Do a Little... Save a Lot!
Back to School - The Green Way

It’s that time of year again, back to school! Now is a great time for getting your kids off on a green foot.

• You can begin the academic year in a green way by how you get them to school. Kid power is one of the best modes of transport. Walking, biking, skateboarding, pushing a scooter, skipping, or hopping has been proven to be environmentally friendly ways of getting to school. This may also be a good time to spend some one on one time with your child too. If you can’t easily walk to the school, taking the bus is the next best thing. The bus is a safe and energy saving way to get them to school.
• Shop for green school supplies. Everything from pencils made out of recycled materials, to backpacks constructed from plastic bottles, even school notebooks of recycled material can be found.
• When buying new school supplies, look for paper and plastic products that contain recycled content. On notebooks, folders and other paper products look for statement like “made from recycled content” and “30% post-consumer paper.”
• Pack a healthy lunch from organic or locally grown food. Pack some cloth napkins to go with their lunch.
• Instead of plastic or paper bags, use reusable cloth bags and plastic containers. Invest in a reusable plastic or metal container for carrying drinks, rather than purchasing single-use water bottles or juice boxes.
• Here are some suggestions for eco-focused classroom projects that teachers can introduce to their class. Parents, you can try some of these activities [exit DNR] at home too. For activities, see the Wisconsin DNR’s pages on Environmental Education for Kids! (EEK!)

For more information on green back to school tips, see the back to school DNR recycling page.




It all adds up...

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Do A Little, Save A Lot

Last Reviewed: May 1, 2007
Next Review: May 1, 2008
Last Revised: Tuesday September 29 2009