Did you know that an American school uses about 250,000 pieces of paper on average a year? Now think about the number of schools in the US. We’re talking about billions of sheets of paper. And that’s only paper, without taking into account the plastics.
So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that schools and other educational institutions are some of the largest waste generators.
Before you start going around the stores, think about what you can do to help the environment. I suggest starting with eco-friendly school supplies. Best of all, by shopping for eco-friendly school supplies, you’ll foster eco-consciousness among the young kids.
Here’s the ultimate list of vegan, sustainable, reusable, and zero-waste school supplies guaranteed to minimize your ecological footprint.
The Ultimate List of 20+ Eco-Friendly School Supplies
1. Sprout – Original Edition
Here is a pencil that will wow you.
Sprout pencils are the only seed pencils in the world. What does that mean? Well, each pencil has a capsule at the end with a non-GMO seed.
So, once your child uses up the pencil, you can plant the seed, and as it grows, discover if you got an herb, vegetable, or flower.
They are made of sustainably harvested wood. I also appreciate that the package they come in is 100% recyclable as well.
Sprout pencils are a great conversation starter, especially if the child wants to make friends at a new school.
Also, you can use them to teach them some gardening basics when you plan the seed together.
2. Onyx and Green Bamboo Gel Pen
Here’s an excellent pen option. If you’re tired of using petroleum-based ink pens, look no further.
Onyx & Green gel pen has blue soy-based ink.
The body is entirely recyclable, and it’s made out of bamboo.
The package is made from recycled materials too. So, it’s a win-win. This is one of the best green school supplies, as by using this pen, you won’t be creating any waste.
3. BIC Xtra-Life Mechanical Pencil
The main advantage of BIC Xtra-Life is that one BIC pencil equals two and a half wood case pencils. This means much longer work time. You won’t need to constantly replace your spent or broken pencils, which saves on waste.
The BIC pencil has a reliable mechanism, and it’s perfect for long tests as you won’t need to sharpen constantly. Also, it isn’t uncomfortable even after hours of use.
A big plus is that it comes with an eraser or a pocket clip, so you can attach it to a bag or a book.
4. TICONDEROGA Envirostik Natural Wood Pencils
These natural wood pencils come with an exclusive #2 formula and Ticonderoga graphite core, which gives an extra smooth performance.
The pencils are made from premium, natural wood, topped with green latex-free erasers to help with corrections. The wood is sturdy, and it doesn’t break.
The pencils come pre-sharpened to save you time and are PMA certified to be non-toxic.
Pro Tip: Don’t throw away the shavings, but toss them in the garden or flower pots. Your plants will thank you!
5. Onyx and Green 3-Pack Mechanical Pencils
Onyx & Green is another excellent pencil, which can also be used as part of your eco-friendly office supplies.
This is a mechanical pencil, which means you don’t have to worry about the lead breaking or constant sharpening.
With this one, you can rest easy knowing you’re helping the environment, as the body is made of recycled PET, and it has soy-based ink.
In the package, you’ll get three pencils with an eraser and three 7mm leads. There are assorted colors, but don’t worry which ones you’ll get. The colors are all calming and eye-catching.
Read More:
6. Michael Roger, Book Decomposition Spirit Animal
Here’s why:
What first attracted me to this book was the cover design. I live for anything vintage. But it’s so much more than a pretty book to look at.
7. Ecology College Ruled Recycled Filler Paper
College ruled paper is great if you have a high school or a college student. But, younger kids can also use it for math or writing assignments.
This paper is made from 100% recycled content, so it’s new paper made from old paper. It’s also acid-free and processed chlorine-free.
When I used recycled paper in the past, I often found it too thin and easily ripped when I turned the page in the binder. I was happy to find that wasn’t the issue with this paper.
It’s high-quality, and if I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t realize it’s recycled.
8. Roaring Spring Environotes College Ruled 1 Subject Recycled Spiral Notebook
This is the perfect notebook for taking notes for up to 5 subjects.
The paper is college ruled, micro-perforated, which makes it bio-based.
It’s made from sustainable sugarcane fiber, and covers are made from high-recycled content.
A major plus is the double storage pocket located under the cover. It’s perfect for papers and loose-leaf items.
I also loved that four subject dividers separate the book into five sections, so it’s always easy to find the subject and notes you’re looking for.
9. Onyx and Green 3-Pack Erasers with Sleeve
No matter how many mistakes you make, you’ll be covered with these Onyx & Sticks 3-pack erasers.
The erasers come in assorted colors. The colors are bright and kid-friendly, so all your child’s classmates are guaranteed to want them as well.
These erasers also fall under green school supplies because they are made of recycled rubber. I like that they come in a paper sleeve, as it makes the grip much better.
I’ll admit, I haven’t had much luck in the past with recycled erasers. I found that some of them leave grey marks and don’t erase completely.
I had no such issues with these. They are by far some of the best erasers I’ve used.
10. Onyx and Green 24 Pack of Colored Pencils
This pack comes with 24 pre-sharpened colored pencils in assorted colors. The colors are vibrant, and there’s a good hue selection.
These are also recycled school supplies, as they are made from recycled newspapers.
They are safe for your toddler to use, as well older kids in art class. You’ll love the vibrant colors as well, so if you need pencils in the office, these could be the best choice.
11. BROWN BAG – Insulated Lunch Bag
No eco-friendly school supplies list can be complete without a lunch bag. Here’s my #1 choice.
