There is nothing that encompasses the spirit of “back-to-school” than the tradition of shopping for new school supplies! The excitement and back-to-school hype can lead to over-purchasing or blindly supporting products that are harmful to the environment. This year, consider taking steps to make your school supply shopping more eco-friendly. 

To start, ask yourself these questions:

1. What can we reuse? Before you make a shopping list, take an inventory of what you already have. Oftentimes, you will find unused notebooks, pens, pencils, and erasers throughout your home that can be used for the upcoming academic year. 
2. What do we REALLY need? While most kids like to get a new backpack or reusable water bottle each year, consider what is really necessary to purchase this year. 
3. What do we no longer need? If you find things that still have a useful life that you no longer need, consider donating them. Ensure you recycle or dispose of any products that cannot be used properly. 
4. What can you purchase second hand? Check out eBay or Facebook Marketplace for books, graphing calculators, and other technology before you purchase new!

Now it’s time to shop! 

Look for products made from more natural materials like metal, wood, and recycled plastic. In general, anything that can be reused should be your priority. Try to avoid things made from virgin plastic and always consider the quantities you purchase – you can always replenish your supplies throughout the year.

Looking to shop sustainably? 

Eco Evolution is a locally-owned eco-friendly store run by @the.eco.dude. With a storefront in Norwalk as well as online shopping, you can support a local business while shopping consciously. 

You can also check out EARTH HERO, a low waste retailer that has a vast selection of eco-friendly school supplies, like Sprout plantable pencils, Honey Sticks beeswax crayons, Terra Thread backpacks, and Onyx & Green organic general supplies.