Student Provided Supplies
As you prepare for this year’s student-provided supply list, encourage children and their parents to look for recycled products. More than 75 million students are enrolled in the U.S. education system, and if each child used just one recycled item every school year, that would mean 75 million fewer pieces of garbage deposited in our landfills.
There are recycled, eco-friendly versions of nearly every classroom supply. And while these options are often readily available, it may be helpful to list some brand names and purchasing locations to guide parents and students on their quest to find earth-friendly back-to-school goods. The easier it is to find the items, the more likely parents will buy them.
Your new, earth-friendly supply list may look something like this:
Pens (try Pilot Be Green or Zebra brands, both available at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot)
Pencils (try Zebra brand, available at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot, or Paper Mate Earthwrite brand, available at Office Max and Office Depot)
Highlighters (try Zebra brand, available at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot)
5 folders in assorted colors (try the Office Depot brand or the Essette brand, available at Kmart)
3 one-subject notebooks in assorted colors (try the Staples brand or College Rule brand, available at Target)
20 manila file folders (try Essette brand, available at Office Depot and Kmart)
1 box of tissues (try Marcal brand, available at Staples and Office Depot, as well as grocery stores)
Be sure to remember that time and budget constraints may hinder the ability of some students and parents to purchase some of the products suggested. Remind them that using even one recycled product this school year can have a huge impact on our earth.
