Good to Know: Back-to-School Report Card

Is your child’s education costing the environment?

September/October 2005
By Natural Home Staff 
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BACKPACK

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Fail: Many contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride), the most environmentally hazardous plastic. (It’s also found in sneakers and boots.)

Pass: Choose a hemp or recycled rubber backpack from: GreenEarthOfficeSupply.com Hemp-Sisters.com.

PAPER AND NOTEBOOKS

Fail: Tree-wasting paper that’s bleached with chlorine (creates dioxins).

Pass: Post-consumer content recycled paper that’s unbleached or tree free: DolphinBlue.com NewLeafPaper.com Treecycle.com

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Fail: Markers and glue that emit toxic VOCs; crayons containing petroleum products.

Pass: Soybean crayons, natural glue, biodegradable cornstarch pens, recycled rulers, reclaimed-wood pencils, water-based highlighters and markers: GreenEarthOfficeSupply.com

COMPUTERS

Fail: Electronics that contain toxic flame retardants called PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

Pass: Several manufacturers, including Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Motorola, NEC, Sony, and Toshiba, have eliminated PBDEs. (Matsushita/Panasonic is removing brominated flame retardants in 2006.)

For more about safe school supplies, check The Green Guide, a source for practical and reliable environmental health reporting and product reviews: TheGreenGuide.com.

A Cleaner Ride

Millions of school bus riders are exposed to toxic soot and diesel pollution, which are linked to increased asthma rates, missed school days, hospitalization and chronic bronchitis. Find out your state’s grade on school bus pollution and help replace older buses with clean, safe alternatives: CleanSchoolBus.org.

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