Sustainable Options for ‘Back to School’ in Times of COVID

Back to school season is almost upon us, and while returning to the classroom might not be possible for all students, two things remain the same in this time of uncertainty: the importance of educating our youth and protecting the planet for their futures. 

This year’s plastic-free back to school not only features a variety of sustainable products for eco-minded students and parents, we also include a number of educational resources to compliment your child’s learning, whether it takes place at home or in the classroom.

#NOTPLASTIC

#NOTPLASTIC is an online store with a variety of reusable alternatives to single-use plastic. They even have carbon neutral delivery through reforestation.

Reusable Cutlery for Kids – A safe and healthy alternative to plastic cutlery, these adorable reusable forks and spoons are perfect for packing into school lunches. They are specifically designed for small hands and mouths and they are made from USDA certified organic bamboo.

Abeego

Abeego picks up where the peel leaves off. Their beeswax food wraps protect and breathe like nature’s peel and preserve food.

Beeswax Wrap – Abeego offers plastic-free wraps in a variety of sizes, so they are any eco-minded lunch-packing parent’s dream come true. They are great for sandwiches, partial or whole fruits, veggies, and more.

BeeBagz

Bee Bagz is an innovative manufacturer of sustainably produced and environmentally friendly food storage solutions. Their mission is to contribute to the zero waste movement by providing customers with socially responsible alternatives that result in a notable reduction in overall single-use plastic.

Snack Pack – If you like beeswax wraps then you will LOVE these beeswax bags. Reusable and biodegradable, these are a great alternative to single-use plastic bags.

BuyMeOnce

BuyMeOnce is an online store dedicated to selling quality products that really last. In a world where so many products are meant to break or wear out, BuyMeOnce is all about offering items that (you guessed it!) you only need to buy once.

Chalkboard – Revolutionize screentime with this wooden toy chalkboard tablet made by little miss workbench. Make learning fun and watch your child’s imagination come to life with this unique learning tool.

Chico Bag

Chico Bag offers a variety of reusable solutions to help prevent pollution from single-use plastic. With their partner brand To-Go Ware, they have saved an estimated 18 billion single-use items from entering the waste stream.

Snack Time Bags – Just one of these cute reusable bags can replace 1,825 single-use plastic bags throughout its life, and each set includes three. Reduce plastic pollution in style with these adjustable, reusable bags.

EcoBags

EcoBags is a Certified B Corporation that offers a variety of reusable bags that help prevent plastic pollution. All of their products are certified by the (GOTS), meaning their cotton not only meets high-level environmental and supply chain certifications, but also complies with social criteria. 

Organic Cotton Lunch Box – These reusable lunchboxes are made out of 100% organic cotton and are even customizable so your child can create their very own design.

ECOlunchbox

ECOlunchbox specializes in plastic-free food containers designed to help people reduce their dependence on plastics for health and environmental reasons.

Splash Box and Pods Set – Completely leak-proof and plastic-free, this terrific three-piece set of metal lunchbox containers includes one Splash Box and two coordinating Splash Pods.

Faherty

Faherty is a family business dedicated to crafting great products that last a lifetime. They produce quality products that honor both their customers and the planet. 

Masks – Make sure your kids suit up in style with one of these soft, lightweight face masks from Faherty. The accordion design and elastic bands make it easy to wear, even for the most finicky of kids.

Final

Final, the creator of the innovative FinalStraw, creates a range of ‘Foreverables’ that reduce the need for plastics, empower individuals to change their buying habits, and raise awareness of the impacts of our everyday decisions.

Final Fork – One of the newest offerings from Final is the Final Fork, a reusable, collapsable fork that is perfect for tucking into a lunchbox. Check out their Indiegogo to pre-order yours now.

