Eco-Friendly Back To School Guide 2009 (part two)

There are so many great green products out there for this fall. And thankfully, the Center for Environmental Health and Justice has just released their Back to School Guide to PVC Free Back to School Supplies. This comprehensive list with links, sorts back to school supplies by category and offers many options that are PVC free (lots of backpacks, folders, binders, pencils and pens-- the list is extensive). Why care about PVC, or vinyl?

It's toxic. To the manufacturers, to the citizens who live near the plants where it is made, to the user (and it usually carries lead or phthalates), and ultimately in the landfill.

According to CHEJ, "Many children's school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC-a toxic plastic that is dangerous to our health and the environment. PVC is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child's health. What's worse is the danger these chemicals pose- phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time posing unnecessary dangers to children. Over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften or plasticize PVC products - that's over 5 million tons a year! Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That's why it's important to purchase PVC-free school supplies."

And they've made it easier for us! Here is a smaller, pocket version for us to take with us while shopping. Thanks, CHEJ!

To support a mama owned business, and to buy eco-friendly and safe back to school supplies, visit The Soft Landing. This online shop is a fantastic resource for PVC, BPA, and phthalate free sippy cups, feeding gear, toys, pacifiers, and much, much more baby gear.

**Here are The Soft Landing's picks for greener lunch kits, stainless steel food containers, and kid's water bottles.

**Here are some organic cotton, washable lunch sacks at 16 bucks each in cool kids friendly designs, if you have the eco-friendly parts already.

**Laptop Lunches: These kits are plastic, BUT (according to their website):

"I have heard that some plastics can cause health problems. Should I be concerned about that?

At Obentec, Inc. we are extremely concerned about toxins in our food and in the environment. Thus we take great care to ensure that we use the safest materials available. For this reason we manufacture our lunch containers here in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene) that are FDA-approved for food use. None of our products contain phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or lead.

Most parents currently pack lunches in plastic wrap, plastic bags, and single-serve plastic packages, including PET water bottles, which are considered far less stable than their reusable counterparts. Plastic may not be the perfect solution, but it does offer a stylish, affordable, non-breakable alternative for families wishing to move from a disposable to a reusable system."

So the laptop system may be a good place for a parent to start, or if you are wanting a plastic option.

Whew! Green companies, please send me an email if you have a product you think would be good for this list, or add your links in the comments.