Back to school season generates an enormous amount of single-use plastic waste. New plastic stationery sets, synthetic backpacks, plastic lunch containers, and disposable cutlery packs that go into lunchboxes all year. Most of it is unnecessary, and most of it can be replaced with options that cost the same or less and last significantly longer. Here's the practical school-year eco kit that won't require a second mortgage.
The Lunchbox Situation
The single most impactful change for school lunches is switching from disposable to reusable cutlery. The Earth Cutlery Portable Tableware Set contains fork, spoon, chopsticks, and a compact storage case — dishwasher safe, stainless steel, available in five colours that kids can help choose. At $14.99, it replaces hundreds of disposable plastic sets over a school year and costs less than a term's worth of disposable cutlery packs.
Wrapping Without the Waste
The average school child uses three to five single-use plastic bags or cling film sheets per day for sandwiches and snacks. Over a 185-day school year, that's up to 925 pieces of single-use packaging from one child. HoneyWrap Beeswax Wraps wrap sandwiches perfectly — they hold shape, they breathe (so bread doesn't go soggy), and they wash clean. The medium size is ideal for a standard sandwich.
A Toothbrush They'll Actually Use
Back to school is the natural time to replace toothbrushes. The Bamboo Smile Set ten-pack gives the whole family new toothbrushes with BPA-free soft bristles. Identical cleaning performance, composting handle. At $12.99 for ten, it's also significantly cheaper per brush than buying individually.
Deodorant for Older Kids
If your child is at the age where deodorant is entering the picture, start them right. The Max Deo Fruity Pebbles Kids Deodorant and Tropical Punch Kids Deodorant are USDA certified organic, aluminium-free, and designed specifically for younger users. Fun scents that kids actually like — without the synthetic chemicals in conventional kids' deodorants.
The Total Back-to-School Eco Kit Cost
- Earth Cutlery Set: $14.99
- HoneyWrap Beeswax Wraps (3-pack): from $23.58
- Bamboo Toothbrush Set (10-pack): $12.99
- Kids Organic Deodorant: $17.00
- Total: Under $70 for a full school year of eco essentials
These items will last the entire school year. A conventional equivalent — disposable cutlery packs, cling film rolls, replacement plastic toothbrushes, conventional deodorant — would cost more and generate dramatically more waste. Browse our collections for back-to-school essentials: 🎒 On-The-Go Essentials and 🌿 Eco Personal Care.