Back to school green tips

You’ve heard the jingles. For retailers, back to school season is the second most wonderful time of the year. 

According to a Retail Council of Canada survey, Canadians planned on spending about $350 on back to school items from pencils, to lunch boxes, to laptop computers. That’s a lot of coin, especially if you are feeling the financial pinch. 

It could be less – and better for the environment.  This back to school season, by thinking green, you might just save some cash as well as resources and, yes, the environment.  Eco expert and writer Lauren Maris has some advice to share. 

Before you go back to school shopping, think before you spend. Make a list of items you need; then check it twice: make sure you really do need them before buying them brand-new. Many items purchased for the previous school year can be used again. 

Forget about brown bags.  Pack lunches in reusable lunch boxes, along with reusable cutlery and containers. Don’t worry, your kids will remember to bring them back home. Try buying food in bulk; it’s cheaper and uses less packaging. 

A new back to school wardrobe can be the most important thing to kids. Try hosting a clothes swap, or hunting down bargains at consignment shops. If brand-new is the only thing that will do, try to limit them to a single new and versatile outfit. 

If at all possible, walk your kids to school and back; organize a large group of your community’s kids to do a “walking school bus.” If the school is too far for walking to be an option, see if car pooling works. Remember not to idle when dropping them off or picking them up. 

 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle this back to school season. It’s elementary!