5 Sustainable Back-To-School Items That Are Too Cool For School

It’s August, so you might be stocking up for another year of high school, college, graduate school, or seeing a little one off to elementary school. We’ve got you covered.

Of course, the best way to practice sustainability is to always use what you have! Repurposing your old school supplies, washing and using old food jars, re-wearing your old favs, or raiding your parents’ house for household items is your lowest-waste option. 

However, if you can’t find these items around your house, check out this article to get ideas on some great sustainable brands. Here is a complete list of quirky, colorful, and most importantly, susty Back To School Items: 

For the Backpack 

Whether you prefer to take your notes on your computer or the old-fashioned way, you will probably find yourself in need of some type of notebook. Decomposition Notebooks are one of my favorite products to include in my back-to-school shopping. Their products are made of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. And they come in tons of funky patterns, styles, and colors.

At this point, we know that kids are not the only ones who like to color. Whether you’re coloring to relieve stress, have fun, or just express yourself, Crazy Crayons is a great sustainable brand recycling old crayons and makes them new again! Head to their website to learn how to recycle your own crayons as well!

For the Lunchbox

No matter where you’re at in your school or work journey, packing your lunch is a great habit for living more sustainably. Eating out often creates more waste, and we’re big supporters of a delicious, susty home-cooked meal! How do I encourage myself to keep packing lunch? With my adorable reusable Takenaka Bento Box! These durable boxes are made for a lifetime of use and reuse. This little bento box comes in tons of cute colors and many sizes so you can choose what works best for you and your lunching desires.

When your bento box is full and you’re feeling ready for a snack, stasher bags have you covered. Another brand prioritizing sustainability in color, Stasher makes amazing reusable silicone bags and containers in tons of sizes and colors. My go-to? The teeny tiny pocket bags are perfect to hold a snack, your hair clips, a little lotion bar, or your earbuds! 

For the Apartment or Dorm

Our best suggestion for apartment and dorm room essentials is to head to your local thrift store. Things like area rugs, candles, artwork, kitchenware, and more can usually be found at a thrift store near you. Look at online thrift shops too! If there is not a thrift store near you, definitely check out Depop, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace for some of these nesting needs.

Baggu is killing the color game! Known for their reusable tote bags, they recently began rolling out a Home Goods collection. It’s stacked with dorm and apartment needs from towels to pillowcases to laptop sleeves. Baggu products are consistently creative and adorable. They prioritize using recycled materials, utilizing the entirety of the fabric, and creating long-lasting products.