A school bag should not only look good, but also be practical. This means that it should weigh no more than 10% of your child's body weight, be no wider than their shoulders, have easily adjustable and wide straps, a padded back section, and be made of environmentally friendly and durable material (e.g., vegetable-tanned leather). To ensure that your child is more visible to drivers on dark, rainy days, it is a good idea to choose a school bag with reflectors. This is also indicated by the TÜV/GS mark, which you should look for when making your purchase.

But there's more to an environmentally friendly school bag than that!

• Pencil cases made from vegetable-tanned leather, jute, or linen. You can buy pencil cases that already contain environmentally friendly pens, rulers, sharpeners, and erasers in stores.

• Notebooks and pads made from 100% recycled paper. When buying notebooks and pads, make sure they have the "Blue Angel" label. The "ÖKOPAplus" eco-label is also a guarantee of environmentally friendly school notebooks.

• Notebook covers made from 100% recycled paper. Here too, recycled paper is better than plastic. If transparent plastic covers are absolutely necessary, use ones made from polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). These are more environmentally friendly than PVC.

• Fountain pens with converters. Fountain pens should be made of PVC-free plastic and equipped with a converter. With a converter, the fountain pen can be filled directly from the inkwell. This eliminates the need for expensive disposable cartridges, which generate a lot of waste.

• Ruler, sharpener, eraser made from environmentally friendly materials. Sharpeners and rulers made from unvarnished wood are more environmentally friendly and more durable than plastic versions. The eraser should be labeled "natural rubber" to ensure that it does not contain PVC.

• Unvarnished pencils and colored pencils. Be sure to buy unvarnished pencils, as the varnish may contain harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, or chromium. Therefore, look for the CE mark.

• Felt-tip pens, wax crayons, watercolors. Felt-tip pens may contain solvents and preservatives that are harmful to your child. Buy pens that are water-based. Wax crayons made from beeswax are environmentally friendly, and watercolor sets should come with refillable pots.

• Glue. The glue should not contain any solvents, as these are harmful to health. It is better to use water-based glues that are labeled "solvent-free" or "without solvents." If possible, choose glue containers that can be refilled.

• Calculator. When your child starts secondary school, they will also need a calculator. Look for a calculator with solar cells, as these are more environmentally friendly than battery-powered calculators.

• Lunch box. Instead of using unnecessary plastic or aluminum foil to wrap your child's lunch, use a practical lunch box.

Publication/revision: July 2017