Khala & Company

Khala & Company is a Colorado-based company that makes vegan and beeswax wraps for food on the go. They are also a Green America certified business and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Beeswax Wraps – Khala Cloths’ beeswax wraps are a great way to store and carry food without resorting to polluting plastic cling wrap. In addition to eliminating the need for single-use plastic wrap, you can feel great about using Khala Cloths because their beeswax is sourced from sustainable, bee-friendly apiaries in their local Colorado area.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family owned business that makes non-toxic, BPA-free stainless steel water bottles. They are also a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, so you can feel great when you buy their high quality reusable water bottles.

Kid Classic Sport 12oz Water Bottle – This stainless steel water bottle was designed with active kids in mind. It features a spill proof sports cap with a dust cover, a soft silicone spout and loop so it can be easily attached to a bag or backpack. It comes in a variety of bright colors and fun graphics, and the chip-resistant finish is extra durable, making it safe for people and the planet.

Leafico

Lefico is a Vancouver-based business with one major goal: to save the world from plastic pollution. To that end, they make high quality, affordable reusable alternatives to common plastic items. 

Telescopic Straw With Carrying Case – This is another eco-friendly gadget that is a big hit with the kiddos. Small enough to fit on a keychain and made from dishwasher safe stainless steel, this telescopic straw is the perfect addition to any environmentally-friendly lunch box.

Life Without Plastic

Life Without Plastic is an online store with a large selection of items that help people eliminate plastic from their lives.

Adjustable Juco Sandwich Bag – This exclusive sandwich bag is made of juco, a new eco fabric composed of 75% jute and 25% cotton. It offers the best properties of jute, such as durability and water resistance, while having a finer weave and softer texture thanks to the presence of cotton. It is strong and reusable and its high jute content–the production of which has a low carbon and water footprint–makes its overall environmental impact very low. 

Lunch Bag – This lunch bag really is the whole package: it is 100% plastic free (unlike most lunch bags), insulated, and it is washable! This bag is made from one of Life Without Plastic’s most trusted ethical manufacturers who strives to provide only the highest quality materials and finished product. The cotton is even GOTS certified.

Stainless Steel Folding Spork – This super handy and extra compact foldable spork is absolutely perfect for school lunches! It is small enough to be packed inside a lunch box or even kept in a pocket. Kids love this fun and practical alternative to single-use plastic utensils.

LunchBots

Founded by a mother of two sons, LunchBots offers zero waste food containers that are easy to pack and that last a lifetime. 

Bento Box – LunchBots offers stainless steel bento boxes in a range of sizes and with a variety of compartment options. These handy boxes are thoughtfully designed to make it easy to add variety to your child’s lunch without the need for tons of single-use plastic bags.

Made By Bees

Made By Bees is a producer of all-natural, Canadian-made honey and handmade beeswax products. They strive to save bees, the planet, and our food.

“Bee Kind” Buttoned Wrap – This adorable buttoned beeswax bag is a fun and reusable replacement for single-use plastic sandwich bags.

Rewilder

Rewilder is a sustainable fashion brand that finds beauty in discarded materials and upcycles them into products that highlight their strength and durability. This women-owned and operated fashion brand ethically manufactures their quality in their Los Angeles studio using only repurposed and upcycled materials. 

Backpack – Believe it or not, this stylish backpack was made entirely out of upcycled auto airbags and seatbelts! Durable and water resistant, this backpack features a 15-inch laptop sleeve and a dual-zip main compartment. Bonus: this product is PETA approved vegan.

Stasher

Stasher offers a range of reusable silicone bags that are better for you and better for the planet than single-use plastic baggies. Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their sales to environmental non-profits.

Sandwich Bag – Made with non-toxic, 100% pure platinum silicone, the Stasher sandwich bag is a total crowd pleaser and a lunchbox essential. These bags are endlessly reusable as they are both dishwasher and microwave safe.

To-Go Ware/Life Without Plastic

To-Go Ware provides sustainable solutions to the convenience of our “to-go” culture. Their goal is to make the “throw-away” mentality a thing of the past. Their products are innovative, safe, environmentally responsible, affordable and convenient. To-Go Ware makes it easy to choose to reuse. 

