Back to School? Back to Sleuthing!

Track Down Your School Supplies’ Hidden Carbon Footprint

Back-to-school season means new backpacks, notebooks, pencils, lunch containers and plenty of other supplies. But have you ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of all those new items?

Every product we buy has a carbon footprint, made up of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with making, transporting, using and eventually getting rid of it. That means even the supplies you take to school each day can have an impact on the planet.

The good news? Understanding a product’s carbon footprint can help you make more thoughtful choices.

Become a Carbon Footprint Sleuth

When choosing school supplies, there are lots of ways to help reduce their environmental impact. You can look for durable products that will last longer, choose reusable options instead of disposable ones, and reuse supplies from previous school years whenever possible.

It can also be helpful to think beyond the product itself. Where did it come from? What materials is it made from? How long will it last? And what will happen to it when you no longer need it?

These everyday questions can help you start thinking about how their choices connect to the bigger picture.

Save the Planet 101

When you accept the Carbon Footprint Investigation Mission, you’ll learn what a carbon footprint is, explore where the carbon footprint of everyday products comes from, and discover simple ways you can help reduce your impact.

Turn back-to-school shopping into a little environmental investigation – and see how you do versus your parents! As you unpack those new supplies, challenge yourself (and your whole family) to become a carbon footprint sleuth and see what clues you can find!

So, as your family gets ready for another school year, why not add one more item to the back-to-school checklist: track down your hidden carbon footprint and find ways to make it smaller!