It’s finally there: the first day of school. It’s an exciting time for parents – the impression often arises that the first day of school is worse for them than for the schoolchild. There is often bitter debate in advance: which school bag should it be? What does the school cone look like? What is allowed in the school cone? However, what is often not even considered – can all of this be obtained and designed in a more sustainable manner?
The school bag
More important than the topic of eco is the appearance of a satchel for children and for parents whether the child is carrying too heavy. And that’s right. However, if you want to save on your satchel, you can have a look at last year’s collection – much cheaper than the latest collection.
Or what would really help the environment: Buy a used satchel. Of course, this should still be functional. Often sets are also cheaper. There is the satchel plus gym bag plus pencil case together. Basically, it is more resource-efficient to pay attention to longevity so that you don’t have to buy something new every year.
Exercise books
Basically, paper that is made from 100 percent waste paper has the least impact on the environment. Today’s eco-friendly paper is no longer gray, the ink does not run and erasing is no more difficult than on other paper. Designations such as “Aqua pro Natura” and “Tropical Forest World Park”, “wood-free” or “chlorine-free bleached”, on the other hand, can be misleading.
Although the latter does not use chlorine bleaching, the pulp for the paper is still obtained from fresh wood. Designations such as “recycled paper” and “environmental protection paper” are not protected, so pay attention to seals such as “Blue Angel”. A little tip: eco-notebooks are also usually cheaper.
Pencil case, eraser and highlighter
First graders often want pencil cases made of colored plastic. Plastic bags look good, but they often break quickly and are almost impossible to repair. Pencil cases made of linen or leather are more durable and environmentally friendly. And the ice queen Elsa from the Disney film “Frozen” can be wonderfully drawn on the bags or your classmates can immortalize themselves there.
In addition to the pencils, an eraser made of rubber and a sharpener made of wood or metal are sufficient for the beginning. Attention should be paid to quality – then the sharpeners will last a long time. A good indication is whether the blade is attached with a screw and can therefore be changed.