It was right there as I rounded the corner, practically impossible to miss. As I pushed my shopping cart past the sunscreen display, spiral notebooks, ballpoint pens and pocket folders competed for my attention. That’s right: back-to-school shopping is nearly upon us and before long, school districts will be updating their Web sites with a laundry list of classroom essentials. But in this information age in which we are thinking twice before making any kid-related purchases, selecting which items to stock our kids’ desks is no longer a no-brainer. You’d have to be living under a rock not to know about toxic substances like PVC lurking in plastics, especially in kids’ products. To make your job as a conscientious consumer a little easier comes a handy new tool you’ll want to consult before heading out to shop. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)’s Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies offers helpful tips on selecting everything from backpacks to lunchboxes. There’s also a list of suppliers that offer PVC-free products, so you can make a point of looking for safe supplies. If you consider yourself a green-minded mom, you will find this guide to be an invaluable resource. It’s also available as a wallet-sized version that’s an ideal companion when heading out to Staples, Target or wherever you’ll be shopping. See you in September.
In a Nutshell: To ensure that your child’s school supplies make the grade, consult this free-of-charge downloadable guide for shopping tips and suggestions.
