The school doors are opening soon and there isn’t much you can do, but since you have no choice, why not freshen things up by keeping them green?  Take a walk on your eco-friendly side, and turn over a new leaf (get it – new leaf!).  Bad jokes aside, did you know… that 80% of shoppers are considering eco-friendly back-to-school supplies this year?

You can start by pulling out that box from under your bed, where you stored all your leftover school stuff from last year. If you still need to top up your supplies, grab your recycled notebook and pen and take down these tips:

• Sure, your mailbox is overflowing with the latest shoes and coolest clothes but you know you’re going to show up for the first day of school looking like a clone of 10 other people, and that’s never in style. Want to make a real statement? Hit up some secondhand stores for the real retro goods (see Goodwill store locations).

• If you still end up at the mall, look out for planet-friendly organic styles. Most stores now carry more than a few organic items, including Cotton Ginny and Roots.

• Buy eco-friendly binders, recycled paper and other sustainable school supplies. Lots of stores, from Shoppers Drug Mart to STAPLES, have jumped on the green bandwagon and stocked their shelves with eco-friendly alternatives. Just ask a salesperson to point you down the right aisle!

• Make your lunches litterless.

• Instead of tossing that old ink cartridge into the trash, refill or recycle it! Check out STAPLES Recycle for Education program to find out how you can earn funds for your school just by recycling used ink and toner cartridges.

• Avoid rubbing shoulders with vinyl backpacks and other plastic products all year. Ditch these chemical-ridden carriers for awesome alternatives including rubber, hemp or recycled material backpacks. Pass on this PVC-Free Back to School guide from Environmental Defence to your parents to help them figure out what to avoid.

• Start a Walking School Bus! Find out how here.

• Reuse and recycle your old electronics (computers, cell phones) as much as possible. Electronics have a big price tag, and not just the one you can see.

• Register for the Recycle for Education program on the STAPLES website. Schools can register starting September 1st and registration closes December 31st, 2009.

• Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you really need it, or if you can find a more eco-friendly version of it with a little effort.