BACK TO SCHOOL IN SUSTAINABLE(ISH) STYLE
September is looming at an alarming rate, along with that peculiar mix of relief that the sole entertainment of small people is no longer your responsibility, and the dread of the school routine of packed lunches and repeated shouting of "get your shoes on" every morning.
When I think about going 'back to school' it conjures up memories of the delight of a trip to WHSmiths and a shiny new pencil case and an unsullied eraser, new shoes (and the inevitable argument about my desire for shiny patent ones and my mum's refusal) and crisp new uniform. It was almost a rite of passage, buying new stuff to welcome in a new academic year, and maybe soften the blow of returning to school after a long lazy summer watching "Why don't you..?" and whinging about being bored.
But all this shiny new stuff has an impact on the planet, so is there a different way to go back to school, sustainable(ish) style?
Of course there is!
UNIFORM
With estimates for new school uniform costing anything from £100-300 per child, there is lots of potential here for saving not just some cash, but the health of people and planet too.
First and foremost, get your kids to try their uniform on. If it still fits, they don’t need new uniform. It doesn’t have to be pristine - let’s face it, it’s going to be worn to school and get nailed anyway, so the odd ink mark or slightly grey colour is genuinely here nor there.
If your kids have grown and do need new uniform, here are a couple of sustainable(ish) options:
- Secondhand uniform service
We have one of these at our school and I LOVE it! People donate their outgrown uniform - everything from regular run of the mill grey trousers and checked summer dresses, through to the branded jumpers and PE shirts, and then it’s all sold for £1 an item with all proceeds going back into the school. It’s a total win-win. If your school doesn’t have a service like this, you could suggest it to the PTA (be aware though that it’s very likely you will be commandeered to run it yourself..!)
Also have a search on FB - there are more and more local FB groups springing up for people to buy and give away old uniform - we have two in our town, with uniform on offer for all the local schools.
- Eco-friendly uniform
Most schools will have an arrangement with organisations to supply branded jumpers, t-shirts and blazers, and may not have given much thought as to the ethical credentials of these companies. Eco Outfitters are a UK company who stock organic cotton uniform basics as well as providing an embroidery service. Your school might be able to sign up with them alongside their existing provider giving parents choice over where they spend their money.
- M&S and John Lewis both do plain white school shirts in organic cotton.
WHAT'S SO WRONG WITH SUPER CHEAP SCHOOL UNIFORM?
Each year it seems that the supermarkets try to out-do each other with their back to school offers, with prices that seem too good to be true. And they probably are. Fast fashion is as much of an issue for school uniform as it is for the choices we might make about our own clothes. The problem is that, despite their best efforts (or I suspect very little effort in some cases) the supermarkets just simply cannot be sure of who has made their clothes. The supply chains are so long and complex, with so much sub-contracting out of orders at various points along the way, that it can be pretty much impossible to know for sure whether clothes have been made by people being paid a living wage and working in safe conditions, unless the supply chains have been specifically designed to be transparent (as is the case with ‘ethical clothes’).
The thought that my kids uniform might have been made by someone else’s child, who should be at their own school, not slaving over a sewing machine somewhere doesn’t sit well. So if I can avoid it, I do.
SHOES
Good quality kids shoes can be eye-waveringly expensive, especially if you've more than one child, and they not just school shoes, but trainers, wellies, plimsolls....
Finding ethically made kids school shoes feels a little like searching for the Holy Grail, and I have to confess that I have gone with the option of simply buying the best quality we can afford and looking after them so that they last the whole school year (and hopefully more in the unlikely scenario that their feet haven't grown!)
Buy Me Once is a brilliant website dedicated to finding things that are made to last and to be repaired. They recommend Start-rite shoes as being tough, and scuff resistant.
Vivo Barefoot - The main USP of these shoes is their ‘barefooted-ness’ but they seem to be a pretty ethical bunch. All of their leather is sourced sustainably and they only work with factories who follow their code of conduct on human rights. They have a selection of school shoes for kids.
Dr Martens - Turns out good old DMs are pretty ethical – who knew? They some pretty robust environmental and ethical policies on their website, and they are generally well known for being hardwearing and made to last.
ARE SECOND HAND SHOES OK?
I spoke to podiatrist Tracy Byrne to find out:
Are secondhand shoes a no-no for children’s growing feet?
Absolutely not, as long as the shoes are not visibly torn or worn down, and let's face it kids don't wear shoes long enough for that to happen.
Is it better to try and find good quality secondhand shoes, or cheap new ones?
Good quality secondhand!
What things should we look out for when buying secondhand shoes or accepting hand me downs?
The same as we'd look for in any shoe, natural materials, flexibility, wide toe box, NOT tapered, lightweight.
How can we check that they fit properly?
They should have no slippage when the child is walking at the back and sides, and there should be around 12mm extra room at the end of the shoe to allow for growth, and flex.
What potential problems should we keep our eyes out for?
Tears, holes, very worn down spots on the sole.
PENS, PENCILS AND PENCIL CASES
I love stationery as much as the next person. And there’s nothing like the thrill and untold potential of a beautiful new notepad or finding that perfect pen. But it’s a habit we need to curb, and above all not pass onto our kids. Look through their old stuff with them - chances are the pencil case at the very least will still be good to fight another year. If it isn’t, look for ones made from recycled materials - pencil cases made from recycled tyres are widely available, as are ones made from recycled cotton.
If you can persuade them to forgo felt-tips in favour of colouring pencils, this is the better option. You can even get pencils made from recycled newspaper for double eco-points.
SCHOOL BAGS
School bags work hard. They get stuffed to the gills with lunchboxes, water bottles and exercise books, slung around on the floor and generally bashed about. Here are three sustainable(ish) options that should go the distance and out-last the school year (and hopefully more):
1. Patagonia
Patagonia are a US brand with social and environmental responsibility at the heart of what they do. All of their kit is made to last, and they offer a repair service too.
2. Muddy Puddles
This UK brand work hard to ensure all of their products are made to the highest ethical standards and visit their manufacturers every year, as well as supporting charities here in the UK that help children to make the most of the outdoors.
3. Fjallraven Kanken Backpacks
I assumed that these bags would be fast fashion given the number that I have seen around, so I was pleasantly surprised check out the website and find out that they’re made from recycled bottles AND they have a whole section on how to care for your bag so it lasts.
