Get smart for a new school year (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Get smart for a new school year

8:15am Wednesday 29th July 2009 in News By Helen Mead

The summer holidays have only just begun, but we’re already bombarded with back-to-school essentials.

There is a wealth of opportunities for parents and children to help the planet while preparing for the new term – from clothing to stationery and food, there is a green option to ease your conscience.

Schoolwear, including blazers, skirts, shirts, trousers and shoes made from recycled rubbish is on sale in high streets across the UK, allowing environmentally-conscious parents to kit their children out in eco-friendly gear.

Marks & Spencer launched the range last month. The uniforms are made from used plastic bottles, which are cut up and melted, then turned into a polyester yarn that can be woven into fabric.

The shoes – a new addition to the range – are also 100 per cent recycled, made from E-leather, created using waste leather cuttings that are usually thrown away.

Bradford mums Gail Hirst and Tracy Scott are enthusiastic about the product. Both green-minded, they kitted out their children Callum, nine, and seven-year-old Danielle.

The youngsters are keen to go back to school and show their friends.

“I think it is a great idea,” says Tracy. “It looks like the ‘normal’ uniform, but helps you to do your bit for the planet.”

Adds Gail: “The children are just as interested as we are. They are fascinated by the fact that the clothing was once bottles.”

The uniform has sparked interest at Callum’s school, Bowling Park Primary. “My teacher knew I was going to try one, and asked me about it,” he says.

Danielle points out that the uniform would be useful in lessons covering recycling. “We do a lot about recycling in lessons and this would be really interesting.”

Shirts and blouses in the eco-friendly range are made from organic cotton, farmed using natural methods that encourage local wildlife and minimise impact on the environment.

Uniforms can, of course, be recycled in other ways – older siblings can pass theirs down, and some schools hold second-hand uniform sales. Or they can be given to a charity shop.

For green-minded youngsters, taking eco-friendliness back to school has never been easier. Many high street stores and supermarkets feature a wide range of recycled stationery.

Recycled paper, pens, pencils and calculators are popular, and recycled rulers made from source material including car tyres and disposable cups are also available.

“There are so many products made with recycled materials,” says Mike Clare, manager of WHSmith in Bradford’s Kirkgate Centre. “And it is also noticeable that manufacturers are cutting down on packaging.”

Shipley councillor and Green Party member Martin Love believes that such initiatives can only increase in the next few years. “If Marks & Spencer is doing it, I suspect others will be looking that way too.

“As the price of energy increases, and the cost of raw materials rises, it is more economical to use recycled products,” he says.

Plastics from households in Bradford could end up being re-used as clothing – bottles and cartons collected at household waste sites is shipped to China to be made into fibres for garments.

Parents can also make an eco-contribution by reducing the packaging they use in lunch boxes. A sturdy box, along with smaller containers for fruit and nuts eliminates the need for cling film and foil. For those who want to go the extra mile, recycled lunch boxes are available.

Green Party councillor for Shipley, Kevin Warnes, believes that by taking individual steps to help the planet contributes to the bigger picture.

“If you can boil it down to everyday lifestyle choices, such as how our children travel to school, what we feed them, and how we clothe them, we can help to make a difference. It gives a sense of empowerment – if there are 20 different things we can do, it all adds up to that end,” he says

For more information, visit marksandspencer.com, ecotopia.co.uk, greenpens.co.uk and ecoutlet.co.uk for recycled lunchboxes.