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Hi, my name is Erin and I am a high school senior from Northern California. I founded Teens for Safe Cosmetics with a group of my peers because I don’t think that we should have to choose between beauty and health! And now I apply a similar philosophy to all aspects of my life: why risk my well being when I don’t have to?
With summer’s end just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about back to school. Can you believe it?! In addition to finding out about classes, teachers, schedules, and readjusting to waking up to my alarm clock, I think back to school is the perfect opportunity to embrace a more eco-conscious lifestyle. From my shampoo and mascara to my outfit for the first day of school to binders and text books, I am Turning Green!
Check out these four simple tips, watch Kylie’s video tips and join us on this ever-evolving journey towards a healthy body and world. Check back throughout the month of August for more back to school tips from Teens for Safe Cosmetics. And enjoy these last few weeks of summer!!
Tip 1: Look for organic and chemical free cosmetics, personal care, and body products (guys included – shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, soap, etc). Visit Teens for Safe Cosmetics for a complete list of Greener Alternatives , as well asa chemicals to avoid in The Dirty Dozen . Check out the Skin Deep Report for more information and visit stores like Whole Foods Market or other green retailers for a wide selection of products.
Tip 2: Incorporate green into your clothing choices for the first day of school. Cotton is among the most pesticide-laden and water-intensive crops in the world, which is why purchasing organic cotton is so vital. EcoFashion can be everything from vintage to recycled fibers like bamboo, hemp, recycled denim, and even cork for shoes!
Tip 3: When shopping for school supplies, purchase recycled binders and post-consumer notebooks and dividers, like those by New Leaf Paper (made in the USA and available at Whole Foods Market). Look into refillable or recycled pens and pencils, AusPen whiteboard markers, mainstream office supply stores and companies with green initiatives, and comprehensive online eco-office supply databases .
Tip 4: Save money and trees by reusing and recycling reading materials! Attend a local book swap, visit the library, research paper-free on the web, and look for used books at local or online stores.
About Teens for Safe Cosmetics
Teens for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition led by dynamic and passionate young women raising awareness about potentially harmful ingredients in beauty and daily use products that may be linked to cancer, reproductive harm and other health risks. Their mission is to educate the public about harmful chemicals found in cosmetics and personal care products, advocate for legislation that protects one’s right to health and to inspire teens across the nation to work together around these issues and create change within their communities.
Teens for Safe Cosmetics launches Teens Turning Green Collection
Teens for Safe Cosmetics has brought together phenomenal eco-conscious companies to create a line that attains Whole Foods Market’s Premium Body Care seal, the most comprehensive retail standards. Companies have used a holistic approach in the creation of these products, incorporating how age, variation in skin type, and environment can effect teenage skin. The line will launch exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide in October 2008. For the first time in history, Teens Turning Green will offer teenagers a line made specifically for their skin that is safe. Hand-selected by teenagers for safety, sustainability, and practicality, the Teens Turning Green collection is a cross-section of the best products on the market.
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great post erin! i’m getting my daughter ready to start kindergarten as green as possible too, with her school supplies + clothes. we’re homeschooling with stanford university’s virtual kindergarten program, so we’ll be learning about the environment by growing our own food + composting. i have a degree in environmental science, so it will be amazing to educate her “green” + document her progress on my blog. now i’m going to watch the video
August 10th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This is fun and light, and wow what a smile this kids has.
August 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Just visited the TFSC website. Great to see these young stars taking on this topic by themselves.
August 10th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Great video, simple and cute. Nice to see the young people taking control of the choices they make.
August 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Simple changes like this, implemented by a few then many, can have a tremendous impact
August 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Good to see Erin, keeping the dream alive. I am interested in the Stanford home schooling program mentioned by your reader, I’ll look into it!
August 11th, 2008 at 7:43 am
All of my son’s clothes are handed down to a friends son, who hands down, etc.
I always send my son with a reusable water bottle instead of disposables. When I send snacks, I generally make organic homemade treats in a reusable container. And I recycle all of the coloring pages he brings home…either as wrapping paper or a note pad or stationary!
August 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
There is a link here to “The Dirty Dozen”- bad chemicals to check for in your products. Very good short list!
August 11th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think that it is key to buy good quality supplies that don’t need replacing every year. Backpacks, winter coats, good boots, nice quality binders, can be used for more than just a single year, and sometimes passed on to younger siblings. I think that this really applies to art supplies too. Good markers last longer than cheapie throwaways!
August 11th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Reusable water bottles, hand me downs and good quality supplies for what we do buy.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I would never ever miss a chance to buy vintage clothing & accessories, so when I need a new bag or tote, I always buy vintage or thrift it.
Using recycled paper (plus my other tips) are always conversation starters…so it’s a win-win situation!
August 11th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
i shop from home on ebay for all my children’s clothes. i think buying second-hand clothes is recyling. i save gas and money too. my daughter is excited to take her new sigg bottle to school.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Love the tip about recycling reading material.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Buying recycled binders and other items. I reuse ours and once the kids are done with it I turn it into a photo album. Plus I shop at goodwill, thrift shops etc for clothes.
I can’t wait till they put text books in ebook so then we can use ereaders and save tons of trees
August 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Lunch bags that are reusable, as well as not using plastic baggies and disposable items.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am
like the idea of reducing plastic bag use by using something like the Wrap and Mat (http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/). Also good would be to reuse old binders if they’re still in good condition. Kids can cut out magazine images and glue them to the front (or tuck them in the clear outer pocket that some of them have). It allows them to have a unique, creative binder too!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Reusable water bottles. Also now have to include the Auspen markers – how cool those are.
