*This is an updated post from a post that was originally published in August 2011*
We have made the decision to homeschool our son this year. So while most parents are preparing for, or experiencing, the after-effects of the first day of school, we are enjoying life as usual! But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the same challenges as other parents when it comes to finding safe and eco-friendly school supplies.
When I choose school and art supplies for my son, my primary concern is whether they are safe. I look for terms such as “certified non-toxic” and “100% natural.” I know that kids (and adults for that matter) have a tendency to stick things like pencils and glue in their mouths. So, it is extremely important that the school supplies don’t have toxic materials in them such as PVC, phthalates, lead and BPA.
My other concern is that our school and art supplies are environmentally friendly. Office supplies in general are one of those groups of products that are notorious for being wasteful. Kids in school go through paper, pencils, art supplies and glue like they are candy. So, I try to choose products that are FSC-certified, made from 100% post consumer recycled materials, and 100% recyclable.
Below is a list of some of my favorite eco-friendly, non-toxic school supplies. For a more complete list, visit One Part Sunshine’s list of eco-friendly, non-toxic school and art supplies.
1. Samsill Earth’s Choice Binders – binders made from at least 59% biobased material, including a PVC-free polypropylene cover made with up to 25% plant-based renewable plastic and 100% recycled fiber boards
2. Blue Q Pencil Cases – woven from 95% post-consumer recycled plastic
3. Faber Castell Colored EcoPencils – made from FSC certified wood; non-toxic, acid free, and conform to ASTM D-4236
4. Michael Roger Decomposition Book – made from 100% recycled paper, printed in soy ink and made in the USA
5. Honeysticks Natural Beeswax Crayons – handmade in New Zealand using 100% beeswax and food grade pigments
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