As the back-to-school season approaches, it’s a great time to make mindful choices that benefit both kids and the environment! Back-to-school shopping is often a time when we over consume, buying items that aren’t needed or that we could easily buy used. Here are a few ideas for more sustainable shopping this back-to-school season!

Before heading to the store, take inventory of last year’s supplies. Many items, such as backpacks, lunch boxes, folders, binders, and scissors, can often be reused. With a little care, these items can serve your child well for another school year, reducing waste and saving money. When searching for replacements or back-to-school clothes, check out the Christian Center, Recycle Utah, or Habitat for Humanity’s thrift stores! You can even try having a kids’ clothing exchange with friends to freshen up your child’s closet and give clothes a new life.

When shopping for new school supplies, keep an eye out for supplies made from recycled or sustainable materials. Sprout World sells biodegradable pencils made from sustainably forested wood. Decomposition books are unique notebooks made from recycled paper that also happens to be compostable and non-toxic. Onyx + Green offers a variety of sustainable school supplies, most of which are made of recycled materials. They offer everything from backpacks to erasers to notebooks, so be sure to take a look at their website if you’re looking for more sustainable options for school supplies.

There’s also a lot of growth for more sustainability in how we pack school lunches. The first step is switching to a reusable lunch box. After this, you can switch to reusable, washable containers – check out fulFILLed in the Outlets for non-toxic, durable containers. If this isn’t an option for you, you can start switching out plastic bags, like Ziplocs, to paper or compostable sandwich and snack bags.

Finally, be smart about how you shop. Always buy the supplies you use most in bulk to avoid excess packaging. Try to buy products that use minimal or recycled packaging when possible. Buy high-quality products that you can rely on over cheaper alternatives that break easily. It’s worth the investment to buy longer-lasting products, both for your wallet and for the planet. This back-to-school season, shop smart. As always, the choices we make when shopping can make a lasting impact on the planet, and set good examples for future generations.

By Chelsea Hafer