It's that time of the year again: the end of summer. Back to school is upon us (frightening but true). And for the occasion, I am going to lead us astray a bit from the usual topics for a special on totally eco school supplies - that are easy and fun and stylish, of course! It is about shopping in a sense... but a new way to approach the situation from an eco standpoint! As a part of our campaign's, Teens for Safe Cosmetics, back to school initiatives, we have created some simple tips to make the process simple and sustainable. Check our WFM blog on this specific topic if you want more in depth information and video podcasts about it. But here is just a little food for thought to get you thinking about all of the ways in which you could turn your home/office/kids/life et al totally green! What did I do to prepare for the first day of class (and you can most definitely substitute work, if more applicable to you)? I looked for recycled binders and post-consumer notebooks that are not only obviously ecosustainable, but also durable and stylish. New Leaf Paper's products are amazing! Plus they are made in the USA and widely available at Whole Foods Markets and office supply retailers. I write with denim / recycled / refillable pens and pencils in used textbooks and reuse / double side / recycle paper whenever possible. Every little thing does matter! And everyone is hopping on the bandwagon - from mainstream office supply stores to companies with green initiatives to comprehensive online eco-office supply databases. I try to buy as little as I can in this Back-to-School season of obsessive consumption, but make smart choices in that which I do purchase. So can you!