Smart choices for supplies, tech, and uniforms that protect our environment, and your wallet
August is drawing to an end quickly which means it’s almost back to school time. This time is when we start stocking up on supplies and resources to get us through the year.
Sustainable Supplies
Gear up with the best supplies for you and the environment. Stationary contributes to the mass amount of plastic pollution we face across the world. A study estimated that 50 billion plastic ball point pens end up in landfills or oceans each year, plastic is a growing issue and with small changes, especially throughout the school year, you can make a difference. Try making these swaps:
- Refillable pens
- Recycled or FSC-certified Notebooks – Bonus points if it has replaceable pages.
- Recycled wood or plastic pencils
To avoid replacing too quickly and building up waste, make sure to buy durable and long-lasting supplies. You could also make use of old supplies such as old folders and binders by DIYing to give it new life.
Power Down Waste
Beyond supplies, tech plays a big role in how sustainable your school year can be. Choosing the right tech is not only good for the environment, it also can make sure your gadgets are long lasting and save you a bit extra money.
Energy efficient tech has a smaller impact on the environment and uses energy in smarter ways, like enabling longer-lasting battery life, reducing energy waste, and improving overall system performance. To step up your game, you even could explore refurbished options to give new life to old devices and buy reliable items at discounted prices.
Here are a few tips to make sure you reduce energy waste:
- Battery Care Tips: Extend battery life and reduce e-waste by avoiding overcharging, keeping devices cool, and using battery saver modes.
- Digital Decluttering: Improve device performance and energy efficiency by deleting unused apps, clearing old files, and organising your digital space.
- Apps for Sustainability: Support eco-friendly habits with apps like Ecosia, which plants trees for every search made.
Wear, Repair, and Share
Now that your stationary and tech is sorted, the next step is the outfits. School uniforms are an investment and when little ones are continuously growing, it can be hard to keep up, but it also can put a strain on the environment. Globally, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste is created each year, but how can we reduce this?
Reduce the number of items you buy, instead do regular washes, or reuse certain items such as blazers and jumpers, to save on uniform costs and avoid throwing away items too often.
Reuse old items where possible, keep certain pieces like shirts and trousers for the next year, or pass down to any younger children in your family. You also can choose to donate or sell old items and cut down on waste.
Repair small tears or missing buttons, minor damages don’t mean an item has to be thrown away. Learning basic sewing skills or using local repair services can extend the life of uniforms and reduce textile waste and save you money.
As the new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to make small, thoughtful changes that benefit both your family and our environment. Whether it’s choosing durable supplies, caring for your tech, reusing uniforms, or packing waste-free lunches, every action adds up.
We would love to hear from you.
Share your stories, experiences, and photos of nature, and send us a few lines on how you are helping protect our environment in County Durham. Whether it is something you do personally, a community project you may be involved in, a business change or action, or even a great photo of nature. We want to celebrate and share your efforts and views.
Send us your stories or photos (with a short explanation) by emailing climatecountydurham@durham.gov.uk or by filling in our “Get in Touch form” and help inspire others across our beautiful county to take action. And don’t forget to sign up to our Climate Change and Carbon Reduction Pledge.