Bamboo Utensil Set – This handy bamboo utensil set features a fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks all conveniently tucked in a pouch with a carabiner so it is perfect for people on the go. Lightweight, strong, and heat & stain resistant, these utensils will last a lifetime without imparting or absorbing flavors. Even the holder is eco-friendly as it is made out of recycled PET plastic bottles.

U-Konserve

U-Konserve was started by two mothers who wanted to find environmentally conscious solutions to packed school lunches. They knew that common single-use baggies and drink cartons were destined for landfill, so they created a waste-free lunch kit, and shortly after U-Konserve was born! To this day they offer durable, long-lasting products that offer innovative solutions to eco-minded parents and kids. 

NEW Stainless Steel & Silicone To-Go Containers – U-Konserve’s trusted stainless steel containers now come with plastic-free, clear-as-glass silicone lids! These are the perfect waste-free solution for eco-friendly lunches. Leak-proof and dishwasher safe, these containers are popular with kids and parents alike. 

Wild Minimalist

Wild Minimalist is an online story for people who are striving to live a plastic-free, zero waste lifestyle. 

Organic Biodegradable Bandaids – Handy, eco-friendly and super cute, these organic and biodegradable bandaids are great for stashing in your kiddo’s backpack.  

Wisdom Supply Co.

Wisdom Supply Co. is a Certified B Corporation that believes that waste is a design flaw. It is this conviction that drives them to curate and create school supplies that prevent waste, for good.

3-Ring Binders – Decades upon decades worth of disposable vinyl binder contribute to the global plastic pollution crisis. These sturdy cardboard binders with removable covers are designed to stay out of the waste stream altogether. Should the need arise for a fresh cover, simply remove the tattered cover, place it in the recycling bin, and attach a new cover!

Educational Resources

Join our global Coalition

Photo: Jackie Nuñez being interviewed by the STRAWS film.

During the month of April, Plastic Pollution Coalition invites educators, teachers, and students to dive into plastic pollution and learn about solutions. Together with STRAWS film, Plastic Pollution Coalition is offering free film shorts on plastic pollution geared towards teachers and students with live online Q&A and discussion.

Join us in helping to empower students to make strides in understanding the problem of single-use plastic and reducing its use. Check out the program here and sign up.

The goal of each online discussion is to help students craft individual or group projects to reduce single-use plastic pollution. These ACTION projects can be individual, in their home, or in their communities.

The sessions will be hosted by plastic pollution experts and frequent speakers Jackie Nuñez, Founder of The Last Plastic Straw and Program Manager, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and Sandra Curtis, Director of Innovative Projects, Plastic Pollution Coalition.


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About Jackie Nuñez

Jackie created the No Plastic Straws movement when she founded The Last Plastic Straw in 2011 as a volunteer project for Save Our Shores. The Last Plastic Straw has been a project of Plastic Pollution Coalition since 2016.

She is a part time kayak guide, full time activist, and lives in Santa Cruz, California, where she teaches people of all ages how to speak truth to plastic and be an agent for change in their communities. She has advised on more than 20 local ordinances limiting single-use foodware including plastic straws.

Jackie has a BS in Health and a AS in Horticulture, and has a passion for travel, ocean sports, design, gardening, the environment, and community service. Jackie is a frequent speaker at international conferences, in the press, and was featured in the award-winning documentary Straws.

About Sandra Curtis, Ph.D.

Sandra is Director of Innovative Projects for Plastic Pollution Coalition based in Berkeley, CA. She brings a wealth of experience developing projects internationally at the intersection of business, entertainment, education, science, and health, and uses those skills to expand partnerships, programs, and projects at Plastic Pollution Coalition. She initiated collaborative behavioral intervention research to reduce the toxic health effects from exposure to plastics. As a co-investigator with Child Health and Development Studies, she conducted Rethink Plastic and is expanding the impact of the study with ESL communities, across generations and global communities.

