Back to School in Sustainable Style

The end of summer is always bittersweet. It’s tough to say goodbye to family road trips, warm August nights and lazy mornings by the shore (ok, so few of us actually get to do these things even in the summer, but at least you can!). Still, there’s something magical about the start of a new school year. As we pencil another year of growth onto the wall, it’s hard to believe how much the world of sustainability has matured too. Back in August of 2007, we had to struggle to find earth-friendly school supplies. Now there are so many products, our biggest challenge is to narrow it down to the products we like best. Buoyed by the charge, we’ve scoured the market to bring you our hand-culled list of the best in healthy, sustainable style for our kids and the planet.

At Dawn
When it’s time to get ready for school, the last thing you want to put your children in is toxins. Nonetheless, most major retailers use dangerous chemicals in the manufacturing process. These artificial additives have been associated with a variety of health issues, ranging from skin irritation and respiratory ailments to endocrine dysfunction. That’s why we recommend garments made from certified organic cotton. Non-toxic and phthalate-free, the cotton is fully biodegradable, making it a healthy choice for your child and the earth. Green Edge Kids is a great one-stop-shop for organic cotton kids wear. Offering Pura Vida, Twirls & Twigs, Misha Lulu and Fig, they will soon be adding sizes 8-12 to their smaller selection. Another back-to-school basic is Hanna Andersson. Featuring certified Öko-Tex Standard 100 dyed organic cotton, their boxy cotton tops, priced from $25.50, are silky soft and remain vibrant wash after wash. For the chilly days ahead, Patagonia has a cozy compilation of eco-friendly jackets and warm winter coats, priced from $65 to $175 - many are 100% recycled polyester. To get the off on the right foot, we like ecoSNEAKS and Green Piggies from Simple Shoes (Zem’s children refuse to kick it in anything else). Dedicated to creating “shoes for a happy planet,” Simple Shoes combine a passion for trendy, contemporary design with environmental commitment.

At School
For packing books and bags, Fleurville’s Hip Messenger Bags are built for the young scholar. Priced at $50, they come in a palette of solids and splashy prints. They are PVC-free, Teflon-free and lead-free. They also feature removable, insulated lunch bags and bottle holders to keep busy bodies well fed and hydrated for a full day of learning. Next, while fast food doesn’t typically make the grade, these whimsical toxin-free erasers can endure a hazard-free nibble. Made in Japan by Vat19 and priced from $6.95, each adorable set includes a fountain soda, sandwich, burger, hot dog, large fries and can of soda, made from recyclable, lead-free materials. As for writing utensils, try these affordable 100% non-toxic pens. Made from biodegradable corn starch, they come in black and blue ink. There even sell replacement ink cartridges for the ultimate in reusability. You can buy them for $1.35 each or $13.20 for the dozen. For the prolific future novelist or president, a set of spiral notebooks is sure to come in handy. Made from post-consumer waste, the six-pack comes in four primary colors. Each book contains 80 sheets of college-ruled paper and is shipped in recycled cartons with biodegradable “peanuts” at $12.59 for the set.

At Lunch
We all know how important it is to pack a nutritional lunch for your child, but how it’s toted is just as crucial. Disposable simply isn’t ecofabulous. Instead of PVC-laden or lead-painted (read, toxic) lunchboxes, we suggest this Hero Bag ($24.95) made in the U.S. from 100% USDA-NOP Certified organic cotton canvas. Machine washable, it comes complete with a zipper and tag for your child’s name. What you put in the bag, i.e.; healthy meals is important but sometimes many of us are temped to sneak in a little treat. Hillside Candy’s Go Naturally line is made with organic evaporated cane juice and brown rice syrup, all ingredients are USDA-certified organic and free of gluten, artificial additives and preservatives. There’s something for every young gourmand, with delicious flavors like apple, cherry, honey lemon, pomegranate and ginger. If your kids suffer soda envy, you can add Zevia to their lunch pack (Zem is anti any flavored drinks, but other ecofabsters are a little more lenient). All natural and sugar-free, they’re sweetened with the herb Stevia. Available in cola, orange, lime and root beer flavors, the cans are made from 100% recycled aluminum.

At Play
When it’s time for a little R&R, nothing beats boredom like a good old-fashioned board game. With names like “Beautiful Places” and “Caves and Claws,” these games ($15) have an eco-friendly, educational twist. Created by a company called Cooperative Games, all of their games are made with earth-friendly materials. If your kids prefer cards, try Xeko, an award-winning collectible card game similar to Pokemon that gently teaches about wildlife, natural wonders and principles of biodiversity!

At Home
To make home learning and creativity more fun, this donut-shaped table ($299) has a convenient center bowl for storing chalk, erasers and other crafty supplies. Made from non-toxic, formaldehyde-free adhesives and energy efficient ply wood, your artist can move effortlessly from snack time to art, as the mood strikes. Matching chairs are sold separately. If you’re in the market for a computer, consider one from carbon-neutral Dell! Their new studio hybrid starts at $499 (without the monitor) or from $699 with a monitor. It’s 80 percent smaller than the typical desktop and uses 70 percent less energy. It also comes in a dazzling rainbow of colors plus an eco-hip bamboo shell.

Of course, when all is said and done, a happy, healthy school year begins at home. So make sure you spend plenty of family time outdoors learning about the earth from the ground up. Have a super school year!