Back-to-School Report Card: Eco-Friendly School Supplies

Is your child’s education costing the environment?

By Natural Home Staff
September/October 2005
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BACKPACK

• Fail: Many contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the most environmentally hazardous plastic. (It’s also found in sneakers and boots.)

• Pass: Choose a hemp or recycled rubber backpack from: GreenEarthOfficeSupply.com Hemp-Sisters.com.

PAPER AND NOTEBOOKS

• Fail: Tree-wasting paper that’s bleached with chlorine (creates dioxins).

• Pass: Post-consumer content recycled paper that’s unbleached or tree free: DolphinBlue.com, NewLeafPaper.com, Treecycle.com 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• Fail: Markers and glue that emit toxic VOCs; crayons containing petroleum products.

• Pass: Soybean crayons, natural glue, biodegradable cornstarch pens, recycled rulers, reclaimed-wood pencils, water-based highlighters and markers: GreenEarthOfficeSupply.com

COMPUTERS

• Fail: Electronics that contain toxic flame retardants called PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

• Pass: Several manufacturers, including Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Motorola, NEC, Sony, and Toshiba, have eliminated PBDEs. (Matsushita/Panasonic is removing brominated flame retardants in 2006.)

For more about safe school supplies, check The Green Guide, a source for practical and reliable environmental health reporting and product reviews.

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