She co-wrote numerous PPC guides including the Healthy Baby Guide and the Plastic-Free Campus Manual. Sandra advocates for applying pressure across a broad spectrum of society from the individual to legislation, EPR, and the development of new materials to solve the plastic pollution crisis.

Her most recent speaking engagement with youth was advising a team of 6th and 7th graders  in Chicago on their entry into the Nat Geo Challenge.

She has a PhD in Education from UC Berkeley and a Masters and B.S. in Kinesiology from UCLA.

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Caption: Jackie Nuñez speaks to Teacher and Activist Jacqueline Omania’s Heirs to the Oceans club of 4th and 5th grade students at Oxford School in Berkeley, CA. Photo by Jacqueline Omania.

For more resources on plastic pollution and curriculum for children of all ages, visit our Education Resources.

See also: 100+ Fun and Educational Things To Do at Home

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Can you believe it is already back to school season? Us either! We know this time of year can be stressful, but we’ve got you and your kid covered with all the coolest, eco-friendly back to school gear around. Keep reading to check out our Plastic-Free Back To School Guide!


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Abeego

Abeego picks up where the peel leaves off. Their beeswax food wraps protect and breathe like nature’s peel and preserve food.

Beeswax Wrap – Abeego offers plastic-free wraps in a variety of sizes, so they are any eco-minded lunch-packing parent’s dream come true. They are great for sandwiches, partial or whole fruits, veggies, and more.

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ECOlunchbox

ECOlunchbox specializes in plastic-free food containers designed to help people reduce their dependence on plastics for health and environmental reasons.

Splash Box and Pods Set – Completely leak-proof and plastic-free, this terrific three-piece set of metal lunchbox containers includes one Splash Box and two coordinating Splash Pods.


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Khala Cloths

Khala Cloths is a Colorado-based company that makes vegan and beeswax wraps for food on the go. They are also a Green America certified business and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Beeswax Wraps – Khala Cloths’ beeswax wraps are a great way to store and carry food without resorting to polluting plastic cling wrap. In addition to eliminating the need for single-use plastic wrap, you can feel great about using Khala Cloths because their beeswax is sourced from sustainable, bee-friendly apiaries in their local Colorado area.


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Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family owned business that makes non-toxic, BPA-free stainless steel water bottles. They are also a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, so you can feel great when you buy their high quality reusable water bottles.

Kid Classic Sport 12oz Water Bottle – This stainless steel water bottle was designed with active kids in mind. It features a spill proof sports cap with a dust cover, a soft silicone spout and loop so it can be easily attached to a bag or backpack. It comes in a variety of bright colors and fun graphics, and the chip-resistant finish is extra durable, making it safe for people and the planet.


Leafico - back to school.png

Leafico

Lefico is a Vancouver-based business with one major goal: to save the world from plastic pollution. To that end, they make high quality, affordable reusable alternatives to common plastic items.

Telescopic Straw With Carrying Case – This is another eco-friendly gadget that is a big hit with the kiddos. Small enough to fit on a keychain and made from dishwasher safe stainless steel, this telescopic straw is the perfect addition to any environmentally-friendly lunch box.

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Life Without Plastic

Life Without Plastic is an online store with a large selection of items that help people eliminate plastic from their lives.

Adjustable Juco Sandwich Bag – This exclusive sandwich bag is made of juco, a new eco fabric composed of 75% jute and 25% cotton. It offers the best properties of jute, such as durability and water resistance, while having a finer weave and softer texture thanks to the presence of cotton. It is strong and reusable and its high jute content–the production of which has a low carbon and water footprint–makes its overall environmental impact very low.

Lunch Bag – This lunch bag really is the whole package: it is 100% plastic free (unlike most lunch bags), insulated, and it is washable! This bag is made from one of Life Without Plastic’s most trusted ethical manufacturers who strives to provide only the highest quality materials and finished product. The cotton is even GOTS certified

Stainless Steel Folding Spork – This super handy and extra compact foldable spork is absolutely perfect for school lunches! It is small enough to be packed inside a lunch box or even kept in a pocket. Kids love this fun and practical alternative to single-use plastic utensils.


