Sustainability in Schools

Sustainability is a buzzword around schools at the moment, with the emphasis being on creating an environment that reduces waste and has a smaller carbon footprint. Teaching children about looking after the environment is essential, as they are the generation who will have to deal with climate change and its effects. Schools need to take responsibility for the amount of waste they produce and put measures in place to be more sustainable. So, how can you manage to educate children about the environment, join the fight against climate change and make your school as sustainable as possible, all at the same time? Here are some ideas to get you started!

Shop eco-friendly products where possible

Here at Paper Plus, we’re committed to increasing our range of eco-friendly products, to help you improve the environmental footprint of your school or business. Browse our new Eco Choice ♻ range which contains all products with greener credentials than their alternatives, manufactured with recycled materials and/or are easier to recycle. We’ll be adding more products to this range in the future so check back to see what’s new!

Recycle as much as you can

It is important to teach children as early as possible about how to recycle and what to do. Having recycling bins in every classroom helps to explain the different coloured lids and what they mean, and why we need to separate items. You could award points for every item that goes in the correct bin, or for the child who recycles the most objects in one day. I turn my green paper waste bin into a goal that the children have to score from, by turning their piece of paper into a ball and shooting from a certain distance. It helps to keep them entertained but also educated as to the real function of the recycling bin.

Organise litter picking

Paper Plus have an eco-friendly range of refuse sacks that are made of 100% recycled material. These can be used for litter picking around a school; an easy way to involve children in recycling and keeping their school sustainable. It is also a great way of giving children a job that makes them feel important- invest in some high-vis jackets and litter pickers and you have a team of young people ready to help! Litter picking should be a valued job, rather than a punishment, so children know how important it is to pick up litter from the ground and keep their environment tidy.

Start your own gardening club

I can safely say that children love gardening and find it fascinating to watch something grow that they have planted. It doesn’t take much setting up and the results are endless! Paper Plus have a range of hot cups that are recyclable- why not enjoy a hot drink, then use the cup to grow some seeds? Children could have their seed cup in the classroom and take responsibility for watering and looking after it- plenty of life lessons happening in front of them, as well as a key part of the Science curriculum. The plants can then go home, for children and their families to enjoy together. All of that from one paper cup!

Create an Eco-Council

An eco-council or committee is a great way for children to feel involved in their school and make decisions that have real impact. Each child is voted onto the council by their peers and meets regularly, coming up with projects for their school to take part in and thinking of key messages and campaigns that students need to know about. For example, there could be a competition to design a poster, or every child could be asked to bring in a plastic bottle to recycle and turn them into a greenhouse. Whatever you decide to do, all good eco-councils need something to take note with and what better thing to use than a recycled pencil?

Reduce plastic use

Reducing plastic use is high on many people’s agendas, in terms of minimising the amount of plastic that is in circulation and trying to reuse instead. While plastic is incredibly durable and therefore helpful in a classroom, it is not the best choice for the environment. Teaching children this lesson is essential, as they grow older and become responsible for our planet. The first step is to have a re-usable plastic water bottle, that can be used again and again (and washed too!) I find it helpful to have a water bottle station in my classroom, that encourages children to bring their water bottle in every day and keep it safe, therefore reducing the need to buy another one and making the most of its durability.

Contact us

If you’d like to know more about how Paper Plus can provide your school with the supplies and stationery it requires, please get in touch. Call us on 01444 238 050 or pop us an email at sales@paperplusuk.com. Or check out our full range of sustainable options here.