Now that I’m a parent, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I’ve loved getting my daughter excited about started school for the first time. On the other, so many of the items on her school’s list were so ridiculously specific that we had to go to four or five stores just to find them. This is a more traditional looking pencil case but is made from recycled Jute fabric. They can also be used to hold make up. First of all, please do not throw your old pencils away. There are so many uses they do have in addition to writing or making drawings with them yourself, which include: 1. Donating to those who need it most Speaking of, we currently have a pot of basil growing in the windowsill of our zero waste kitchen, successfully sprouted from one of these pencils and can’t wait until we can start cooking with it.

Nonetheless, this does not mean that recycling wooden pencils is an easy task. In fact, such pencils are usually not accepted in Recycling bins. This is because the process used to treat wood used for pencils (especially the low-grade types) renders them non-recyclable. With an easy peel-to-sharpen design, they’re perfect for kids—and you can compost the peels to help them learn fun composting facts.If you’re trying to be plastic free then there are a variety of stainless steel food containers or bento boxes available that would be perfect as lunch boxes. I’m not going to go into a huge amount of detail here, take a look at Eco-Friendly Food Containers, where I discuss eco-friendly food containers and lunch boxes in more detail. The most recyclable piece of a pencil is the ferrule, the metal piece that holds the rubber/eraser in place. This can be made from brass or aluminum. Both metals can be easily recycled in large quantities. The erasers themselves are usually made of either natural rubber or synthetic rubber. Natural rubber is biodegradable, but synthetic rubbers aren’t. Pencil shavings are biodegradable, even though they decompose quite slowly; because they are usually made from cedarwood. Nonetheless, if you dispose of them in your waste bin, they are most likely going to end up in landfills. That is not exactly great for the environment. Thus, if you wish to recycle pencil shavings, it is best you do it by yourself. To begin, you would have to dedicate a bin or a substitute to collect your pencil shavings. My personal preference here would be to buy a canvas bag as I prefer not to buy any plastic at all (when possible), but they aren’t always the best in a rainy UK. You can waterproof canvas yourself by waxing it, or you can compromise and go for a bag made from recycled materials. Hemp

If your child doesn’t need a filled pencil case and is just looking for a ruler there are a few different options available. There are quite a few bamboo rulers of differing lengths you can buy, alternatively why not buy a stainless steel ruler. If you’re ok with plastic (at least a ruler isn’t single use!), then make sure you buy a recycled plastic one. Carrying the European EN-71 safety approval certification, these eco-friendly pencils are as safe for your kid’s sustainable pencil case as they are for the planet.Transportation: Pens and pencils weigh about the same which means that the impact of their transportation and/or distribution on the environment is quite even. For an interesting take on recycled paper stationery, their Stone Paper Notebooks are crafted from recycled construction debris—specifically, recycled limestone. Help your garden with your pencil shavings: If you are a lover of all things green – including green gardens – pencil shavings can be of great help. This is because pencil shavings can be used in making compost, mulching, as well as acting as a pest deterrent.

We’ve personally tested these pencils out and love the feel of the uncoated natural wood texture beneath our fingers as we write. The graphite is high quality and writes super smooth, without smudging too much if it gets rubbed over (though a little smudging is unavoidable). We want to make sure the materials are not only sustainable themselves, but that they’re ethically sourced and ethically manufactured, too.

Mechanical pencils are usually either metal or mixed plastic, or a mix of both. Some of the plastic is not recyclable, while others are too small to be sorted and recycled. Just be sure to have an eraser on hand so you don’t habitually try to erase with the seed capsule top!

Lamy looks fancy amidst your eco office supplies, but they made the list due to their refillable ink options.The number of pens that end up in landfill is not great so why not buy a refillable pen? These beautiful looking Akamba Ink Pens are made in Kenya, by Kenyan artisans from wild olive wood. Because most pencils are made of cedarwood, which tends to scare troublesome insects away, working pencil shavings into the soil around your plants keep them safe from pest invasions. Pencil shavings can also be used to retain soil moisture. And although pencil shavings according to a study do not act as fertilizers, they still are useful when mixed with other compost materials. As mentioned before, you might not have a lot of choice when it comes to buying school uniforms. Some schools insist on certain suppliers and the dress code can be so strict that finding an equivalent, but completely plastic free, version of say a blue skirt might be impossible. If you are buying anything made from bamboo fabric, make sure you buy the eco-friendly bamboo fabric… I know, nothing’s ever simple is it?