Can Back-to-School be Sustainable?
It's back-to-school season!
Whether you hear that and groan or give a sigh of relief, it's something many of us have to tackle. If you're wondering how you can be more sustainable (and maybe save some cash) when going back to classes, we have a few great tips for you!
Reuse last year’s materials:
When shopping for school supplies, consider used items.
Typically it takes a year or two before things like binders and folders get destroyed (unless your little one is the type to aggressively shove everything into their backpack). Most of the time, supplies can be given a little more time before they become unusable.
Is your kiddo’s binder from last year not up to their standard anymore? Do they have new interests or favorite colors? See if other kids in your life could use the binder, and give it a second life.
Giving old supplies another year, if you can, will do wonders for your bank account and the planet!
Shop at the Hub!
Did you know we have a 4th Floor Reuse Shop? Well, we do!
Our 4th floor is stacked full of binders, note pads, markers, pens, highlighters, and pencils for you to take home. Teachers, we have tons of items for creative reuse as well as a pallet full of legal size copy paper for you to use in the classroom. College students, we carry cups, plates, bowls, and clothing hangers that you take instead of buying during move-in week.
Everything in our 4th Floor Reuse Shop is free to take. Talk about a bargain! All we ask is that you make sure to find a volunteer to weigh the items you are taking, so we know how much waste is being diverted from the landfill.
We have a ZeroLandfill takeaway day coming up on Saturday, August 5th 2023, from 10:00am - 2:00 pm. Bring those boxes to the Hub and grab any supplies you can use from our 4th Floor Reuse Shop. The event is free, but donations are always accepted! Learn more about the event here.
Instill sustainable habits:
Sustainability takes practice, and it helps to have someone guide you along the way.
Parents, help your children understand the importance of sustainability, and get them excited to try it. Have them ride the bus instead of getting dropped off, or buy a cool reusable water bottle for them to carry. Actions like these will get your little ones excited to do back-to-school sustainably.
Practicing sustainable actions at a young age will help your kiddos to be green adults, giving them a boost in life and a love for the planet.
How are you going to be sustainable during back-to-school this year?
Tell us about your back-to-school plans! Are you excited to go back? A little hesitant? Completely dreading it? Tell us! We love hearing all of your thoughts and ideas on how to make sustainable choices during the back-to-school season.