LunchBots - back to school .png

LunchBots

Founded by a mother of two sons, LunchBots offers zero waste food containers that are easy to pack and that last a lifetime.

Bento Box – LunchBots offers stainless steel bento boxes in a range of sizes and with a variety of compartment options. These handy boxes are thoughtfully designed to make it easy to add variety to your child’s lunch without the need for tons of single-use plastic bags.


Stasher - back to school.png

Stasher

Stasher offers a range of reusable silicone bags that are better for you and better for the planet than single-use plastic baggies. Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their sales to environmental non-profits.

Sandwich Bag – Made with non-toxic, 100% pure platinum silicone, the Stasher sandwich bag is a total crowd pleaser and a lunchbox essential. These bags are endlessly reusable as they are both dishwasher and microwave safe.


LWOP_ToGo Ware - back to school.png

To-Go Ware/Life Without Plastic

To-Go Ware provides sustainable solutions to the convenience of our “to-go” culture. Their goal is to make the “throw-away” mentality a thing of the past. Their products are innovative, safe, environmentally responsible, affordable and convenient. To-Go Ware makes it easy to choose to reuse.

Bamboo Utensil Set – This handy bamboo utensil set features a fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks all conveniently tucked in a pouch with a carabiner so it is perfect for people on the go. Lightweight, strong, and heat & stain resistant, these utensils will last a lifetime without imparting or absorbing flavors. Even the holder is eco-friendly as it is made out of recycled PET plastic bottles.

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U-Konserve

U-Konserve was started by two mothers who wanted to find environmentally conscious solutions to packed school lunches. They knew that common single-use baggies and drink cartons were destined for landfill, so they created a waste-free lunch kit, and shortly after U-Konserve was born! To this day U-Konserve offers durable, long-lasting products that offer innovative solutions to eco-minded parents and kids.

Divided Stainless Steel Container  – These stainless steel bento-style lunch boxes feature a removable divider that makes it seem like you have several containers in one! Easy to clean and boasting a leak-resistant lid, these are great for school lunches.

Insulated Lunch Sack – Durable, machine washable, and featuring a strap made from non-toxic recycled water bottles, this lunch sack is the ultimate in recycling and reuse! With an inside pocket for an ice pack, this lunch sack can keep your food and drinks cold for 5-8 hours.

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Wild Minimalist

Wild Minimalist is an online story for people who are striving to live a plastic-free, zero waste lifestyle.

Organic Biodegradable Bandaids – Handy, eco-friendly and super cute, these organic and biodegradable bandaids are great for stashing in your kiddo’s backpack.


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Wisdom Supply

Wisdom Supply Co. is a company “driven to address plastic pollution” and offers a range of plastic-free, sustainable school supplies from folders to pencils and more, so that young minds can enjoy a zero waste educational experience.

Join our global Coalition

by Sandra Curtis

Have you ever thought about the waste created by school supplies?

Junked up binders? Landfill.

Spiral Bound Notebooks (spiral accompanied by all that paper)? Landfill.

Plastic Binder Dividers and Pocket Folders? Landfill.

A marker dropped on the ground and broken into teeny bits of microplastics? Those pieces may be washed down a storm drain and out to the bay.

San Francisco-based Wisdom Supply is charting a different course with school supplies by providing Zero Waste options. Each school they partner with, is able to track the TONS of plastic they are actively preventing from entering the waste stream.

The woman-owned company isn’t just paying lip-service to buzzwords like “eco, sustainable, green, and zero-waste.” According to founder Heather Itzla, it’s core to their mission to “disrupt what we call the shelf-to-shore pipeline, and replace it with systems that prevent plastic and vinyl from entering the global waste stream.”

Individuals can shop Wisdom’s Zero Waste School Supplies or the company will work directly with schools to supply whole classrooms, as well as to create school-specific Zero Waste Kits.

