| August, the shops are full of back to school supplies; | | | | source of contamination. |
| the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts a record | | | | PVC and polyester rear their ugly heads in back packs |
| $55.12 billion will be spent on back-to-school | | | | and lunchboxes. |
| merchandise this year. In fact, Back-to-School is | | | | Look for backpacks made of natural fiber instead |
| second only to the holiday season in total sales. For | | | | such as hemp or canvas. If for some reason your child |
| parents of young children, the choices are usually | | | | requires a backpack made of synthetic material, opt |
| dependent on the branding of backpack and lunch box | | | | for polyester or nylon over PVC. |
| (Clone Wars for us last year). | | | | Lunchboxes should also be made of natural fibers if |
| This year, take a different approach. Green school | | | | possible; they also present an opportunity to reduce |
| supplies are not only good for the environment but for | | | | waste and save money during the school year. |
| your kids too. In particular avoid items made from PVC | | | | Choose lunchboxes that can pack lunch and snacks |
| (polyvinyl chloride). A report from Tufts University cites | | | | bento-box style i.e., in a way that doesn't require |
| that vinyl chloride, the building block of PVC resin, has | | | | disposable food packaging. |
| been classified as a human carcinogen. Several | | | | Water bottles should be BPA-free. BPA is an |
| studies have documented links between working in | | | | endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body's own |
| vinyl chloride production facilities and the increased | | | | hormones and may lead to negative health effects |
| likelihood of developing diseases including | | | | especially when exposure occurs in early |
| angiosarcoma of the liver and other non-cancer | | | | development. Many states have banned BPA in infant |
| disorders. Additives such as stabilizers, plasticizers, and | | | | formula containers, baby bottles, and sippy cups. If |
| fillers mixed in with the PVC can leach out of a | | | | possible choose stainless steel water bottles like those |
| product during its useful life posing public health | | | | produced by Kleen Kanteen. |
| hazards, including the development of reproductive | | | | In addition to avoiding poisonous plastics, choose tree |
| problems in children. | | | | friendly products. Find pencils made from FSC certified |
| Another plastic, polyester, is also common in | | | | forests and paper with a high recycled content. |
| backpacks and lunchboxes. All the production steps of | | | | And if you want to be really green, avoid buying new |
| polyester required to convert petroleum into polyester | | | | school supplies altogether. If last year's items are still in |
| fiber are energy intensive and result in significant | | | | usable condition why not use them and save some |
| emissions, including large amounts of carbon dioxide. | | | | money? Alternatively try thrift stores, yard sales and |
| Producing polyester also uses large amounts of water | | | | Freecycle for some second hand backpacks and |
| for cooling, as well as lubricants, which can become a | | | | lunch boxes. |