Back to School Green Living Tips

August has come and gone and everybody from young children to college students are now back at school. Most parents are breathing a sigh of relief! While back-to-school time means a bit of relief for parents as well as busier schedules for kids, it also means a ton of activities that can be harmful to the planet. Whether you're the parent of a small, school-aged child or whether you're a blossoming college student, here are some ways to make back-to-school more eco friendly.

Use Eco Friendly Lunch Packaging
If you carry your lunch with you regularly, don't use disposable bags and other plastic-based packaging. Invest in a reusable lunch sack and reusable containers for food and beverages. If you do use single-serving pre-packaged portions, be responsible about recycling them. If you purchase your lunch daily, carry reusable utensils with you so that you don't need to use disposable plastic ones each day.

Limit Your Back-To-School Shopping
We all need some new things for back-to-school, but if you pay attention to the media you'll end up thinking that you need to replace every single item that you own just because it's time to start classes again. Only buy what you really need to go back to school. Set a budget and stick to it. Also, consider hitting thrift stores to reduce your consumption of made-to-order materials. Finally, for what you do need to buy, make an effort to select postconsumer-made goods or eco-friendly brands.