For many parents, the yearly school and daycare supplies lists means yet another cart full of repurchased items. Between toddlers tossing around their bottles and kiddos ripping and staining their clothes, the cost of constant replacements adds up, for you and the environment.

So, to help you avoid unnecessary waste, we’ve put together a quick guide and a helpful checklist with tips on finding eco-friendly school supplies and daycare essentials. Keep reading to start saving the planet and your wallet too!

Ditch disposable “reusables”

When it comes to your kiddo’s reusables, materials truly matter. Conventional options contain plastic parts that develop sharp edges, shed microplastics, release toxic chemicals, and trap bacteria and mold with normal use. For many parents, that means plastic items may need to be replaced as many as 3-4 times throughout the year due to safety hazards.

Choose sustainable solutions

While plastic products can save money in the short term, in the long run, the costs are often much higher. At Pura, we personally witnessed the waste and hazards plastics posed for our kids and set out to innovate truly safe, sustainable alternatives. Today, we’re proud to offer entirely plastic-free products that are made to last and are truly safe for all ages, even newborns! 

Meet the One Life… One Bottle™ system 

Our stainless steel kids water bottles and baby bottles are 100% plastic-free, toxin-free, and won't leach chemicals or shed microplastics like other bottles. They’re designed to be extra durable, easy to clean, and endlessly reusable. Plus, our One Life… One Bottle™ system ensures your bottle can seamlessly adapt to any stage of your child’s development. Every bottle fits every top, so you can customize your Pura to evolve alongside your child. No replacements necessary!

Eco-conscious prep for school or daycare

If you’re ready to start saving money and avoiding waste, we created a checklist to make it simple! Here are our hacks for assessing your needs, upcycling items you own, and investing in long-lasting, eco-friendly school supplies and daycare essentials.

Before you shop…

• Check any plastic bottles and lunch containers for cracks, signs of microplastic shedding, or mold growth
• Recycle plastic items that aren’t safe and donate any items you no longer wish to use
• Check secondhand marketplaces for items you need or attend a swap in your community
• Repair fabric items like backpacks or clothes with patches or natural dyes to bring them back to life
• Upcycle items you can’t repair. For example, you can cut up old clothes to create fun napkins for your little one and avoid purchasing disposables!

While you’re shopping…

• Choose eco-friendly school supplies and daycare essentials that won’t wear out, like Pura Stainless bottles, lunch containers, and accessories!

• Use a color-coded system for your kiddo so their daycare or teacher can easily identify their items and prevent misplacements

• Ditch plastic bags in favor of reusables made entirely of stainless steel and/or silicone! They’re endlessly washable and reusable, plus proper storage can help avoid soiling clothes or the inside of bags

• Invest in kid-safe, plastic-free utensils to use at lunch and snack times instead of throwing away disposable cutlery

When it’s time to upgrade your Pura…

• For baby bottles, you can buy sealing disks to prevent spills and travel covers to nipple tops clean

• For growing kiddos, purchase a new lid that fits your child’s current developmental stage

• Avoid dents and extend the aesthetic life of your bottles with our bumpers

• Customize the color or add grip with new tops and sleeves that make them feel brand new!

At Pura Stainless, we’re on a mission to protect the earth and your budget with eco-friendly products for families that are durable, functional, and stylish enough to last through the years. To start making the switch to sustainable school supplies that are safe for your kiddo and the planet, visit our website. Shop our stainless steel kids water bottles, baby bottles and lunch containers today!