Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies: Helping Parents Make Healthy Choices

Backpacks, binders, notebooks and lunchboxes!

Only a few days into August, it seems that the back-to-school shopping season is officially underway. Our friends at the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) are here to help, with the new Back to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.

As the guide explains, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a type of plastic that can pose health risks when it is produced, when it used, and when it is disposed of. According to the guide:

PVC is unique among plastics because it contains dangerous chemical additives. These harmful chemicals include phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins, which can be toxic to your child’s health. What’s worse is the danger these chemicals pose -- phthalates and other toxic additives can leach out or evaporate into the air over time, posing unnecessary dangers to children. 

As we work to create healthy school environments, it’s important to remember that everything we bring into a school building affects its environmental quality and has the potential to impact children’s health. When we talk about green cleaning, for example, we are talking about reducing the number of potentially harmful chemicals that we bring into a school, thereby reducing children’s exposures to those chemicals.

At HSC, we work to provide information that helps everyone in the school community make healthy choices. It’s for that reason that we’re so pleased to see CHEJ’s guide: it’s a simple, information-packed resource with a practical amount of detail. It is informative and useful without being overwhelming.

Take a moment to download your free copy of the guide today!

To learn more, visit CHEJ. You can also help spread the word about this valuable free resource.