🌱 Top 10 Sustainable Back-to-School Items for 2025

As students head back to school this year, parents and kids alike are looking for ways to shop smarter—not just for style and function, but for the planet. These eco-friendly picks combine durability, style, and sustainability, with insights from our app revealing exactly what’s behind the products you buy.

1. Recycled Backpack – Made from PET Bottles

Example: Fjällräven Re-Kånken or Terra Thread Fairtrade backpacks

• Why It’s Sustainable: Crafted from recycled plastic bottles, reducing landfill waste.

• Behind the Label: Our app shows the energy savings and CO₂ reductions from using recycled polyester.

2. Bamboo Lunchbox & Cutlery Set

Example: Ekobo Bamboo Bento Box

• Why It’s Sustainable: Renewable bamboo grows quickly without pesticides.

• Behind the Label: See how bamboo compares to plastic in biodegradability and resource use.

3. Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Example: Klean Kanteen or S’well

• Why It’s Sustainable: Lasts for years, cutting down single-use plastic bottles.

• Behind the Label: Track lifetime waste reduction when replacing disposables.

4. Plant-Based Gel Pens

Example: Pilot B2P (bottle-to-pen) or Onyx + Green Sugarcane Pens

• Why It’s Sustainable: Made from recycled or plant-based plastics.

• Behind the Label: See how their material sourcing lowers fossil fuel dependency.

5. Upcycled Pencil Case

Example: Rareform repurposed billboard vinyl cases

• Why It’s Sustainable: Turns waste into something functional and stylish.

• Behind the Label: Learn how upcycling extends material life cycles.

6. Refillable Highlighters

Example: Pilot FriXion Light or Stabilo Boss Refillable

• Why It’s Sustainable: Reduces plastic waste from disposable markers.

• Behind the Label: See exactly how many grams of waste are avoided over a school year.

7. Organic Cotton Hoodie

Example: Pact or Tentree

• Why It’s Sustainable: Grown without harmful pesticides and often Fairtrade certified.

• Behind the Label: View the water savings compared to conventional cotton.

8. FSC-Certified Notebooks

Example: Decomposition Books or Greenroom Eco

• Why It’s Sustainable: Paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.

• Behind the Label: Check chain-of-custody certification and recycled content levels.

9. Compostable Phone Case

Example: Pela Case

• Why It’s Sustainable: Made from plant-based biopolymers, fully compostable.

• Behind the Label: See time-to-decompose vs. petroleum-based plastics.

10. Solar-Powered Calculator

Example: Casio Solar Calculator

• Why It’s Sustainable: Runs on renewable energy, no batteries required.

• Behind the Label: Track the energy offset over the product’s life.

📲 How Our App Enhances the List

Each product in this list can be scanned in our app to reveal:

• Material sources (renewable, recycled, or conventional)

• Manufacturing ethics (Fairtrade, certified factories, labor conditions)

• Environmental impact (water use, CO₂ footprint, waste reduction)

This turns back-to-school shopping from a quick errand into an informed, conscious choice—helping you buy smarter and greener.