and receive 10% off your first purchase.
- Office Depot , Office Max, Staples - (in-store or online) Look for recycled content paper and notebook products, green printing supplies; pencils made from certified sustainable-harvest wood; and EnviroTech products, which have a higher recycled content.
- Green Earth Office Supplies - (online only) Sells notebooks, recycled paper, recycled binders (some are made of old circuit boards!), and many other great products such as reusable, biodegradable, non-PVC plastic containers for lunch boxes under the Food Service/Kitchen Supplies tab (containers must be hand-washed).
- Green, Natural Kids' Clothing - Green America's article lays out what to look for and brands and sources for natural, less-toxic clothing materials and fair labor practices.
3. Pack a Waste-Free and Toxics-Free Lunch
Make a waste-free lunch and make a difference! It's
estimated that the average school-age child using a disposable lunch
generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That's about 18,760
pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school!
There are 9,000 schools in California alone. And did you know that many
vinyl lunchboxes contain dangerous levels of poisonous lead?
Find out how you can pack a healthy, waste-free lunch:
- Waste Free Lunches - information about how to pack a waste-free lunch and where to get a "laptop lunch box" with reusable containers that neatly fit into a lunch box.
- reuseit.com - provides alternatives to help reduce disposable plastic and paper bag waste. Watch their Waste-Free Lunch video on YouTube.
- Klean Kanteen
- the maker of the original, reusable and non-toxic stainless steel
water bottles offers a 10% discount for school and team fundraising.
Have your school logo put on if you like. Complete the form here.
- Kids Konserve - offers waste free lunch containers.
- Waste-Free Lunch Guidelines - Download this document with helpful waste-free lunch guidelines developed by 4th graders at Prospect Sierra School.
- Lead in Lunchboxes - Learn about how to test your child's lunchbox for lead, find alternatives to vinyl lunchboxes, and join the campaign to stop the manufacture of toxic lunchboxes.
- Healthy Lunches - Get ideas for packing your own healthy lunches from Chef Ann at www.lunchlessons.org or transform the school lunch offered at your school with the Rethinking School Lunch guide from ecoliteracy.org.
- Avoid PVC Plastic - Many Glad (TM) products are made with polypropylene and are PVC-free, including Glad bags, Gladware reusable containers, and Glad plastic wrap. Avoid #3 plastics.
4. Check that your School has a Wellness Policy
the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Congress required that all school districts with
federally-funded school meals programs develop and implement wellness
policies that address nutrition and physical activity by the start of
the 2006-2007 school year. Ask
your principal if your school district has adopted the required
policy. Find out if the policy promotes nutrition and physical
activity as described by National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity. Click here for model school wellness policies that promote children’s health and well-being.
5. Start a Green School Program at Your School
There's always room for improvement! You can catalyze and support green programs at your school in a variety of ways. Kids love the opportunity to be leaders as they produce tangible results at their schools by reducing, recycling, reusing, composting and building their problem-solving skills. Many “green” schools have reported that their environmental programs have strengthened their school community in unpredictable ways, while creating a healthier environment.
Learn about ways to empower your kids and your school to make a difference:
- Green Schools Initiative Take Action Page - Tips for passing a school board resolution, and 7 Steps to a Green School, can help you get started.
- Check out the many state green schools programs and networks on our Resources page under Green School Programs. Our movement is growing!
- Nat