This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winners: Vicki Wurgler, Jenn S, Donna K, Laura Emerson!
Photo Credit: hortongrou
While we’re still enjoying warm summer days at the beach, the back to school season is nearing. Even in our own household, things will be different this year as our son enters pre-kindergarten. This year is all about preparing him (and ourselves) to be timely, disciplined, and attentive. We’re also aiming to infuse and inspire some fun and excitement about learning!
Shopping for the back to school season can be stressful, time-consuming, and costly. However, with a few time and cost-saving techniques, you and your child can rock the back to school season in eco-style!
1. Take Inventory. If this isn’t your child’s first year attending school, go through last year’s clothes, shoes, and school supplies to see if anything can be used again. I recommend doing this with your child so you can make decisions together.
2. Do Your Homework. While you may be obligated to purchase necessary items dictated by your child’s school, you can “Google” sustainable options to the remainder of your back to school list. In some cases, you may be able to ask a teacher if your child can use soy crayons, biodegradable pens and pencils, recycled paper and notebooks and more.
3. Seek plastic alternatives. Have you noticed just how much plastic surrounds us? From products to packaging, we could stand to consume less. Opt for a hemp backpack and commit to packing a waste-free lunch.
Speaking of waste-free lunches, Annie’s Homegrown, Stonyfield YoKids, Honest Kids and Seventh Generation have partnered to help families choose sustainable lunch options for their children. Through September 30th, families will receive a free Kids Konserve lunch sack (made from recycled cotton) with the purchase of one of the following products (mail-in form with proof of purchase required):
Any Annie’s Homegrown item
Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt 6-packs or Squeezers
Honest Kids Organic Drinks 8-pack carton or 64-ounce bottle
Seventh Generation Disinfectants (sprays or wipes)
And because we’re talking about a greener back to school season, why not begin instilling healthy eating habits within your children by opting for organic fruits, veggies, dairy, and meats and sustainable snacks free from preservatives, artificial colors/flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and trans fats. Many of the brands that have partnered to help families choose a waste-free lunch offer organic, healthy foods that are good for your children and good for the environment.
What are your best tips for a greener back to school season?
Win It! FOUR of you will win a Kids Konserve lunch sack filled with coupons to buy your favorite sustainable products including Annie’s, Stonyfield YoKids, and Seventh Generation. Simply leave me a comment with your best tip for a greener back to school season. Comments will close on August 31st at 11:59 PM PST.
US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
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No compensation was received for this post. Items for review and giveaway supplied by the company.
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Look around your house for what you already have rather then buying something new. We have three ring binders, and scissors that my son can take from home.
my tip is to use reusable containers to pack school lunches in. i also send real silverware instead of plastic ware to school for my children’s lunches. clallen at ntin dot net
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I freeze yogurt for my kids and put it in their lunch boxes. It serves as the ice pack to keep everything cool and by the time lunch rolls around the yogurt has defrosted.
we recycle and i use dehumidifier water for outdoor plants watering
Debbie Jackson
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Debbie Jackson
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Debbie Jackson
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My daughter does a lot of work in school but doesnt need to save everything. Whatever papers she brings home but doesnt need, we put in recycling rather than in the garbage.
Thank you!
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jackievillano at gmail dot com
Use reusable lunch bags and beverage bottles.
We use reusable sandwich containers etc… so we dont waste plastic bags
Thanks for the chance.
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best tip for a greener back to school season is to buy recycled supplies
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Train the kids to use reusable containers at lunch–no throwing things away! That way you can do away with ziplocs and the like.
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Send lunches in reusable containers – thermos, lunchbox, containers for snacks
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Don’t overstock on school supplies, buy as you go.
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My tip is to use stainless steel waterbottles.
I follow and tweeted (mnsteph)
http://twitter.com/#!/mnsteph/status/104590311015194624
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My tip is to pack lunches with totally reusable containers so there is no waste!
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I follow you on Twitter, I’m @AmberGoo, and tweeted:
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I use reusable containers for the kids lunches
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My tip to be greener is to carpool with neighbors to and from school.
save all the piles of school work papers that come home each day to use the vlank backsodes as scratch paper and drawing paper for your children
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use a lunchbox instead of paper bags and refill juices rather than juice boxes
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We send stainless straws (for drinking school provided milk that they put in reusable cups!) and silverware and cloth napkins in my 4yo’s lunch everyday. Not only do her teachers like this (less to clean up cause they can just throw it right back in the bag) but her classmates think her straw is rockin!
We use reusable snack containers, lunch bag and sports bottles. Thanks for the chance!
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You don’t have to buy into the notion that an occasion means you have to buy new stuff. My baby girl’s lunchbag, for example, is one I used to use for work. If that ever needs to be replaced I’ll get her a new one, but not just because it’s a new school year.
save school supplies for the following year
Debbie Jackson
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Debbie Jackson
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Debbie Jackson
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We’ve started using reusable containers for lunches, so they bring the stuff back home to wash and use again, instead of creating more garbage!
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Kristy Hostetler
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For a greener school lunch AND something cool, try a Bento Lunch Box. It turns lunch into a surprise package of goodies and good food. They come in all different types and styles, steel or plastic and they are fun to pack and fun to eat. Other kids will be GREEN with envy… pun intended!
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Cloth napkins are a great way to make back to school lunch a little greener.
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I made a greener back to school season by switching to all organic foods to go in those reusable lunch bags.
My best advice for an eco-friendly back to school season is reusable containers for lunch =)
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Reduce and reuse. Recycle unnessecary papers
Instead of using sandwich bags I bought two sandwich containers with characters on them. They are easy to clean and easy on our eco-system.
I follow you on twitter and tweeted-laurallee56
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I’m buying all recycled paper products to donate to my classroom!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
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recycled supplies
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Re-use lunch bags if possible or use eco-friendly reuseable lunch boxes/carriers
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Stainless steel water bottles, cloth napkins, reuseable lunch bag, plus I wrap and send our flatwear.
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Reuse items whenever possible.
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