All of their products in the school supply assortment have been tested and vetted by students and teachers at local Bay Area schools, making these supplies a win for teachers, kids, and the planet. 

Shop the Zero Waste products here. 

Join our global Coalition. 

The City of Berkeley, California, has introduced the Disposable Foodware and Litter Reduction Ordinance, the most ambitious and comprehensive piece of municipal legislation in the U.S. aimed at reducing single-use disposable foodware. After a press conference on April 24, the City Council unanimously referred the ordinance to the Zero Waste Commission for review. The next steps will include the commission holding meetings for public comment and possible redrafting prior to coming back to Council for a vote. The expected timeline for the next vote is Fall 2018.

“The next steps won’t be easy,” said Sandra Curtis, Director of Innovative Projects for Plastic Pollution Coalition, a Berkeley resident. “But we are very encouraged by the support of community members, businesses and the support of the Mayor and Council member Hahn. This ordinance would significantly decrease the amount of garbage from single-use plastic we are sending to landfill. We’re looking for a Win-Win which meets the city’s Zero Waste goals, provides cost savings for businesses, offers public health and environmental protection and of course, less unsightly trash! It will be a game-changer that can become a model for other communities around the country.”

Berkeley’s proposed legislation builds on a wave of similar city ordinances, including in Santa Cruz, Alameda, Davis, Seattle, Ft. Myers Beach, and Malibu, that have been passed in response to troubling global levels of plastic pollution.

Berkeley’s Ordinance goes further than all prior initiatives, requiring that: 1) only reusable foodware can be used for dine-in service, 2) all takeout foodware must be approved as recyclable or compostable in the City’s collection programs, 3) food vendors charge customers $0.25 for every single-use beverage cup and $0.25 for single-use food containers provided, and 4) straws, stirrers, cup spill plugs, napkins, and utensils for take-out are provided only upon request by the customer or at a self-serve station.

In addition to PPC staff, PPC Executive Advisory Board Member Annie Farman, and PPC Notable Member Alice Waters have spoken out in favor of the ordinance.

“Here in Berkeley, where the organic and local food movement began, it’s important to recognize how food is served and packaged,” said Alice Waters, a chef, author, food activist, and the founder and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley. “Why put delicious locally sourced, organic food in disposable and often toxic packaging?”

Farman agreed the ordinance would change behavior around single-use plastic. “Charging customers for take-out packaging is a step towards making people more mindful about how they consume food,” she said. “It will minimize the use of disposable containers, and lead to reduction of waste in our city.”

According to a Clean Water Action study, food and beverage packaging comprise the majority of all Bay Area street litter. Bay Area cities are struggling to meet the Regional Water Board’s zero litter to storm drains requirement by 2022. Like other cities, Berkeley bears the cost of litter abatement – including the costly collection of debris from storm drains – as do the business districts. Last year alone, the Telegraph Avenue Business Improvement District’s street ambassadors picked up over 22 tons of litter.

“Our throw-away culture is leading to a proliferation of plastics in our food, air, and drinking water, which threatens human health and all ocean life. The solutions must focus on reducing the use of disposable food packaging that is the biggest contributor to the problem,” says Upstream’s Policy Director Miriam Gordon. “Globally, we’ve seen that charging consumers for plastic bags is the most effective way to shift people from disposables to reusables. The Disposable-Free Dining Ordinance builds on that strategy.”

Since January, China has ceased to accept U.S. contaminated recycling including dirty, disposable foodware, creating a crisis in the recycling industry. “Most of the single-use plastic foodware has no value in today’s recycling markets. With China’s new ban on importing plastic scrap, cities are actually paying to get rid of it,” says Martin Bourque, Executive Director of the Ecology Center, the nonprofit that has collected Berkeley’s recycling since 1973. “Much of the low-grade plastic that now gets shipped to South East Asia may end up dumped or burned, despoiling their environment and poisoning workers. We cannot recycle or compost our way out of the disposable foodware problem. We have to focus on reduction.”

