Every fall, parents spend time and money replacing outgrown clothing and overused school supplies. The financial cost of doing this annual restock is one thing, but there is also a cost to the environment.
This year, take some time to think about where you can save on both counts. Start by taking inventory of items in your home still in good shape. You may not need to restock all those binders, pencils, jeans and lunch kits.
Smart dressing
The first step is to assess what your children need and what they actually wear. With kids growing so quickly in the early school years, capitalize on hand-me-downs and second-hand purchases. Older kids may wish to spend their own money on trendy items they want, but make sure to also invest in higher quality basics that will hopefully be passed on to younger siblings.
It also makes sense to wait a bit to add to the winter wardrobe. September is often warm enough for kids to wear summer clothes, so consider stocking up on fall clothes once they’ve gone on sale.
Where and when to shop for back-to-school clothes
- Decide which items you’ll buy used and new. For instance, you may wish to buy everyday items new, but occasional things like accessories, dress clothes and jackets second-hand.
- Shop at bigger thrift stores during the first week of school when they often have good sales.
- Check out smaller second-hand stores and consignment shops for lower prices on high quality items.
- Buy basics at the mall later in September when things are on sale.
- Look at sales throughout the summer for wear-all-year items like accessories, socks and T-shirts.
- Organize a clothing swap with family and friends who are also parents.
Litter-free lunches
When shopping for new lunch accessories, look for cloth or metal lunch containers, or—better yet—repurpose a container or bag you already have around the house.
When choosing reusable containers, invest in food-grade stainless steel that can be used year after year, as well as leak-proof glass jars or stainless steel bottles for beverages.
“One thing that is easy for parents to do to help green up their child’s school is to pack lunches in environmentally friendly packaging,” says Karyn Taylor, a parent council member. “School councils can support this initiative by having fundraisers that sell reusable lunch containers. This both raises money for the school and contributes to the greening of the school community.”
Greened-up school supplies
Look for high post-consumer recycled content in paper and plastics, as well as reusable items like pens that have refillable ink cartridges.
Chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) can be found in common products like soft, pliable pencil cases or scented markers. Choose school supplies labeled “PVC-free,” “phthalate-free” and “BPA-free.”
To keep costs down, consider buying in bulk and splitting among several families.
Tell your kids why you’re sending them back to school the green way. They’ll learn one of the most important lessons even before the bell rings on the first day.
