Earth-Friendly School Supplies

Aug 17, 2020

"Our disrespectful treatment of other animals and the earth has consequences, and when they are harmed, ultimately, so are we. All life on earth is connected, and it’s in our interest to act accordingly."
-Gene Baur

Vegan crayons

Crayola is the crayon standard basically everywhere. However, their crayons are made of paraffin wax, a fancy term for wax derived from petroleum or coal. Not something we should want kids to handle and eat, nor an industry we want to support. Additionally, the pigmentation is most certainly from unsavory sources, animal-based or otherwise, and the distinctive smell of Crayola crayons comes from cow fat. There are many issues with this brand, and there aren't many plant-based competitors. However, the Eco Crayon Store makes various vegan-friendly crayons. Plus, they come in fun shapes! (If I were in need of crayons, I'd choose the animal- or unicorn-shaped ones.)

Vegan paints

The Eco Crayon Store comes in clutch again with their assorted natural paints. And Natural Earth Paint also makes kid-friendly paints (but watch out for the face paint, which contains beeswax).

Colored pencils

Sprout colored pencils come with a seed pack in place of the eraser at the end of the pencil, so you can grow various kinds of plants once the pencil has reached the end of its days. They also make regular graphite pencils and a mixed pack, too! It really is amazing the kind of products we have access to today. Another option is Onyx and Green's colored pencils made from recycled newspaper.

Chalk

It's not hard to find chalk, but it can often be wrapped in plastic, even when inside a cardboard box. Eco-kids has an outdoor chalk collection packaged plastic-free (though I don't like the egg-shape and carton packaging). But as long as no chickens were harmed in the process, then it remains a good substitute for generic chalk collections.

Recycled notebooks & paper

I don't know what it is about them, but I love composition books, though I rarely ever used them past elementary school. Maybe seeing all the amazing recycled ones online has made me nostalgic and given me the urge to splurge on one, even though I'd have no use for it (and I still have old half-used notebooks and lined paper that have been sitting around for years). A Good Company makes a few stone paper notebooks, made from reused stone and construction debris, requiring no water or wood pulp to produce. The brand EcoPaper makes tree-free notebooks, sketchbooks, stationery, and paper reams out of banana, mango, hemp, sugar cane, and other plants. Lastly, we have Decomposition, which produces "decomposition" books, spiral notebooks, sketchbooks, lined loose-leaf paper, and folders made entirely from post-consumer waste. These products are definitely the most aesthetically pleasing, and I'm really working hard to remind myself that I don't need any more notebooks in my life.

Vegan glue

It's pretty difficult to get away from plastic when it comes to glue, but you can ensure the glue you buy is better than whatever creepy things are in generic glue. Onyx and Green makes plant-based glue both in bottle and stick form. Plus, the plastic used for the glue sticks and bottles is recycled, which, if you have to use plastic, is better than nothing.

Recycled scissors

Most people have a pair of scissors lying around, and they should be provided in schools, but you can find scissors (both for kids and adults) made with recycled plastic for a more environmentally-friendly option. An even better choice may be plastic-free stainless steel scissors.

Pens

When it comes to pens, there are a few options. The one I've heard about most is the fountain pen, which can be expensive, but also looks super classy and only needs to be refilled with ink every so often. This is probably the best low-waste option. There are also pens like those from A Good Company that are made of a mixture of meadow grass and BPA-free recycled plastic and can be used for years with ink refills. This company also sells a metal pen, though it is significantly more expensive and only available as a limited edition item, made from illegal firearms, and 25 percent of the sales go to ending violent crime in El Salvador. Though A Good Company's non-mental pens are relatively inexpensive, there are also other options for pens made with recycled plastic along with other materials, like cork or bamboo.

Pencils

In my high school, everyone used mechanical pencils; the only time I think I ever saw someone using an actual wooden pencil was when a student forgot a pencil for an exam and the teacher had to scrounge around for one in the back of their desk drawers. But mechanical pencils are mostly plastic, the erasers wear out and then you can't easily put in any more lead, and they often get lost or break. A Good Company also makes a mechanical pencil similar to their refillable pens. However, Sprout's plantable pencils would still be my pencil of choice.

Recycled highlighters

I wouldn't recommend ever buying highlighters unless they're actually essential for your studies. I found that they always dried out before I could get my money's worth from them, and they ended up getting thrown away. But there are highlighters made from recycled plastic if you like to highlight when you read or study.

Books

College textbooks are incredibly expensive, and professors often require students to get the newest editions even though there are minimal differences between them and the older editions, which makes older textbooks virtually worthless. However, there are many options for buying textbooks secondhand, and, as I prefer physical copies of books, I rented nearly every book I used in college. Many books are also available for renting/buying virtually, which I also took advantage of when that option was less expensive than renting the physical copy. (Quick tip: check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms for purchasing/renting books instead of your school's bookstore because it's almost always less expensive. Which brings me to the next point....)

Go digital

You will save so much money (and resources) if you do all your work on a computer. You would probably only need a pen and/or pencil for exams and maybe some writing paper. Other than that, taking notes, writing papers, doing research, and studying can all be done online (unless you have one of those ornery professors that doesn't allow technology in the classroom). In elementary, middle, and high school, I don't know if kids are now allowed to have laptops or tablets with them for taking notes, but it wouldn't hurt to share your concerns with teachers and ask if it's ok to bring in a device for schoolwork.

Chargers

If you do use electronic devices for your schoolwork, especially if you're often on the move or are in a large lecture hall, you may want to have a portable/wireless charger. Nimble's chargers are made with plants and recycled aluminum. They also make BPA-free charging cords, and A Good Company makes a recycled nylon and BPA-free plastic cord, as well.

Lunchboxes & bags

There are many options when it comes to food transport, and you may not even need a special carrying container for it if you already travel with a bag. I always love to spread the vegan message, so I have two cloth snack bags from VeganPolice on Etsy; these also can double as a bag for your pens and pencils. There are also cloth sandwich wraps like these that simply close with some velcro, or you can use a Stasher bag to eliminate using a Ziploc bag every time you transport a sandwich or some snacks. As far as food storage containers, there are several options, though the best is to use Tupperware already in your home instead of buying something new. But if you do want to invest in some travel containers, there are many brands: Elephant Box, U Konserve, ECOlunchbox, To-Go Ware, Klean Kanteen, and more. Most of these brands also make bamboo/metal utensils, as well.

Drinkware

It's important to stay hydrated, and you certainly don't want to be stuck with whatever's in the vending machine. Klean Kanteen, Hydro Flask, A Good Company, and Fressko are just a few of the many brands making travel-friendly water bottles.

Backpacks

Backpacks and bags are some of the most accessible eco-friendly products. My favorite brand is Cotopaxi, and I recently purchased one of their backpacks; their bags are patchworked together from reclaimed nylon, making each product unique, vibrant, and colorful. Not even the zippers are the same! You can also find bags made from recycled rubber, tires, plastics, and other materials. While these backpacks are more expensive than the Jansports you'll find at Walmart, they are also far more special and will last significantly longer because they're made with love and care. (Plus, when you spend more money on a product, you're more invested in taking better care of it.)

be conscious, be kind, be vegan