Globally, single-use disposable foodware is contributing to plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, drinking water, and food. Eighty (80) percent of plastic found in the ocean come from land-based sources. Shoreline Cleanup volunteers collected 5,826 food wrappers; 2,156 straws and stirrers; 1,577 forks, knives, and spoons; and 3,269 foam packaging items from Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville shorelines in 2016.

Berkeley’s ordinance is supported by global movements and organizations, including Break Free from Plastic (BFFP), Ecology Center, Clean Water Action, UpStream, The Story of Stuff Project, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and Surfrider Foundation.

Take Action to stop plastic pollution.

Join our global Coalition. 

By Beth Terry

Rebecca Newburn is a middle school science teacher in Marin County, California, who, with a group of elementary and middle school students, successfully lobbied the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District to adopt a resolution making October “Zero Waste Month.”  And together with zero waste specialists Anastacia Nicole and Kathryn Kellogg of GoingZeroWaste, has created a program for cities and schools to participate in Zero Waste October.

Read through the challenge and choose a few things you might try out this year. Then, use it as a model to get your school or town active next year.

Why October?

Rebecca explained to me that October is a great month for families in the Northern Hemisphere to take on the zero waste challenge because the kids are back in school and October is right before Halloween and the winter holidays, a time that can often lead to increased waste. And THAT is a topic I’ve ranted about here and here and here and here! (We love Plastic-Free July, but it was started by folks in Australia during their winter season, a month when folks up North may be on summer vacation.)

Zero Waste October Website

Rebecca has created a Zero Waste Challenge website with all the resources you need to join in Zero Waste October.  I’ll highlight some of the elements here, but that is where you should go for ideas and resources for participating in Zero Waste October, including resources for teachers and schools to plan Zero Waste events throughout the month.

Zero Waste October Proclamation

The group has provided a proclamation template that communities can use to proclaim October Zero Waste Month.  The template is a Google doc that you can download and edit to fit your circumstances.

Zero Waste 31-Day Challenge

Kathryn Kellogg has developed a 31-Day Zero Waste Challenge aimed at kids, but anyone can participate in it.  Here’s an example of the calendar:

You can read the details of each day’s challenge on her site or download a PDF copyof the 31-Day Zero Waste Challenge.

What the Schools are Doing

Rebecca emailed me some examples of some of the things the Larkspur-Corte Madera schools will be doing to give you some ideas:

  1. Every morning, the Zero Waste Challenge tip of the day (based on the 31-Day Challenge) will be read along with the rest of the school’s daily announcements. (Click the link for a Google doc of daily tips.)
  2. At The Cove Elementary, all students will be making reusable snack bags in the art and tinker classes, and a list of snack recipes will be provided. Families are also being encouraged to share their recipes. A school-wide recipe book of great snacks could be a project that comes out of this collection. Pairs of third graders will also be visiting each classroom to role play lunch options. One student will have a lunch packed with disposables and the other will have waste-free alternatives. They’ll sit down to “have lunch together” and strike up a conversation about the packaging and the one kid will model alternatives. They are also having a Zero Waste Assembly.
  3. The schools will be keeping track of how much lunch waste they generate on campus this year vs. last year.

  4. Depending on the grade level, kids will have different Zero Waste Challenges.

    a.  For K-3, the Zero Waste would be a monthlong collection of waste created in the classroom. Families may be encouraged to do the 31-day challenge at home, but younger kids would not be expected to carry waste back home to do a waste audit.

    b. 4th graders are involved in some larger school assessments of waste. Collecting waste at recess or lunch. Counting and/or weighing waste will be done. (This can be done as a whole school or individual class.)

    c.  5th graders will do the month-long challenge where they collect all the waste that they generate for the month and analyze it. A DIY project, such as making toothpaste or reusable bags will also be done. Getting parent volunteers helps.