Thanks,
Maureen jnomaxx at hotmail dot com
August 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Shop at thrift stores/garage sales for back to school items. Its eco-friendly and not everyone will have what you have.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Pack lunches using everything reusable. Buying large packages and making own single sixe to cut down on package waster. And cheaper too!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
My fav. tip is to make sure you take advantage of hand me downs
August 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
no need to use ziploc baggies everyday! Or even throw away napkins! they will bring it home in their lunch box. use plastic (BPA free containers) and linen Napkins. have a few set for everyone and no throw away waste!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
best tip is to get everyone used to NOT drinking from plastic bottles of water. Get them used to eco-friendly reusable water bottles. Save money and the planet!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I pack lunches using everything reusable. With a reusable water bottle.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
We got my daughter a water bottle for school instead of the disposable ones. We also send her with a lunch box instead of paper bag lunches.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Reusable water bottle!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I prefer to use reusable water bottles!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
reusable water bottles is my pick
August 12th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
We always buy recycled paper, and notebooks. You can also use hand me downs, and try garage sales. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
planetmisty at gmail dot com
August 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
we use our backpacks more than one year if they are still in decent shape and not falling apart!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
My kids are almost to the age were they will start to be interested in cosmetics. T’his is a tremendous resource.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Inventory what you have first. Look all around the house to see what’s left over from last year or what fell behind the desk that you never even realized was there. Chances are, you’ll find some pens, pencils, paper, etc that you didn’t even realize you had.
That way, you’re buying less and leaving less waste.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
We stopped at an outlet mall on our way home from vacation and did all our shopping in a single stop.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
We try to use reusable items in the lunchbox … We use hand-me-down clothes…. We walk to and from the bus stop
August 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
donate what you don’t need that does not fit or have a neighborhood trade of clothes for the right size
August 12th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
i’d like to see kids walking to school again and might submit this idea to all the “eco-conscious” kids in the schools, sort of a challenge…
August 12th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
My eco-friendly tip is to take the bus instead of driving there.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Reusable wate bottles is both ecofriendly and inexpensive.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I encourage walking to school for older kids.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Put a damp wash cloth in a baggie in with yourlunch.Use that to clean up after lunch,hands,table, etc., put back in baggie, and u throw it in the laundry. Saves on paper usage
August 12th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
unch boxes not bags
August 12th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Reusable Lunch bags.
Re washable lunch containers
Re washable spoons, fork, knife
refillable water/drink bottle
Cloth napkin to wash
Get supplies from charities
Give charities those supplies that you no longer need
August 12th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
When at all possible we always purchase organic :
pencils,paper clothing and lunch bags.Clothing is also passed from child to child.
Thank you so much for offering this
August 12th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Lunch Here is what I do. Use a reusable water bottle, even though it is plastic I do not throw it away as I use it to hold sandwich – I can wash this over and over and not have to use ziploc bags….I do the same for veggies/fruit. I have had the same containers for several years
August 12th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I buy my daughter’s clothes through a second hand store.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Use lunch boxes instead of brown bags. The kids like them better anyway because they can feature their favorite characters!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Use tupperware, not ziplocs
August 12th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
We use tupperware and re use water bottles.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Buy used whenever possible and if not look for clothes/supplies etc that are made with recycled or eco-friendly materials. I also try to pack a mostly organic lunch for my daughter. Thanks!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
reusable water bottles
August 12th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I buy everything at yard sales, thrift stores, and on clearance. I also use every coupon I can!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I reuse items year after year, especially backpacks, and lunch bags. We also by items in bulk rather then the more expensive and wastefull individually packaged items.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
WALK to school!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
We also use tupperware in lunches and many times I will put a cloth instead of paper too since you can just pull it out each day and rewash it. Thank you!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
My daughter in law has the lunch thing down pat….she has four children; each has a good lunch bag that lasts from year to year and the same with water bottle, back pack,etc from the High school age right down to the pre-schooler.
Each fall they have certain people they pass clothes on to and others who pass clothes on to their children. Any they don’t have people to pass on to go to charity.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Reusable lunch bags are a must
August 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Work with your children to make back-to-school a green event. Make it a game: plastic wrap vs. reusable container, home-made glue vs. store bought…and watch them buy into being green. Might as well educate them before sending them off to be educated.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:03 am
We buy new clothes, but I also pick up a couple things at garage sales in the summer. We always pass on our clothes, shoes, backpacks, etc., to friends or charities.
Instead of juice boxes, we try to use a thermos for drinks. Instead of plastic wrap in lunches, we use reusable containers or bento boxes.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
We homeschool and some things we do are reusing paper for scrap paper, hand down books or give them to others that will use them.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Walk to school…good exercise…great for environment
August 14th, 2008 at 10:06 am
We use reusable containers, such as tupperware sandwich containers and reusable water containers.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:08 am
We always try to search for used items before we buy new. Not only does it save us money but it’s also friendlier for the environment. Tip 4 is our family favourite!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:09 am
We recieve hand me down clothes from the fam, we also give our hand me downs to other fam, friends or neighbors. All of us in our household have a sigg bottle and we love to use them.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Buy local! I love our neighborhood farm!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
by recycled pencils made of newspapers (yes they do exist!), save a tree that way!
August 14th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
We have used the same backpacks since Kindergarten. That’s the #1 thing I look for when they start school, a durable and long lasting backpack that they can use as long as possible.
This year, the school system is providing ALL supplies!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:51 am
This is great Erin. I enjoyed the video and am happy to see that the new generation is on the right track, and willing to go the length to change the ways of the past!!
Thank you, it’s heart warming to see this!
January 6th, 2011 at 2:54 pm