This lunch bag is crafted from TYVEK (high-density polyethylene fibers) paper fabric right in the USA.
This will pay off many times over because it’s highly reusable, and it’ll keep your lunch cold.
This paper-looking lunch bag is soft but sturdy. It fits 300 Cubic Inches of food. Once you’ve eaten the food, the bag can be compressed down, and it’s only 2.89oz heavy.
12. LunchBots Large Trio Stainless Steel Lunch Container
If you don’t want your kids to carry their lunch in a bag, here’s an eco-friendly lunch box.
It’s made of 18/8 stainless steel, without any toxins or chemical linings.
The box has three compartments, so it’s great for variety. You can pack a sandwich or a burger, in the first one, your favorite sided in the smaller two compartments.
The box is leak-proof, so you can rest easy about any liquid spilling into the bag.
I like that it’s virtually indestructible, so you don’t have to worry if your child will take good care of it.
13. Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Singel Wall Non-Insulated Water Bottle
The main feature of this water bottle is that it’s so durable. It isn’t made of plastic but recyclable metal.
It’s very lightweight because it’s non-insulated.
The stainless steel it’s made of is high-quality. It doesn’t smell, stain, or rust.
The sports cap is designed very well. It’s easy for kids to use and doesn’t leak.
The opening allows for easy cleaning or filling, and you can drink from the bottle without having to unscrew the whole cap, which makes it more sanitary.
14. Lifefactory 16-Ounce BPA-Free Glass Water Bottle
In case you aren’t a fan of metal, here’s a glass water bottle.
All components of this bottle are made either in the US or in Europe.
Plastic bottles continuously leach and make the water smell by the end of the day. This can even happen with glass bottles because of the chemicals used to make them.
You don’t have to worry about this issue with the Lifefactory water bottle. It’s made of glass that’s lead and BPA-free, so your water will be as fresh at the end of the day as when you pour it in, in the morning.
15. Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks
If your kid regularly runs out of glue, you’ll love these! There are three large sticks, 0.77 oz each, so your glue needs will be covered for a long time.
The glue isn’t made from animal byproducts, but it’s acid-free, photo safe, and non-toxic.
The color is purple when you apply it, but it dries clear, making it easy to see what you’re gluing.
Pro tip: You can use this glue when doing Halloween makeup if you have to glue something to your face. It’s completely safe and doesn’t irritate the skin.
16. Plus Paper Clinch Compact Staple Free Staple Blue
If you’re tired of constantly running out of staples, or if your child keeps losing them, consider getting a paper clinch.
A paper clinch will fasten up to five sheets of paper without using any staples.
Simply open and slide the corner of paper and press. And, that’s all. Your papers will be fastened.
This is especially convenient for papers that go into the bag, need to be stacked neatly on the desk, or put in the filing cabinet.
17. Scotch Magic Greener Tape
This tape is made from 65% recycled or plant-based material.
This is an invisible tape with matte-finish.
The package comes with a dispenser, so you can refill it as needed and always have a tape ready to be used.
18. Onyx and Green Scissors
You’ll need scissors to cut the tape. Here’s my eco-friendly choice.
Onyx & Green has 6.75’’ scissors. The scissors have stainless steel blades and a pointed tip, with handles made of corn plastic.
The ergonomic handles make holding these scissors comfortable, even though they’re on the heavier side.
Pro Tip: Because these are heavy, they aren’t suitable for very young children but will perfectly work for older kids and adults.
19. Samsill Earth's Choice, 2" Durable D-Ring View Binder
The binder is composed of :
It’s USDA certified, so you know you’re getting a high-quality product.
This three-ring binder has two clean inside pockets for any loose documents you have.
20. Targus Cypress Slim Backpack with EcoSmart
Get ready to be wowed — this backpack is made using fabric woven from 20 recycled water bottles found in rivers.
It’ll protect your essentials while also protecting the environment.
It’s the perfect choice if you have a lot of electronics you need to carry with you. There’s a padded compartment that fits a 15.6” laptop.
There’s also a large main compartment and a secondary compartment with a workstation, so you can fit any files or gear, as well as a front quick-stash pocket.
21. Packable Drawstring Bag
This bag can serve as a foldable organizer — you can fold it up into a small pouch (7.1 x 4.7 inches).
It’s made with water and tear-resistant material, with a drawstring closure.
The bag can be used as a school backpack or for gym and outdoor activities.
There are two parts:
Why Should You Get Eco-Friendly School Supplies?
At least 40% of the typical school waste stream is paper.
In fact, paper is the largest single component of all school waste.
Think about these facts:
- About 900 million trees are cut down yearly for materials for US paper mills.
- One ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, and 7,000 gallons of water.
- Glass and plastic beverage containers produce about 15% of all waste in schools.
- If you recycle only one glass bottle, it’ll save enough energy to power a 100-watt electric light bulb for up to four hours
If you buy recyclable, reusable, compostable, or biodegradable school items, you won’t be fostering the school waste problem but working against it.
1. Rugged Case
You need a waterproof, weatherproof, and above all, sturdy case that will hold all the vital parts.
My idea was to have a rig that I can transport to my cabin, so it needs to fit in the trunk. I went with the Pelican 1620 Case, which is fitted with several rugged handles, as well as a pair of rolling wheels.
If you’re building a smaller system, you can fit it into a super sturdy DeWalt Tool Box.
Price: The Pelican box goes for around $300, while you can find a Large size DeWalt for around $70.
