Earth-Friendly School Supplies – Sustainability in the Classroom
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Nothing lets us know that school is around the corner like back-to-school shopping. As a kid, I remember being excited to get new cool school supplies each year – choosing my binder color and some fun erasers and markers. I should have realized that most of my supplies for school were made with plastics and other petroleum products that were definitely not-so-eco-friendly. The newest trend in school and work supplies is sustainability! If you hope to be more earth-friendly this year while preparing for sustainable back to school shopping, check out these fantastic green school supplies I’ve rounded up.
But First…
Of course, to be our most sustainable selves, we should investigate other options before buying new, unnecessary products. A minimalist lifestyle is certainly one of sustainability! Some ideas about where to get school supplies before reaching for the wallet:
- The best place to get sustainable school supplies is at home! Scour the house and your office for any access or unused supplies.
- Check your children’s backpack or room for leftover supplies from last year that can be used again. Upcycled school products mean zero-waste school supplies!
- Try school supply shopping for sustainability on a budget at a second-hand store for items like rulers, geometry sets, lunch kits, notebooks, etc.
- The best place to buy school supplies new is at a locally-owned and operated school supplies store. See if one near you carries any of the suggestions below to support a small business in your area.
- A tip for next year – you can usually take advantage of school supplies on sale after the big rush in August and September!
eco-friendly school supply suggestions
Keep in mind that these sustainable classroom items would all make some terrific environmentally friendly office supplies too!
Zero-Waste Pencil Tin Set by Wisdom Supply Co.
This note-taking essential kit does not use a single bit of plastic or vinyl. The tin case is fully recyclable at the end of life, does not include toxic paint, and the wood used is obtained through sustainable and eco-conscious practices. Each eco-friendly pencil case comes with an unpainted sustainable pencil made in the U.S. from sustainably forested cedar, a German-made metal sharpener, a wax highlighter, a natural rubber eraser, and a compostable 100% wool liner. Available to U.S. customers only.
Recycled Newspaper Pencils by Parwana
Parawana Paper works with local artisans in Lahore, Pakistan, to create these handmade, eco-friendly pencils made from recycled newspapers. These zero-waste pencils can be sharpened with a standard sharpener and are available in a color set or regular number 2 graphite.
Mindful Pencil Edition from Sproutworld
Sproutworld is a Certified B Corporation, is Carbon Neutral, and uses only PEFC and FSC Certified wood. Each of these eco-pencils is engraved with mindful quotes and contains seeds that can sprout into flowers and herbs when planted! Zero-waste drawing and note-taking at its most eco-friendly.
Bamboo and Recycled Plastic Pens from Onyx + Green
Every sustainable school supplies list includes eco-friendly writing instruments! This pack of two retractable pens with rubber grips is made from bamboo, while the tip and clips are made from recycled plastic. It comes in black ink with a medium tip and writes smoothly on stone paper notebooks!
Thin Beeswax Crayons by Honeysticks
Free from petroleum-based waxes, fragrances, or fillers, these are handmade from responsibly sourced beeswax in New Zealand. Packaged in a recycled cardboard box, these are larger than traditional crayons, making them easier to use and last longer too!
All Honeysticks sustainable art supplies comply with relevant Global safety standards, including CE, ASTM, and Graphic Materials Group Standard ANZ.
Onyx + Green Recycled Rubber Erasers
Onyx + Green creates many eco-friendly student supplies. These eco-friendly erasers are made from recycled rather than raw rubber to minimize virgin resource extraction. Each eraser is covered with a paper sleeve for easy gripping and packaged in a recycled content blister card. There won’t be any need to erase this sustainable classroom materials purchase!
Acme Kleenearth Scissors Blunt Tip from The Ultimate Green Store
A staple in sustainable art supplies, this earth-conscious learning tool features stainless steel blades and anti-microbial handles made from 70% recycled plastic. Left-handed office and school supplies are tough to come by, but these are made for both left and right-hand use, so these scissors will help all of us slice sustainably!
