Last week we talked about back-to-school clothes and shoes. This week we are moving on to the supply list: crayons, markers, glue, pencil boxes, and backpacks that end up in little hands all day long. Here is what makes supplies worth a closer look: kids chew on pencils, rub their eyes mid-project, and share markers with the whole class, so this is not just about what is in the product; it is about how much contact your child actually has with it. The good news is that the safe options are usually right there on the same shelf, and often cost the same or less. Here is how I shop the list.
QUIZ OF THE WEEK
There is one recycling code on a plastic school supply that is worth avoiding when you can. Which number is it?
🤔 Think you know the answer?
👇 Scroll to the bottom of this week's newsletter to see if you got it right!
Did you catch my recent reel ranking the worst microplastic sources hiding in your kitchen?
I dug into the peer-reviewed research on where kitchen plastics shed the most, and a few of the results genuinely changed how I cook. Here is the ranking, from bad to worst: Cutting board: A study found that plastic cutting boards can shed up to 79 million microplastic particles a year from regular chopping alone. A wood or glass board is an easy swap. | Coffee pot: This one is harder to measure, because most testing only counts the larger microplastics and not the far smaller nanoplastics, which research suggests exist in much higher numbers. Even by a conservative estimate, a plastic drip coffee maker is worth rethinking. Here is my go-to coffee pot Blender: Blending ice or frozen fruit in a plastic pitcher can release hundreds of millions of micro and nanoplastic particles in about 30 seconds, as the ice scrapes against the plastic wall. A glass pitcher solves it. Plastic kettle: This was the worst offender on the list. Research out of the University of Queensland found that the very first boil in a brand new plastic kettle can release close to 3 billion micro and nanoplastic particles into a single cup, though that drops sharply after the first 150 or so boils. A stainless steel or glass kettle is the way to go. The theme is simple: heat, friction, and grinding are what make plastic shed the most, so those are the spots to swap first. |
Non-Toxic Tip of the Week
How to Shop for Safer School Supplies
You do not need to test anything in a lab or memorize a chemistry chart. A few simple habits cover most of it. Here is what I look for as I go down the list.
☐ Look for the ACMI "AP" seal: This is the fastest shortcut there is. The AP (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute means the crayons, markers, paint, or glue were reviewed and certified as safe for kids. If you see it, you can move on. If you do not, it is worth a second look.
☐ Avoid the #3 recycling code and the word "vinyl": The number 3 inside the recycling triangle means PVC, which can contain phthalates, plastic-softening chemicals linked to hormone disruption. It shows up in cheap binder covers, pencil cases, and backpack trim. Look for the #3, the letters PVC, or the word "vinyl," and choose another version.
☐ Be cautious with dollar-store supplies: Independent lab testing by the U.S. PIRG found Playskool crayons sold at Dollar Tree that tested positive for asbestos, a known carcinogen. And in August 2024, Dollar Tree agreed to a $ 190,000 settlement with the Washington State Attorney General after an investigation found illegal levels of lead and cadmium in school supplies sold by the chain. The savings are not worth the gamble on items your child handles all day. A trusted, certified brand is worth the extra dollar or two.
☐ Skip the scented markers: That fruity smell usually means added fragrance, which can carry phthalates and is a common irritant. Kids do not need their markers to smell like candy, and unscented is the easy call.
☐ Reach for beeswax crayons: Not all crayons are created equal. Many conventional crayons are made from paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, and some cheaper ones have been found to contain contaminants in testing. I prefer crayons made from natural beeswax, which skip the petroleum base entirely, color beautifully, and are a simple upgrade for the item (your youngest kids are most likely to chew on).
☐ Pick water-based glue: Standard white school glue and glue sticks are water-based and a safe pick. Be careful with stronger craft glues, rubber cement, and spray adhesives, which emit solvent fumes and should only be used with good ventilation.
☐ Rethink the backpack and pencil case: Many water-resistant backpacks are treated with PFAS, and soft plastic pencil cases are often PVC. Look for a backpack made from untreated canvas, cotton, or polyester without a stain- or water-repellent coating, and a cotton or metal pencil box instead of the soft vinyl kind.
☐ Air out everything before day one: New backpacks, lunch bags, binders, and pencil cases often come with a strong plastic smell, which is off-gassing. Unzip it all and let it air out in a well-ventilated spot or the garage for a couple of days before school starts.
You do not need to overhaul the whole list. Start with the items your child handles most, look for the AP seal, avoid the #3 plastics, and steer clear of the bargain-bin supplies. That covers the vast majority of it.
Here is what we buy for our own kids: my favorite crayons and markers, my favorite non-toxic backpack, and the supplies we reorder every year.
I go deeper on all of this in my latest blog post, including a safe-supply shopping list you can take to the store:
🔗 NON-TOXIC DAD MYSTERY LINK OF THE DAY 🔗
| Always something useful! Could be a handy non-toxic reference guide, a favorite product we are loving lately, a huge discount, a helpful health tool, or a link packed with resources you probably have not seen before. You never know what might show up.
Click to find out.
|
Recipe of the Week
Homemade Sourdough Uncrustables: Freezer Lunch Swap
The store-bought version is convenient, but it is built on refined flour, seed oils, and added sugar. This homemade take gives you the same grab-and-go magic with ingredients you can actually pronounce.
You start with slices of real sourdough, add a clean nut or seed butter and a fruit-only jam, then seal and crimp the edges with a cup or a simple sandwich sealer. The trick is to make a big batch and freeze them. Drop one in the lunchbox in the morning and it thaws to soft and fresh by lunchtime. Sourdough's slow fermentation gives it a sturdier texture that holds up to freezing, and many people find it easier on digestion than standard sandwich bread.
Back-to-school shopping is one of those moments where a few small choices pay off all year long. You are buying the supplies anyway, so it costs almost nothing to reach for the version with the AP seal or skip the vinyl pencil case. Start with what your child touches the most, and do not stress about getting every last item perfect. Thanks for being part of the Non-Toxic Dad community and for making the practical changes that protect a healthier home. Here is to a great school year, and we will see you next week!
The number 3 inside the little recycling triangle means the plastic is PVC, also called vinyl. PVC often contains phthalates, plastic-softening chemicals linked to hormone disruption, and it tends to appear in cheaper school supplies like soft pencil cases, binder covers, and backpack trim. You will usually find the code stamped right on the plastic. When you spot a #3, the letters PVC, or the word "vinyl," it is worth choosing a different version. Look for #1, #2, #4, or #5 plastics, or better yet, natural materials like fabric, cotton, and metal.
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