Vans make earth-friendly shoes that are in fashion and good
for the planet.
9. Take a reusable
water bottle to school. Studies show that being
fully hydrated is an essential part of being able to retain information.
Carry around a reusable water bottle for easy refilling throughout
the school day and stop using disposable bottles.
10. Put
rechargeable batteries in your electronics. Although they
cost a little more than conventional batteries, rechargeable
batteries can be ready to go again in as little as 15 minutes,
which is great
when your batteries are low and you really need to use
that graphing calculator. Light your room with LED
lighting,
and save energy while doing homework.
This article was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes
on the subject of green
shopping . She invites your feedback
at heatherjohnson2323
at gmail dot com.
