Back to School With Eco-cool Ideas
Sources for environmentally sound and health-conscious choices for our children increase daily. Sending them back to school no longer means chemically laden school clothing or sweatshop-made backpacks. Nor does it mean tolerating unsafe art supplies or unhealthy lunches. Check out the choices below, and this year, choose eco-friendly options that are eco-cool for you and the young ones you love.
Backpacks
A backpack is a must have for students but most are made from materials that are toxic and off-gas long after your child's first day of school. The choices for safe, durable and downright awesome backpacks are growing. For example, take a look at these websites for options:
• www.ecolution.com
• www.patagonia.com
• www.gaiam.com
• www.thegoat.backcountry.com
Notebook Paper & Pencils
Production of paper and pencils historically have meant a loss of virgin trees. Not any longer due to high tech recycling systems that convert shredded paper into 100 percent post consumer writing tablets. If you thought that pencils only came in two options – the old fashioned yellow kind made from wood or the plastic version with bitty replacement tips – think again. Now you can find many recycled options, even old blue jeans turned into fashionable writing tools.
• www.treeco.com
• www.mamasearth.com
• www.dolphinblue.com
• www.newdream.org
Art Supplies
Art supplies are toxic? Yes, many are. In fact, the studies show some pretty disheartening research on what we once willingly handed over to kinder-garteners. Many art supplies contain ammonia, formaldehyde or turpentine. Your best defense is to get educated. Read the information on this site: www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/articles-details.asp?main_ID=487. The alternatives:
• www.thisnext.com
• www.nuno-veg.paints
• www.ecoarts.com-modelingbeeswax
Kid's Clothes
Cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops in this country – not to mention the amount of water it takes to produce the fluffy bunches – making it less than the perfect choice for clothing if you want a sustainable planet. Try hemp clothing. It is easy to launder, it feels great, it looks amazing, it is easy on the environment, and it is reasonable on the budget. Peruse the links below for clothing for toddlers to college kids.
• www.grassrootsnaturals.com
• www.rawganique.com
• www.bootylandkids.com
• www.frogpondhemp.ca
Back to School Lunches
If you shudder at the thought of cafeteria lunches, you are not alone. Visit the website of two moms trying to make a big impact and change the school lunch programs nationwide: www.twoangrymoms.org.
Follow these links to some great recipe ideas that your kids will love. It will make a big impact on their health now and long into the future.
• www.grinningplanet.com/2006/05-02/healthy- school-lunch-article.htm
• www.organicauthority.com/organic-food/organic- food-articles/help-school-lunches-go-organic.html
• www.goodearthorganiclunches.com/organicfoodfacts.html
• www.sustainabletable.com/features/articles/backtoschool
Other Ideas
Continue making changes for your children and their worlds. Check out these sites and help the schools change, too.
• www.walktoschool.org
• www.recycleworks.org/schools/back_to_school.html
Rebecca Reynolds is a mother of three, an environmentalist and the creator and president of Green Clean, Inc., a socially conscious, all-natural, professional cleaning company. She can be reached at (440) 899-9295 or www.green-clean-inc.com.
