Regardless if you’re taking your first steps into junior kindergarten, or making your way through the halls at a big name university, going back to school can be daunting, exciting, and, well, a perfect time for staying sustainable.
We’ve started a must-do list for going back-to-school and keeping it green, all at the same time. Let’s keep building our list, adding your ideas to the comments below!
We’ve re-partnered with our friends at Ecojot will supply one lucky commenter with a package of recycled, sustainable swag from their popular product line.
Ecojot® is a Canadian-made, 100% post-consumer recycled paper product company, driven toward providing today’s eco-savvy user with the items that they want and need. (Check out our review Take note with ecojot).
The company uses acid-free, processed chlorine free paper & board with vegetable-based, biodegradable inks & glues are vegetable based, therefore bio-degradable. No new trees are used to make their paper, and they use a paper mill powered by biogas from a nearby landfill. They also use corn-based protective packaging. (And that’s just the start of their eco-friendly practices).
This has inspired our own list of sustainable practices for the upcoming school year. We’ve started a list below and welcome you to add your own!
THE RESULTS!
We had folks enter our contest, and add their favourite tips for going back-to-school green in the comments below.
The winner was chosen at random!
- use recycled paper
- opt for reusable plastic pencils, or PaperMate’s “Earth Write” line, made of recycled wood
- look for eco-certified binders and recycled notebooks
- pack an organic lunch
- pack an organic lunch in a reusable container
- pack a vegan, organic lunch in a reusable container
- use recycled napkins
- nix the plastic baggies and throw-a-way add-ins
- if your school doesn’t have a compost, bring home cores and scraps
- seek out sustainable, organic clothing
- walk to school
- ride a bike to school
- car pool
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Anna, on September 9th, 2009, who wrote:
- get some plants for the classroom ( better quality of air and a nicer atmosphere) and use rain water for them.
- show students how to reuse big envelopes and boxes
- school principals, invest in hands free faucets (you will save a lot of water and diminish the contact for germs) and install water fountains (kids won’t have to bring plastic water bottles)
- use energy-saving bulbs
-what about using an ink pen?
-take part in ecological campaigns !
CLEAN UP THE WORLD WEEKEND 18-20 SEPTEMBER 2009!
-fix old toys and tape torn books instead of throwing them away
-buy products coming from recycle, not tested on animals, look for fair trade and organic labels,
-save bread crumbs so you can feed birds during severe winter
ecojot and ecoki will be in contact with you, but you can email us if you get to us first!
STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT CONTEST!
The Fine Print
1. Agreement: These rules govern all contests running on or sponsored by Ecoki.com. No purchase is necessary to enter any contest. The act of entering a contest constitutes acceptance of the contest rules and the decisions of the contest judge.
2. Eligibility: The contest is open to all residents of Canada and the United States 19 years and older, except for employees, immediate families and anyone living with any employee of ecoki.com and Ecojot, its corporate affiliates.
3. Contest: The selected winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 48 hours to maintain eligibility.
5. Prize: Ecoki.com and Ecojot hold no responsibility for customs charges, additional shipping charges, taxes or other fees as determined by your country.
6. Privacy: We use your personal contact information to administer contests, including contacting, announcing and promoting prizewinners. It will not be given to any third-party companies.
7. Other: All decisions of the contest judges are final. Contests are governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify any contest or the contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The sponsors reserve the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries are received. Sponsors are not liable for any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this contest, including technical failures on the part of contest software, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any contest entrant.
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Discussion Take a look at what is being said about this article.
Anna, on August 27th, 2009 says:
A lot of great tips above!
A few new ideas from a teacher
1 Schools should get involved in battery and cell phones recycling.
2. We should use both sides of paper to write on or to print on.
3.Let’s buy local products.
4. Let’s educate our students how to take care of the environment ( what about planting trees together?)
John Davids, on September 1st, 2009 says:
contact your schools to make sure they have a recycle and compost program in place! otherwise, bring your stuff home to dispose of it properly
R Watkins, on September 2nd, 2009 says:
My thoughts:
-Purchase an e-book in lieu of a hard copy
-For drinks, utilize a reusable, recyclable bottle
-If keeping a document accessable on the computer insead of printing it out remains practical, then do it
Anna, on September 3rd, 2009 says:
-borrow books and movies from your school library
-donate old book and toys to your school
-don’t use a standby mode if you can switch electronic devices off
-use a drying rack
-invest in high-quality, long-lasting products
-wear clothes that don’t need to be dry-cleaned
-buy in bulk
Leah, on September 3rd, 2009 says:
use reusable water bottles!
recycle recycle recycle!
buy locally!