  5. In Hall Middle School, all students will do the 31-day challenge. This is being done through all the science classes. Starting October 1 and going through to October 31st students will collect all their waste for the month, photo-document it, and write a reflection. This is the basic requirement. Students who would like a “B” would do this and make several changes to their habits and create 1-2 DIY products, such as homemade shampoo, for example. There is a list of Zero Waste DIY recipes for toothpaste, cleaning products, and deodorant on the student challenge page.  Kids who would like an “A” need to do all of those requirements and communicate what they learned to people outside their immediate family. Some ideas for an authentic audience could be a video about a DIY product they created, a blog post about favorite snack recipes, or a letter to a company sharing their concerns about/appreciation for their product.
  6. In addition to the 31-Day challenge, all of the kids at Hall Middle School will be making DIY toothpaste. They collected several hundred Altoid tins from Freecycle to store the toothpaste. If kids want essential oils, they can come back at lunch and do that part outside.

  7. The leadership classes are also getting involved. Some of the ideas they are considering doing this year include:

    ** Reusable utensils: Encourage students to bring in reusable utensils and cloth napkins. Maybe the first week of October kids in the hot lunch line show leadership students if they brought their own utensils or cloth napkins. Raffle tickets could be given to those students. Prizes could be some special treat that kids like, such as a week of “front of the lunch line” passes. After the first week of checking for utensils, there could be some spot/surprise checking a couple more days in the month to see if those who brought their utensils are still doing so. More raffle tickets could be issued.
    ** Zero Waste Snack: Set up a table during recess where kids can bring their Zero Waste Snacks. Kids could get a raffle ticket or it could be a photo opportunity where photos are taken of Zero Waste snacks and uploaded to Instagram and Twitter with some tips or recipes. #ZeroWasteChallenge
    ** Snack Sampling Idea: Get the PTA/PTO/student council to have a table one day with (nut-free) snacks. Kids can come and sample different treats. Recipes can be printed or emailed home to families.
    ** Videos:   Have students make videos about Zero Waste ideas (snacks/lunch/DIY products/etc.). This could be done in language arts or tech classes. These videos can be shared with parents through an online parent newsletter and shared with other classes.

Inspiring Women

I asked Rebecca and Kathryn to explain why the issue of waste and plastic is important to them and whether there was a “lightbulb” moment that spurred them to action, going beyond personal changes to working for change on a larger scale.  Here’s what they said.

Rebecca Newburn:  “I didn’t have a “lightbulb moment.” For years I have focused on creating my house as a model of sustainability and regenerative agriculture. I had reduced my plastic and consumption considerably. I didn’t go Zero Waste until last year when my 6th graders and I were piloting KQED’s  Engineering for Good: Plastic Solutions unit. I wanted my students to feel empowered after studying the plastic issue so I created the 31-day Zero Waste Challenge. It was a lot easier than I thought and quite liberating. At the end of the challenge, I was able to get rid of my trash cans in my house.

Kathryn Kellogg: “My “lightbulb” moment happened when I realized that all storm drains lead to the sea. I had been trying to cut plastic out around my food, and I was trying to avoid endocrine disruptors after a breast cancer scare. I connected all of the dots when I realized plastic isn’t just bad for our health, it’s bad for the planet’s health too. I committed to plastic-free, zero waste living wholeheartedly, and I haven’t looked back since. I started blogging to show other people how easy and fun zero waste living can be. Most importantly, I wanted people to know they don’t have to be perfect. Any steps taken to reduce the amount of plastic or trash you generate is awesome! “

I continue to be inspired by all the people I meet who are taking action in their schools, businesses, and communities. But don’t feel you have to do it all at once. Remember, change
begins with a single step. You can’t take the second step until you’ve taken the first. That’s not just tautology. It’s actually a useful philosophy for life.

Beth Terry blogs at My Plastic Free Life and is the author of the book Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too (Skyhorse), a practical guide to ridding your life of plastic. Terry is a PPC founding advisor. 

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