Eco-Friendly Back to School Tips

As your kids head back to school or daycare, you begin to create lists of everything they’ll need to get set up for success. With more options on the market along with a plethora of storefronts to shop from, you look for the best back-to-school options for your little ones.

Reeling from a global pandemic, it’s vital to keep our kids healthy throughout the school year so they can focus on learning. Here are some tips on how to stay eco-friendly as you send your kids back to school.

Choose non-toxic and eco-friendly school supplies

While many classrooms switch to semi-digital learning to reduce their footprint while increasing learning quality and making it more accessible, paper will never truly go out of style. Try to see if you can find 100% recycled paper or other school supplies made from recycled materials.

Pack a waste-free lunch

Packing a waste-free lunch isn’t as grueling as it sounds. Some parents purchase larger quantities of lunch items (resulting in fewer trips to the grocery store) and send them in reusable containers. While individually packed items are quick and convenient, the footprint you end up creating within one week alone is substantial!

For a comprehensive guide on how to pack a waste-free lunch for your kids, check out this great blog post.

Use a non-toxic lunch box and water bottle

Even BPA-free plastic lunch boxes can be bad for your health and add to your plastic footprint. While we go to lengths to ensure we pack a healthy lunch for our kids, take it one step further by making sure the container they carry their entire lunch in is also healthy. For a non-plastic lunchbox alternative, check out these non-plastic eco-friendly lunchboxes from Planet Box. 

Opt for a natural hand sanitizer

You want your kids to remain germ-free throughout the day. That’s why you want to equip them with a strong, effective hand sanitizer. As you shop for back-to-school supplies, try to find a sanitizer free of parabens or triclosan. To learn more about the harmful side effects of regular hand sanitizers, and learn how you can create your own natural hand sanitizer, check out this simple recipe.

Don’t idle too long in the kiss-and-ride or parking lot

If they’re not playing in the schoolyard, they’re lining up outside. If they’re not lining up outside, they’re learning with classroom windows open. Schools and daycares go to great lengths to ensure the learning and playing areas for little ones are safe and clean, whether it’s through daily cleaning or garbage pick-up initiatives.

One way you can help keep their environment eco-friendly is by limiting the amount of time you idle in front of the school. As a parent, we love seeing our kids off and making sure they’re safe. But always remember to turn your car off when you plan to stop for longer periods of time! To learn more about the effects of idling, check out this helpful infographic.

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Kinder Buddies Oakville Child Care is a Quality First Daycare and Infant Care facility in Oakville, Ontario. We take care of children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 1/2 providing nutritious meals and fun activities all day long.