As teachers and students prepare for a new school year, Sustainability Victoria is encouraging families and staff to take a sustainable approach to classroom supplies.
Issuing its ‘top tips’ for greener classrooms, the Agency said that by making smarter choices when it comes to school supplies, uniforms, transport and lunchboxes, everyone could contribute to a more sustainable future for the next generation.
“Before making your back-to-school shopping list, check what you already have at home,” Sustainability Victoria said.
“You might be surprised by how many pens, pencils and paperclips you’ll discover when you start digging around in drawers,” it said.
“For high school English and literature texts, see what’s buried in your bookcase before buying new, or browse free ebooks.”
The Agency encouraged parents and carers to shop for second-hand text books and uniforms to save money and reduce waste.
It said many schools had second-hand stores on campus, alternatively it recommended reaching out to family and friends to see if they had anything to offload.
“It’s also worth joining your neighbourhood Facebook group and connecting with locals who might be willing to pass along unwanted school gear,” Sustainability Victoria said.
“Before making a second-hand score, get in touch with teachers to check if there are any important differences between textbook versions that you need to be aware of.”
The Agency also encouraged families to reduce their impact on emissions by walking or cycling to and from school, as well as cutting down on plastic packaging inside lunchboxes.
