The GreenRoost Blog

It has been reported that Aramark Higher Education is instituting a program at college campuses this school year that will divert more than 2 million disposable food containers from landfills.  In the same spirit, here are a few suggestions on how to green your kid - or yourself - on the way back to the classroom.

- One of the simplest ways to ‘go green’ is to take a sack lunch.  According to buygreen.com, the average school-age child eating a disposable lunch generates 67 lbs. of waste per school year, which equals 18,760 lbs. of lunch waste for only one average-size elementary school! Use BPA-free reusable containers instead of sandwich baggies and prepackaged food – you can save about $250 per school year per child, your kids will eat healthier foods, and you’ll make a dent in the mountain of plastic that gets sent to the landfill every day. Shop for a whole lunch kit, or opt for separate water bottles, cutlery packs, and reusable sandwich wraps that double as placemats.  Remember to pack in reusable bags, not paper or plastic!  Parents, don’t forget reusable hemp coffee filters and tea bags for those early mornings.

- Most traditional school supplies consume large amounts of virgin materials, especially paper. Look for school supplies made with recycled materials, preferably post-consumer, or alternative materials like bagasse. Also keep an eye out for papers printed with vegetable- and water-based inks.

- Search for back-to-school clothing and shoes made from alternative materials like hemp and bamboo, or ones that contain recycled material, made with water-based adhesives.

- Children need fun that’s educational, too. Green your kids’ playtime with eco-friendly Xeco Mission games.

- Save 15% at buygreen.com when you type ’school’ at the point of purchase.

These suggestions will get you well on your way to an eco-friendly school year and this is a great way to teach your kids responsibility and a less wasteful mindset.  Make your  efforts go farther by passing the word along to friends, coworkers, club members, etc.  Happy green back to school!