It’s time for another school year! Look through any kid’s desk and you’ll find a load of plastic. From markers and pens, to binders and pencil boxes…plastic, plastic, and more plastic. And unfortunately, most of it is cheap plastic and will be broken and landfill bound by the end of the school year. Here are some plastic-free school supplies that can help tackle some of that plastic waste!

What Do You Need?

Before we jump into specific items, let’s start by taking stock of the school supplies that are already in the house. It’s easy to just buy a new set of everything each year but is it really necessary? If your child’s backpack is in good condition, do they need another one? Yes, the might want a new one, but they might not need a new one. And helping them understand the difference teaches them to be more conscious consumers.

Secondhand

If you find you’re in need of something, see if you can buy it secondhand or used. Again with the backpack, check out REI or Patagonia who both sell used outdoor gear such as backpacks. See if your local thrift shop has any items that can be used for school.

Recycled Materials

For the commonly non-plastic items, see if you can find them made from recycled content. Buying items made from recycled materials increases the market for those recycled materials which makes recycling more profitable. This is important because if recycling isn’t profitable, the items you put in the recycling bin will end up in the landfill. Some examples include:

• Recycled binder paper
• Recycled paper binder dividers
• Recycled paper spiral-bound notebooks

Binders

Binders are normally cardboard and metal covered in plastic–slick surfaces with plastic pockets and clear covers. Skip the plastic and go for just cardboard and metal. Wisdom Supply Company sells a cardboard and metal binder that’s easy to assemble with a screwdriver.

This is an awesome design because when the cover is worn, you can recycle it and purchase a replacement cover! We need more products that are designed to be continually reused and have parts that are easily replaceable.

If you’re already at Target, I found these binders made with paper containing 100% recycled fibers and they had lots of colorful options.

Pencil Boxes & Set

Wisdom Supply Company also has a fantastic plastic-free pencil set. The pencil case is recyclable aluminum. The pencil is unpainted wood. The refillable pen is stainless steel and even the refill cartridge is plastic-free! The highlighter is plastic-free and made of wax! The set also comes with a metal pencil sharpener, a natural rubber eraser, and a sheet of wool to keep the contents from rattling around.

Choosing a metal, wood, or at least a sturdy pencil box will ensure that it has a chance of surviving beyond this school year!

Refillable Pens & Pencils

I have been a fan of Zebra pens for years. I never considered myself a pen snob but after using Zebra pens, I couldn’t go back to regular pens. They have an all-metal pen with metal refill cartridges.

I have one of these at my desk at work, one at my desk at home and one in my work bag! If this is too bulky for your kiddo, or they tend to lose their writing utensils, Zebra makes a skinnier version that’s mostly metal and has plastic refillable cartridges.

Now, I realize that the refill cartridges are plastic but it’s still less plastic than throwing away a whole pen.

Or if your kid goes through hoards of pens, then any ballpoint pens made from recycled plastic might be the way to go:

Zebra also makes an all metal mechanical pencil:

and a skinnier mostly metal version:

Markers & Highlighters

Markers are easily one of the largest amounts of plastic waste in younger classrooms. Kids forget to put caps on and they dry out so easily. That’s why these wax markers are so cool!

They’re markers, dry-erase markers, and watercolors all in one!

You can use a wet paint brush to turn a drawing into watercolors. Or write on whiteboards and mirrors and use a damp cloth to erase!

If you need an alternative to plastic highlighters, try a wooden highlighter pencil!

Another great options are these Bic Permanent Markers I found at Target that are made with recycled plastics at Target:

Miscellaneous

Here are some additional odds and ends that your child might need and a friendly reminder that they come in non-plastic versions! I know it’s easy to grab everything in one quick sweep at a big box store but if you find a metal or wood option that is more durable you won’t have to buy it again next year!

I also use this as a teaching opportunity for my older daughter. I give her the more expensive items, like the lunch box mentioned this post, and I tell her that #1 I trust her to bring it back and that #2 it’s her responsibility to care for it.

Here are a few additional items you can find plastic-free:

• Metal Pencil Sharpener
• Metal Ruler
• Wood Ruler
• Metal Protractor

What do you think? Next time you or your kids need some school (or office) supplies, would you try one of these options? The key is to use what you have, then look for something plastic-free, then look for items made from recycled plastics!

For related and random posts, check out:

• Plastic-Free Food Containers For Kids
• Plastic-Free Snacks for Kids