Be Green for Back To School and Save $5!

Even though it is still July, we here in the Atlanta area are getting ready for back to school. I know it sounds crazy to you Northerners, and it is!

This time of year always gets me on my green high horse. It’s estimated that the average family spends close to $600 on back-to-school purchases. It’s no wonder. The amount of supplies required  (and then used little or not at all) boggles the mind–and unfortunately, fills the landfills. Teachers require specific binders, composition notebooks and spiral notebooks for some tasks that just don’t warrant it. I have so many composition notebooks that have only 10-15 pages used. To be green, I recycle the used papers and then either force my kids to use them again (writing MUSIC in permanent marker on the cover doesn’t help this cause), or I use them for business. I’ve gone to many a business meeting with a notebook that says “Ryan’s Poetry”!

So this year, take some time to sort out your current supplies (kids don’t need BRAND new colored pencils each year!), and shop wisely. If you have an older girl and younger boy, ban the pink purchases (binders, folders, staplers, book covers). I learned this the hard way. It’s hard to pass down a pink binder to a 10-yr old boy. This pre-planning is both good for your pocket book and the environment.

One easy way to be green this year is to not use disposable water bottles in the lunch box. Make sure you have enough reusable ones on hand that are easy to refill, like Reduce WaterWeek. So, in honor of back-to-school shopping, we’re offering $5 off all Reduce WaterWeek bottle sets until August 24. Type in SCHOOL at checkout. Be sure to visit our Facebook page to learn more. www.facebook.com/reduceeveryday.

Have fun shopping!

Rani Quirk

Marketing Manager, Base Brands

Add comment July 27th, 2010