Ditch the plastic baggies in favor of recyclable containers.
No better time to get on board the green bus
Make sure the return to school is good for the planet, too.
go high tech
• This could possibly be the easiest way to go green. Digitally organizing your family’s schedule and communication is a perfect solution to a family paper calendar and millions of sticky notes all over the house. Cozi has found a great way to do all of this for you. It has a calendar that easily syncs with Outlook and Internet calendars (such as Google) as well as creating to-do and shopping lists.
You can also text these lists or any reminders to yourself or any household member straight from the site. Even create a digital family scrapbook right online!
Ready to ride the green tidal wave? This fad isn't over yet, and hopefully being green will never go out of style. Being green can not only benefit your child’s style, but your pocketbook as well. The days of being the outcast child with the homemade and hand-me-down supplies are over, because recycling is cool and good for the planet too. Back-to-school time is a great opportunity to jump on the green bus to savings and help out Mother Earth too.
LUNCHES
Lunch time can be a starting point to go green. Ditch those wasteful plastic baggies for a recyclable alternative. You can make your own out of recycled materials you already have at home, with instructions found in the September 2009 issue of Family Fun; or purchase these adorable, kid-friendly reusable bags at a Web site such as snackTaxi.com. Both options are great for the environment, and your children will love their own personal snack and sandwich bags.
Packaging individual servings of snacks is also a great idea. Buying prepackaged snacks is not only expensive, but very wasteful. Instead, buy the larger box or bag and send smaller portions with your children in their own reusable snack bags. A reusable drink container is also a better alternative to one-use water bottles and juice boxes.
SUPPLIES
Terracycle has been teaming up with schools to produce wonderful products out of used juice containers, chip bags, snack wrappers and more. Its line includes many products including bags, lunch boxes, pencil cases, folders, and more. These items are found in stores nationwide at a great price.
Earthwrite pencils from Paper Mate are made of 100 percent post consumer waste and are great for back to school. These can be found at your favorite stores. You can also order customized pencils made out of newspaper and cardboard, or even money, from Amazing Recycled. Many school and office supply companies are getting in on the green, and recycling it too.
Back-to-school time is tough enough without having to worry about your family's carbon footprint.
Finding creative eco-friendly solutions is not only being green, but saving green too.
