Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic School Supplies for a Safe School Year

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Why Should We Worry About School Supplies?

First of all, I want to be clear that most school supplies are reasonably safe for our kids to use. We do have regulations in place such as The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act that mandates all art supplies with hazardous chronic effects have a warning label, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that tightened regulations on children’s art materials.

However, these regulations can not ensure complete protection. School supplies that contain some very toxic chemicals have been slipping through the cracks. A study by U.S. Pirg that included lab testing of products, found toxic chemicals in quite a few common school supplies including:

• asbestos (a known carcinogen) in crayons
• phthalates (linked to hormone and developmental problems) in 3-ring binders
• benzene (a probable carcinogen) in dry-erase markers
• lead (a neurotoxin) in children’s water bottles

Plus we have to consider the environmental impact of school supplies. Think about the amount of paper, plastic and disposable products that are used in schools! Clearly we should be paying closer attention and making sure we are purchasing sustainable school supplies each year.

Where to Shop for Non-Toxic School Supplies

The good news is that eco-friendly and non-toxic school supplies can be found in many stores these days! However, if I were to recommend one type of store to avoid, it would be dollar stores or other bargain basement type stores.

Why avoid dollar stores?? In the study referenced above, many of the products containing harmful chemicals came from these types of stores. I think the pressure to create extremely cheap products leads to dangerous material choices – like the lead and asbestos that’s been found in some school supplies. It’s maddening!

Here are some online stores that I trust for good quality eco-friendly school supplies:

• EarthHero – My go-to store for non-toxic and sustainable products.
• Amazon – Here’s my back-to-school shopping list.
• Mightynest – A good resource for zero waste lunch supplies
• Stubby Pencil Studio
• Target – Select items from Target are non-toxic and eco-friendly including brands like Greenroom, Mondo Llama and Ticonderoga.

RELATED: Non-Toxic Art Supplies for Worry Free Creativity

Favorite Sustainable School Supplies

Let’s take a fresh look at that school supply list and find ways to make it safer for our kids and better for the planet. You’ll find non-toxic and zero waste school supplies for everyone – ranging from little kids to high school kids and even gear for your college student too.

Non-Toxic Backpacks

Invest in a high-quality, non-toxic backpack vs. one that will fall apart after one year of use. In terms of materials, avoid PVC plastic at all costs. Instead, opt for sustainable backpacks made from natural materials like cotton or hemp. Durable nylon and polyester (especially if made from recycled water bottles) are good options as well.

Check out these backpacks for kids, teens and adults:

• Terra Thread Organic Cotton Backpack – Made from 100% GOTS certified heavy-weight organic cotton and comes in many color choices.
• Sidekick Backpack – a smaller backpack made from recycled polyester and nylon that includes a padded tablet sleeve.
• Handmade Hemp Backpack – Handmade in Nepal with a boho/hippie vibe and lots of pockets.
• Fluf Organic Cotton Laptop Backpack – A mid-sized school backpack with a 15″ laptop sleeve made from GOTS certified organic cotton.
• United by Blue Recycled Poly Backpack – Each bag keeps 10 plastic water bottles out of landfills. Includes a 17” padded interior laptop sleeve, side water bottle pockets and adjustable padded shoulder straps.
• Cotopaxi Dimi 12L Kids’ Backpack – Perfectly sized for kids with multiple accessory pockets, and ergonomic shoulder straps.
• Wildkin ECO Toddler Backpack – Constructed from rPET fabric made from recycled water bottles.
• Ten Little – Recycled kids backpacks made with non-toxic, Oeko-Tex certified recycled materials and available in 12″ and 15″ sizes.

Durable Lunch Boxes

Instead of cheap lunch boxes, look for durable, PVC-free lunch bags and zero waste lunch boxes that will last more than one season.

Here are some lunch bags and boxes that will hold up in the lunchroom:

• Bentology Lunch Box – Insulated lunch boxes and bags that come in a variety of fun prints for boys and girls.
• Organic Cotton Lunch Sack – A classic lunch sack made from thick organic canvas fabric, with rope handles and metal button snap closures.
• Wildkin Lunch Bag – Super durable lunch bags made with 100% recycled polyester (RPET) fabric and a food-safe PEVA interior lining.
• Lunchbots Duplex Bag – This roomy dual-section bag is perfect for hungry teenagers.

RELATED: Good Reasons to Buy Non-Toxic Products

Zero Waste Lunch Gear

Set your kids up for a zero waste lunch by minimizing disposables as much as possible. Invest in a stainless steel water bottle and stock up on reusable lunch containers and snack bags as a replacement for plastic baggies and plastic wrap.

Here’s some of my favorite zero waste lunch gear:

• Lunchskins Reusable Sandwich Bags
• Jaq Jaq Bird Reusable Snack Pouch
• Silicone Stasher Bags
• Bee’s Wrap Beeswax Food Wrap
• Lunchbots Stainless Steel Food Containers
• UKonserve Stainless Steel Snack Containers
• Thermos Insulated Funtainer
• Safe Sporter Stainless Steel Reusable Water Bottle

BONUS: find lots more reusable lunch containers and reusable snack bags here!

Non-Toxic Markers, Crayons & Chalk

Little kids love to put things in their mouths, so definitely avoid cheap crayons which may be laced with asbestos and toxic markers. Beeswax and soy crayons are nice alternatives. Water based markers are best, but if you must buy permanent markers, make sure they are free from xylene, toluene, and other VOCs.

Here are some great resources for safe coloring supplies:

• Faber Castell Beeswax Crayons
• Honeysticks Chubby Beeswax Crayons
• Soy Crayons
• Water Based Washable Markers
• Fine Tip Washable Markers
• Zero Dust Chalk

Buy paper products, notebooks and binders made with recycled paper (from post-consumer waste) or paper from sustainable sources like FSC-certified. Look for 3-ring binders without a plastic cover (or clearly labeled PVC-free).

Check out these sustainable paper products:

• Recycled Filler Paper
• Sugarcane Paper 3-Subject Notebook (made from leftover sugar cane pulp)
• Recycled Paper Notebooks
• Decomposition Notebooks
• Bamboo Paper Index Cards
• Wheat Straw Pocket Folders
• Recycled Paperboard 1″ Binder
• Recycled Kraft Binders 
• Recycled Printer/Copy Paper
• Recycled Paper Sticky Notes

Sustainable Pencils & Pens

Choose eco-friendly pencils made from recycled materials or wood from sustainably managed forests, and pens made from recycled plastic because they are better for the environment.

• Recycled Newspaper Pencils
• Sustainable Seed Pencils from Sprout Pencils
• Ticonderoga Recycled #2 Pencils
• Colorful Recycled Newspaper Pencils
• Recycled Plastic Gel Pen (made from corn-based plastic with soy ink)
• Eco Friendly Colored Pencils
• Eco Friendly Highlighter Pencils
• Recycled Plastic Mechanical Pencils

Miscellaneous School Supplies

Most school glue is pretty safe but a plant-based version is better for the planet. Look for recycled versions of common school supplies like paper clips, erasers, scissors and pencil cases. If you must buy hand sanitizer, get a non-toxic brand. 

• Plant-based Liquid Glue
• Plant-based Glue Sticks
• Recycled Steel Paper Clips
• Recycled Rubber Erasers
• Recycled Plastic Scissors
• Bamboo Ruler
• Organic Cotton Pencil Case
• Organic Cotton Laptop Sleeve
• Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer Spray
• Non-Toxic Hand Sanitizer Wipes

What are your favorite places to buy eco-friendly school supplies? Please share in the comments!