Sarah Jane Kemp, on September 9th, 2009 says:
Create a compost pile at school for all of the uneatten lunch to fertilize a garden! Get rain barrels to collect the A/C run off to irrigate a garden.
Tiffany, on September 9th, 2009 says:
-Buy reusable aluminum water bottles
-Never buy aerosol cans
-buy from local produce stands or grow your own
-reduce, reuse, recycle
-turn off lights and electronics when not in the room
Tina, on September 9th, 2009 says:
* Don’t just use recycled napkins — use cloth napkins!
* Try to always use reusable containers in your lunches. Packing lunches for a K and 2nd grader that can be hard sometimes, but I’m trying!
* Buy items in bulk instead of in individual packages – like yogurt cups, applesauce cups, etc.
* Buy fresh produce in bulk from your local farmer’s markets (support local farmers!) and then can the produce for use later in the winter when fresh produce is sometimes shipped from faraway distances. I made blueberry jam and pickles this weekend!
Lea, on September 9th, 2009 says:
- Use filtered tapwater w/ a sealable water cup.
- Send in your child’s lunch, making sure to use reusable plates, fork, napkin.
- Share clothes with friends. Most kids grow out of clothes before they are worn out!
chris caron, on September 9th, 2009 says:
*Walk and cycle to school
*Share lunch with others in reusable containers, sitting in a park, enjoying the lovely September weather
*Use candle lights at night sittting outside while enjoying the beautiful stars
*Turn lights, fans and anything unnecesarily electrical
*Use libraries for books, newspapers, magazines, etc
*Recycle paper when taking notes
*Bring a thermus of tea, water or coffee to avoid buying unnecessary take out or ask to refill thermus at your favourite coffee place
*Bring your own plates, cups, knives when visiting a take-out place
Sandra Dumais, on September 9th, 2009 says:
Bike to school! Well, bike everywhere, I say!)
Anna, on September 9th, 2009 says:
- get some plants for the classroom ( better quality of air and a nicer atmosphere) and use rain water for them.
- show students how to reuse big envelopes and boxes
- school principals, invest in hands free faucets (you will save a lot of water and diminish the contact for germs) and install water fountains (kids won’t have to bring plastic water bottles)
- use energy-saving bulbs
-what about using an ink pen?
-take part in ecological campaigns !
CLEAN UP THE WORLD WEEKEND 18-20 SEPTEMBER 2009!
-fix old toys and tape torn books instead of throwing them away
-buy products coming from recycle, not tested on animals, look for fair trade and organic labels,
-save bread crumbs so you can feed birds during severe winter
Laurie, on September 12th, 2009 says:
Congrats Anna!
Anna, on September 12th, 2009 says:
woo hoo!! thanks!
Sara, on September 9th, 2009 says:
so many great green tips.
- reuse items that aren’t spent yet – notebooks, folder, pens, etc from previous years
- recycle papers but use the backsides first
- compost apple cores and other food waste from lunches, etc
- shop at second hand stores and rummage sales
thank you
Sandra, on September 9th, 2009 says:
-bring a reusable water bottle (such as stainless steel) and refill it from the fountain, rather than buy plastic bottles of water. save money and less plastic to throw away.
-write on both sides of pages when taking notes or take notes on a laptop if you have one to save on paper. only buy recycled notebooks and paper refills.
-you can buy staple-free staplers, they work really well, use no staples, and don’t jam!
-buy used textbooks whenever possible, and sell back your old books at the end of the year
Melissa C, on September 10th, 2009 says:
These are all great tips!
If you do purchase new school supplies be mindful of what you are purchasing – try to make sure that you are purchasing recycled paper, folders, and even pencils made from things such as recycled money.
Anna, on September 30th, 2009 says:
Ecojot!
your notebooks and sketchbooks make me feel like going back to school
you are awesome and you do a great job! thank you for the prize!