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A few simple tips for reducing waste and saving money this fall.
Back-to-school season has become one of the biggest shopping events of the year. Between school supply lists, college move-ins, new wardrobes, sports equipment, and lunch gear, American families spend hundreds of dollars per student each fall. It’s an exciting time, but it’s also one that encourages replacing perfectly good belongings simply because the calendar has turned.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Whether you’re preparing a kindergartener for their first day of school, helping a teenager move into a dorm, or just settling into a busier fall routine yourself, a few simple principles can help you spend less, reduce waste, and buy things that will serve you well long after the school year ends.
Start at Home, Not the Store
Before buying anything, take inventory. Empty last year’s backpack, wash it if needed, and check that the zippers and buckles still work. Test markers before replacing them, sharpen colored pencils, and see how many blank pages remain in partially used notebooks. If a notebook still has plenty of room, consider using it for a continuation of the same subject. Keeping several years of notes together can actually make studying easier.
You may be surprised how much is ready for another year.
Check Local Buy Nothing Groups
Many school supplies have short functional lives for each owner, because kids grow out of them physically, developmentally, or intellectually. And while reducing waste is important, it should not come at the detriment of making sure that every child has what they need. A great place to rehome these items — and to find their replacements — is a Facebook Buy Nothing group or other local parenting groups. Some items, such as calculators, rulers, and other impersonal school and athletic supplies, are particularly good things to source this way.
Buy Once, Not Every August
Other items can be almost defining features of childhood, such as a backpack or a lunchbox. While not all kids care what these look like, many take pride in carrying something that’s a favorite color or with a favorite design. Search for items that are not only to their taste, but designed to last.
A quality backpack is a good example. Reinforced stitching, sturdy fabrics, and replaceable zipper pulls often make the difference between replacing a bag every fall and carrying the same one through middle school, high school, or even college. The same goes for laptop sleeves, pencil cases, and water bottles.
It’s important to acknowledge that tastes change, especially during adolescence. That’s why we recommend choosing simple, high-quality items that can be customized over time, for instance by adding iron-on patches to backpacks or magnets to aluminum lunchboxes. These make it possible for kids to still express themselves without wanting a new character item year after year.
Time for Lunch
Some of the biggest opportunities to reduce waste have nothing to do with pencils or folders. Packing lunch every weekday can generate an astonishing amount of single-use waste. Sandwich bags, plastic wrap, disposable utensils, paper napkins, and individually packaged snacks all add up over the course of a school year.
A stainless-steel lunchbox can last for years and won’t absorb food odors or stains the way plastic sometimes can. Reusable snack bags, cloth napkins, and a travel utensil set quickly become part of the daily routine. Pair them with a reusable water bottle, and you’ve eliminated many of the disposable items that typically end up in school trash bins.
None of these swaps is particularly dramatic. Together, however, they can make a noticeable difference over hundreds of lunches.
Choose Better Materials
Many inexpensive school supplies are made almost entirely from plastic. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with every plastic product, lower-quality items often crack, stain, tear, or wear out more quickly than alternatives made from other materials.
Whenever practical, look for materials chosen for durability rather than disposability.
Stainless steel resists stains and odors, making it an excellent choice for lunch containers. Organic cotton backpacks and pencil pouches can withstand years of use and are often easier to repair than synthetic alternatives. Beeswax crayons are made from a renewable material rather than petroleum-based paraffin wax, and have a naturally pleasant scent. Bamboo utensils can replace countless disposable forks and spoons over their lifetime. Highlighter pencils are a great alternative to plastic ones.
College Is a Chance to Start Fresh
Moving into a dorm or first apartment often means furnishing an entire living space from scratch. It’s easy to fall into the trap of buying the cheapest version of everything simply to get settled.
Instead, focus on a few versatile basics that will last long after graduation.
A small collection of durable kitchen tools is often more useful than a cabinet full of novelty gadgets. Washable cleaning cloths and reusable mop pads replace disposable alternatives that need constant replenishing. Before buying cookware, dishes, or appliances, coordinate with roommates to avoid duplicates. This is another place where Buy Nothing groups and local college boards can help find items.
Resist the temptation to buy everything before move-in day — especially now that delivery is so easy. Many residence halls have swap events, and roommates frequently discover they’ve each packed a toaster, a coffee maker, or a full set of cookware.
The goal isn’t to create a perfectly sustainable apartment overnight. It’s to begin building a space that feels like home with thoughtfully chosen essentials, not just cheap stuff that’s destined for the curb come May.
Progress, Not Perfection
Back-to-school shopping has become an exercise in convincing families they need to start over every August. In reality, most successful school years are built on routines, not purchases.
Reuse what you can. Borrow when it makes sense. Repair items that still have life left in them. Then, when something truly needs replacing, choose a well-made version that will still be useful next semester — and hopefully for many years after that.
And, while it’s easier said than done, try to resist the trend cycle. Every year brings a new collection of “must-have” school items promoted on social media. While there’s nothing wrong with choosing supplies that bring joy, try separating genuine needs from fleeting trends. A timeless backpack in a favorite color is far more likely to still be a fit three years from now than one tied to a single television show or internet craze.
That’s better for your budget, easier on the planet, and ultimately a more thoughtful way to prepare for whatever the school year brings.
A Few Back-to-School Favorites
Organic Cotton Backpacks, Pencil Cases, and More
Terra Thread’s backpacks, pencil cases, and laptop sleeves are built to handle years of school, work, and travel. Made in Fair Trade Certified factories from durable organic cotton canvas, the collection includes items in a range of cheery colors and sizes that work for little kids as well as adults. Every purchase helps support Feeding America’s network of food banks. ($15+)
Leakproof Lunchboxes
Packing lunch is one of the easiest places to cut back on everyday waste. Ecozoi’s stainless steel bento boxes keep foods separated without relying on disposable bags or plastic containers. Leakproof lids and thoughtfully designed compartments help keep everything from sandwiches to fruit and snacks neatly packed for the day ahead. ($29.95+)
Snack Bags for All
For kids who reliably bring lunch gear home, Marley’s Monsters’ washable snack bags are a reusable alternative to disposable zip-top bags. Younger children — or anyone prone to losing things — may be better served by Lunchskins’ recyclable and compostable paper bags. The best choice is the one that fits the student and gets used every day. ($5.99+)
Lunch-Ready Food Storage Containers
Ekobo’s food storage containers feature durable stainless steel interiors with lightweight lids made from renewable FSC-certified bamboo fiber. They’re great for leftovers, snacks, and meal prep, and transition easily from lunch bag to refrigerator to dorm-room kitchenette. ($22+)
Beeswax Crayons
Made primarily from natural New Zealand beeswax and food-grade pigments, Honeysticks crayons offer a colorful alternative to conventional paraffin crayons, which are typically made from petroleum-derived wax. Naturally honey-scented and available in several sizes for different ages, they’re a cheerful addition to any art box or homework station. ($6.98+)
