Seems every new school year signals the need for a whole new set of kit, from shoes and bags to water bottles, lunch boxes and more. With sustainability on everyone’s minds, we’ve compiled a back-to-school collection of brilliantly-designed reusables that won't cost the earth - and that you won't need to replace before you know it.
REUSABLE, NOT DISPOSABLE
If they take sarnies or rolls to school, your wrapping choices aren’t just foil or film. Haps Nordic Sandwich Bags and Roll'eat's reusable designs keep sandwiches fresh and can be cleaned up and used again and again. If yoghurts or smoothies are more their thing, Doddle Bags let you store home-made recipes. Fill, zip and pack 'em - once they come home, you just wash and repeat the cycle. Awesome.
SPOONER OR LATER
Of course, disposable cutlery is a real no-no these days, but even plastic reusables are less and less popular. So it's great that lots of bamboo-blended alternatives are now available, like Zuperzozial's Spoons, Liewood's Etsu Bamboo spoons or, for a more durable eco-swap, invest in VIIDA's Soufflé Antibacterial Stainless Steel Fork & Spoon Set - made of high-grade stainless steel and biodegradable silicone, it will last and last.
RECYCLED MATERIALS
Even when we try and be mindful of our consumption, we create a whole lot of waste, so we love brands that give leftovers a new lease of life. Engel has been designing highly desirable recycled goodies since 2005. Their mini Zipper Backpack is roomy enough for all of the kit they need to carry and is made entirely from plastic bottles. Their matching Pencil Cases are must-haves too. Engel might have been one of the first, but everyone's doing it now - Done By Deer and Liewood also now make great school rucksacks from recycled plastics. So there are loads of options to enjoy choosing from.
PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES
We all know plastic pollutes and so, when we can find an alternative, we’re all for it. Silicone is perfect for kids products due to its durability, flexibility and food-safe properties. Fun to use at home but especially great for school, the We Might Be Tiny Bunny and Bear Snackie boxes are roomy enough to hold their break time snacks or lunchtime feasts and look irresistible too.
ETHICALLY MADE
At KIDLY we're always determined to bring you brands that aren’t just about the frills. Veja and TOMS design pumps that are great for school, PE and after-school clubs - delivering both style AND substance. Brazilian brand Veja looks after its factory workers as well as integrating recycled or sustainably-harvested materials into its designs. TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie started the brand so help poorer Argentinian kids. Today they still stand by their One for One promise - giving a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair sold - as well as investing in loads of other thoughtful partnerships around the globe.
DESIGNED TO LAST
Longevity = sustainability, because you're not replacing stuff on the regular. For lunch or snack time, stainless steel bottles and food jars are ideal for storing drinks and food. Pura makes bottles in grow-with-them designs that let you switch up the toppers as their skills develop. The straw design is ideal for preschoolers - as they get bigger, they'll grow into the sports top. For insulated food storage, we also love Liewood's Nadja Food Jar and the B.Box Insulated Food Jar that keeps hot food warm and cold food cool and comes with spork that tucks away into the bumper. Its durable design withstands daily use by hungry kids - you'll love it too if you take the opportunity to ‘borrow’ it.
So there you have it - purchases that do their bit for the planet that you can look forward to using school term after term after term. Top marks all round.
Our picks
Pura 11oz Toddler Bottle Orange
