Environment – Shop sustainably for school stationery 

It has been many years, perhaps a decade, since I swung a shopping basket precariously around Whitcoulls while grabbing three 1B5 books and crossing it off a crinkled stationery list. I used to love the smell of fresh books and the satisfaction of the first sharpening of a pencil, but now that has been replaced by the realisation of the environmental impact that comes with buying new things, not to mention the immense cost savings that come from using what you already have!

That’s my first tip when it comes to preparing sustainably for going back to school – shop your own home first for school supplies. Dig deep into the bottom of Jimmy’s school bag, shuffle around underneath the bed, or check with your neighbour and sort out a stationery swap. Although the fresh stuff may look good, it’s only going to be fresh for a second anyway.

Before you buy new things, explore second hand shops or visit the All Heart Store in Albany who divert corporate waste from landfill. Their store is often filled with stationery supplies that offices no longer need but are brand new! Its profits support the community too, so you can feel even better about your purchases.

One of the biggest back to school preparations is deciding what you’ll feed the kids throughout the year. Start 2023 with a good plan and goals around low waste lunches – get the kids involved too. Make a list of basic things the kids enjoy eating and that you can bake, then visit Bin Inn Silverdale with your own containers. Opt for large bags of chips instead of the pesky single serving ones and invest in a good lunchbox (Bento Ninja is my go-to) that will house package-free things safely without the kids complaining about cross contamination or soggy chips.

Make fabric book covers instead of plastic, or go without. Communicate with other parents to carpool to school or create a walking school bus (last year I saw many of these in action). Check the bus schedules. Browse Trademe for new school shoes. 

Whatever you do to prepare for a more sustainable year back at school, remember that the great thing about sustainable back to school preparations is that most of them are the cheapest and most practical option too.