BACK TO SCHOOL REssentials - Getting Prepared To Go Back To School (Responsibly)

It's everyone's favourite time of the year (okay maybe not everyone's) - it's back to school! There is certainly a lot to think about around this time of the year - regardless of whether you’re a student or parents of students - back to school effects everyone and everything, including the environment! 

Consider that Toronto has roughly 600 schools serving approximately 247,000 students (via https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us). That’s kind of like a quarter-million take out lunches everyday! Take out lunches with take out containers or brown bags, plastic straws or cutlery, etc. It is estimated that high school students generate 16kgs of waste per week – a big part of that is due to school routine like lunches and snacks! (via https://wrwcanada.com/sites/wrwcanada.com/files/School_Resource_Kit_eng.pub_.pdf)

A way to counter this waste creation, at least partially, is to be thoughtful when purchasing items for the back to school season. This can be through a variety of different methods – like packing your children’s lunch in BPA-free bento boxes and their mid-day snacks in super-fun Colibri reusable snack bags! 

If you’re in post secondary and have to grab food on the go, consider doing BYO with an aluminum nesting container when you are purchasing food for take out at your favourite restaurants. You’d be surprised by how many restaurants will serve you in your own containers if you bring and ask to be served in them! Don’t forget to bring with you your reusable cutlery and straws too!

Here at The RE Place, located in the Upper Beaches community in Toronto, our core values are around sustainability and waste reduction. No matter where you are in your journey (no judging here!) we’re doing our best to make available the products that you need everyday, in the most sustainable way possible. Take a look at some of our offerings!

Bamboo Cutlery Set - REssentials

Lunch Bag - 3 Sprouts 

Large main compartment big enough to hold a full day’s lunch and snacks! They come in 4 different designs and have a fully wipeable interior that makes spills disappear!  

Reusable Snack Bag (small) - Colibri

This set is lightweight, portable and easy to clean making it perfect for all travel and meals out. For convenience it rolls up for easy storage. Essential for the upcoming bans on plastic cutlery!

Stainless Steel Straws (variety pack) - REssentials

Reusable straws are easy to use, easy to clean, portable, safer than disposables for you and the planet, and they look better, too! This variety pack includes: 7 straws, a cleaning brush and a carry bag.

Nesting Trio - U Konserve

This set of three leak resistant, stainless steel containers is the perfect versatile food container. Dishwasher safe, and BPA free, once your done with them, they stack up together into one for sleek storage and travel.

Divide to-go Medium - U Konserve

Use this 30oz stainless steel container with divider and leak-resistant lid as a non-toxic alternative to plastic containers. This reusable bento-style lunchbox favorite is the perfect on-the-go solution for sandwiches, salads and cut fruit. Also use for takeout, salad bars, and to store your leftovers in the refrigerator or to bring them to the office the next day.

Go Back To School with the right REssentials!

These are just a few items that can help you prepare for back to school responsibly - but there are an endless amount of ways you can contribute to making back to school a little easier on the Earth. For more products that can help get you there, check out our product page!