Plant-Based Glue Sticks by Onyx + Green
We’re jumping back to Onyx + Green on this one, as they utilize recycled, plant-based, renewable, and sustainably harvested materials in the production of their school, office, and earth-friendly craft materials and supplies. These glue sticks are made with plant-based ingredients and are 100% non-toxic, meaning they are safe for your kids. The product is sold in a recycled plastic tube with a recycled carton box printed with soy-based ink.
Rocketbook Core Notebook
This eco-friendly “stationary” notebook might be the coolest thing I encountered in researching this article. Endlessly reusable, you can write as you would in a classic notebook and then store and organize in connected devices before erasing to use again. This zero-waste notebook means no more paper waste when note-taking or doodling. Keeping notes this way and storing them in electronic folders may be an alternative to binders for school!
Stone Paper Notebook by Karst
Karst’s unique tree-free A5 Hardcover Notebook is made of high-quality, sustainable, and recyclable stone paper without bleaches or acids. The Karst paper is made from calcium carbonate, a repurposed construction waste. It is smoother to write on than wood-pulp paper. With a waterproof cover and handy back pocket, this eco-friendly notebook with be a hit!
Recycled Notebooks from Decomposition
These decomposition notebooks feature 100% post-consumer-waste recycled paper, are non-toxic and compostable, and are printed with soy ink. These back-to-school notebooks come in various designs in both coil-bound and sewn binding.
Plant-Based Ring Binders by Samsill
This USDA Certified Bio-based eco-friendly binder option is made from 25% Brazilian sugarcane plant-based plastic. Sugarcane captures CO2 from the atmosphere and can be grown easily year after year. In addition, the chipboards, made from 100% recycled material, result in eco-friendly binders that are USDA Certified 59% biobased material.
Refurbished Technology from Back Market
Without a doubt, older kids need access to technology at school. If you want to be sustainable and save money, why not purchase refurbished devices?
Back Market, a Certified B Corp, works with professional refurbishers to guarantee that every device has been tested and restored to perfect working conditions according to industry standards. Second-hand items are the best sustainable school supplies. And students get a $20 gift code when they create an account!
Erdig Laptop Sleeve 15 inches from Terra Thread
You’ll want to keep your new-to-you refurbished devices safe in transport to school with this sustainable laptop sleeve! It is made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory with 14-oz organic cotton canvas lined with organic cotton fiber for padding and softness. Talk about eco-friendly tech support!
Three-in-One Classic Bento Set by Ecolunchbox
Let’s not forget about lunchtime! This best bento box is a fantastic 100% high quality, food-grade, non-toxic stainless steel option. The stackable lunch container has multiple compartments to keep foods separate.
Ecolunchbox makes everything you need for a work or school lunch for kids and adults. You can find enough durable items for many years of packed lunches, from straws and sporks to leak-proof plastic-free containers with silicone lids. ECOlunchbox is a Certified B Corp and a woman-owned, California Green Certified Business.
Stasher silicone bags
Another terrifically reusable and sustainable school supply for lunch are Stasher Silicone Bags.
Stasher designs radically functional products to replace single-use plastic bags. With a Leak free pinch-Loc® seal and made from Food-grade platinum silicone, they are Dishwasher, microwave & oven safe.
Earth Backpack by Terra Thread
Now that your school supply list is complete, you’ll need an eco-friendly backpack to carry all your green school gear! These fantastic everyday backpacks are made with 14-oz Certified Fairtrade Organic cotton canvas in a Fair Trade Certified™ Factory. With a 16L capacity, it will easily fit all your daily school needs (including a laptop in an internal sleeve), water bottle, and lunch!
Check out more eco-friendly and sustainable backpacks that we recommend here.
final thoughts
If you want to make the most out of your eco-conscious educational tools and be as sustainable as possible, teach your children to care for these school items. As a teacher, I saw so many wasted and lost supplies that it made my eco-friendly head spin! Whether it’s a discussion about sustainability, having them chip in on the cost, or doing some extra chores to earn new sustainable school supplies, if your children value their belongings, they will last longer. The less we must buy, the better!
Remember, no one is perfectly sustainable, but one small step taken by many towards a more sustainable school can amount to one giant successful eco-friendly journey!
All products recommended to you on Successfully Sustainable are independently researched in depth. To avoid waste and lead a minimal lifestyle, we test products only when required. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about this here.
