It’s easy to find sustainable swaps for your kitchen and bathroom, or even for yourself. But sometimes we forget that sustainability is for the whole family, including kiddos! There are tons of ways to incorporate sustainability into their lives too. Here are some fun sustainable swaps to implement with your kids.
1. Soy Crayons
One of the most quintessential childhood pastimes is coloring. But traditional crayons are not biodegradable and can sometimes be made of toxic wax. Sustainably invest in your little artist’s work by swapping to Soy Crayons. Natural waxes allow for softer crayons that are non-toxic and safe for children and the environment. A set includes one red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. These non-toxic crayons contain no paraffin wax and are blendable like pastels.
2. Pencil Pouch
When you have kiddos, you’re always finding things like pens, chalk, colored pencils, paintbrushes, and crayons laying around. Keep track of their drawing materials and school supplies with a Pencil Pouch. The pouch features a black, water resistant PUL lining to hide stains and stop leaks from getting on backpacks or school uniforms. Choose from a variety of fun prints that kids will love. If you need a larger carryall, reach for our Cosmetic Bag or Wet Bag. They are perfect for holding puzzles, legos, barbies, or coloring books, especially when you’re the go. They are also complete with a waterproof PUL lining for any mess that might come up.
3. Snack Bags
It can be all too easy to go for single use plastic bags when sending kids to school or on a play date. Instead, reach for Snack Bags, the perfect sustainable solution for an afterschool snack. They’re washable and reusable, simply add to your next load of laundry. Choose from tons of fun prints, and two types of lining: unbleached cotton, or a PUL lining that is waterproof, food safe, and protects against leaks.
4. Bamboo Hooded Towel
Bathtime is another main event in a child’s day, making a Hooded Bath Towel an everyday sustainable staple. Handmade from bamboo and organic cotton blend fleece with a flannel hood and strap for hanging, these towels are perfect for kids age 3 months to 8 years (or 50" tall). Use as a snuggly after-bath blanket for the younger years and a bathrobe for the older years. The bamboo fleece is not pre-washed, so expect some shrinking. It is natural in color, super soft, dense and absorbent.
There are also several benefits to using bamboo: it is hypo-allergenic and super soft, which is great for sensitive skin. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, and requires less energy, water and space to grow than cotton.
5. UNpaper® Towels: Custom and Surprise Prints
Traditional paper towels seem like a crucial kitchen item, especially when you have kids. However, paper towels are harmful to the environment since they require lots of water for production, often contain harmful chemicals, and lead to excess waste. Opt for UNpaper® Towels instead, the washable and reusable sustainable solution for traditional paper towels. They’re soft, absorbent, and gentle on even the littlest hands and faces. Shop our UNpaper® Towel Collection online, and choose “Surprise Prints” for your UNpaper® Towels to get a variety of fun patterns that kids will love. Or, download the Marley’s Monsters Mobile App for exclusive access to Build Your Own UNpaper® Towel pack, and find animals, rainbows, flowers, moons and stars, plants, cars, or whatever your child is interested in, to build a pack they will look forward to using.
6. Upcycled Jump Rope
What better way to let your kiddos sustainably burn off some energy than an Upcycled Jump Rope? We partnered with a local upcycler to make these 8 foot jump ropes from materials created during our manufacturing process. First, cotton flannel fabric strips are wound together using a drill. The strips are then knotted and finished with two sewing thread cones from our production floor and anchored inside with a metal washer. Choose from several colors, and have your kids jumping for joy over all the sustainability fun!
This is just the beginning of ways to start teaching your kids about sustainability. Whether they’re a cuddly baby, a fun and wild toddler, or a curious ten year old, there are plenty of sustainable swaps to make in your child’s life. What other swaps have you made? Let us know, we would love to hear from you!
