Back to school: tips for making the return to the classroom sustainable and eco-friendly
Madrid, September 5 (EFEVerde).- With the arrival of September, thousands of families are preparing for the start of the school year. Back to school means a shopping list and new habits that, in addition to posing an economic challenge, have a direct impact on the environment: from backpacks to books, from travel to snacks, there are multiple ways to reduce waste, save resources, and embrace a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
Buy only what is necessaryOne of the most common mistakes is getting carried away with compulsive shopping and buying things you won't end up using. To avoid this, experts recommend making a list of essential items in advance, prioritizing quality over quantity and avoiding accumulating unused items. This will save not only money but also space.
School supplies don't always have to be new. Before buying, it's a good idea to review what you already have at home: half-used notebooks, sharpened pencils, or backpacks that, with a little repair, can last another school year. In the case of backpacks or sports equipment, more and more families are turning to secondhand platforms. Anything that can't be reused should be recycled at the specific recycling centers for pens, markers, or ink cartridges.
Miriam Leirós, national coordinator of Teachers for Future Spain, advises reconsidering whether all the materials we're comparing are necessary or whether they could be reused from the previous year, such as unfinished notebooks or compasses used only in geometry. For her, this change of mentality should also extend to the schools themselves, which often request more materials than strictly necessary.
School books are another major expense families have to invest in during this time of year. They are usually used for only a year, making secondhand books an economical and sustainable option. Platforms such as Relibrea, the Student Platform, and buying and selling apps offer alternatives for exchanging or purchasing books in good condition. Choosing local bookstores also helps reduce the carbon footprint and supports local commerce.
According to recent data from Wallapop, back-to-school spending represents an average of €317 per student per year, although reusing can reduce that figure by almost half: up to €154 per student. In fact, more than half of Spanish families have already turned to secondhand items to buy school supplies, valuing both the financial savings and the opportunity to give products a second life. Textbooks, tablets, calculators, and uniforms top the list of most sought-after items, demonstrating that secondhand items have established themselves as a key tool for balancing sustainability and household finances.
“Initiatives such as loan banks, not only for school supplies but also for costumes for school-calendar holidays, are a good way to teach students that they don't need to consume on every occasion and that lending or donating are alternatives that create better societies,” says Leirós.
When you need to replenish supplies, you can opt for products made from recycled, biodegradable, or fair trade materials. More and more stores are incorporating these alternatives, from recycled paper notebooks to organic cotton pencil cases.
Daily commutes to school also impact the environment. Whenever possible, it's a good idea to replace private cars with public transportation, or for older students, bicycles, or scooters. Another alternative is carpooling, which reduces both emissions and family fuel costs.
"We need to consider whether it's really necessary to travel to school by private transport or whether there's the option of public transport, or ideally, walking or cycling," says the national coordinator of Teachers for Future Spain.
Recess timeLunchtime generates a large amount of waste: single-use packaging, plastic bottles, and Tetra Briks. One solution is to use reusable lunchboxes, sandwich holders, stainless steel bottles, or waxed cloth wrappers. Initiatives such as the "Zero Waste Recesses" challenge, promoted by Teachers for Future Spain, encourage schoolchildren to reduce the waste they generate during their lunch breaks.
In addition to caring for the planet, we can also care for children's health. Replacing processed pastries and ultra-processed foods with fruits, nuts, or homemade snacks reduces packaging and improves children's nutrition. The best drink, experts remind us, is still water in reusable bottles.
Children entering the Duquesa de la Victoria Early Childhood and Primary School (CEIP) in Logroño, on their first day of school after the holidays. EFE/ Raquel Manzanares
Educate in sustainabilityBack to school is also an opportunity to educate children about environmental values. Involving children in preparing supplies, teaching them about recycling, or talking to them about the importance of saving water and energy are all actions that contribute in one way or another to developing responsible future citizens.
"It's not an ideological issue, but rather a matter of fulfilling the civic responsibilities outlined in the 2030 Agenda," Leirós maintains.
From reusing a backpack to carrying a water bottle at recess, everything counts as a positive action. These small, everyday decisions, when combined, help build a greener, healthier future for future generations. EFE
efeverde
