Child with schoolbag. Copyright by BMK/Viktoria Miess

Cool school bags as a contribution to environmental protection

It should be "nice" and "cool", the new school bag, ideally also made of good material, easy to carry and affordable. The initiative "Clever shopping for school" helps with the right choice and supports parents in buying environmentally friendly school bags and backpacks.

It should be "nice" and "cool", the new school bag, ideally also made of good material, easy to carry and affordable. Often, even the youngest children have a precise idea of what their school bag should look like. In addition, awareness of climate and environmental protection is also becoming more and more widespread in school classes. But how can parents take ecological criteria into account when buying a new school bag? This is where the initiative "Clever shopping for school" helps with the right choice and supports parents in buying environmentally friendly school bags and backpacks. The initiative is also celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

A sustainable Easter gift for our youngest children

For many children, their first school bag is an important step towards the start of a new phase in their lives. The time before Easter is ideal for the purchase, so parents can give their youngest the school bag as an Easter gift right away. It is important to choose the right bag to ensure safety as well as usability and ergonomics. For example, look for fluorescent colours and reflectors for visibility on the way to school, ergonomically tested models as a contribution to a healthy back and the fulfilment of sustainable criteria, such as the use of materials made from processed plastic recyclate that are free of harmful substances.

A guide to sustainable and climate-friendly school bags

On behalf of the Ministry of Climate Protection, the initiative "Clever shopping for school" has once again researched and published a list of school bags and backpacks in time for Easter. This provides an optimal overview of sustainable and climate-friendly models and is available at www.schuleinkauf.at. The current product research shows a pleasing trend for 2023. 139 school bag and school backpack models, including kindergarten and pre-school models, meet environmentally friendly criteria. This result corresponds to an increase of over 30 percent1).

The initiative "Clever shopping for school" celebrates its 15th anniversary

The initiative, which promotes sustainable school purchasing, has been in existence since 2008. This year, the 15th anniversary offers a reason to celebrate. The first recommendation list for buying environmentally friendly school bags before Easter was published in 2016. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler congratulates on the anniversary and is pleased that "Clever shopping for school" is contributing to climate protection as a successful initiative: "It is nice to see that awareness of environmental protection in items for schoolchildren is becoming more and more widespread among both producers and parents, and that we are able to publish a more comprehensive recommendation list every year as part of the 'UmweltTipp!

Sustainable products with the 'UmweltTipp!

Products that have been researched by the initiative "Clever Shopping for Schools" and the Austrian Ecolabel and meet the minimum ecological criteria receive a purchase recommendation with the 'UmweltTipp! The campaign period runs from 1 June to 30 September 2023. The initiative is supported by the Federal Committee of the Paper and Toy Trade of the WKO as well as important trade partners and partner organisations.

Tested according to bluesign® PRODUCT, Fair wear and Green Button

Research for the UmweltTipp! is generally based on state eco-labels such as the Austrian Ecolabel and its criteria. In connection with sustainably produced school bags, the following criteria and quality labels are of particular importance: The bluesign® certification excludes environmentally hazardous substances along the textile chain from the very beginning2). The FAIR WEAR Foundation label stands for social working conditions and the "Green Button", as a state seal in Germany, focuses on the protection of people and the environment throughout the textile supply chain.

1) The published list also includes models from manufacturers who are only just starting to implement such criteria and those who have been "all-round" tested and awarded a product label such as bluesign® PRODUCT or "Green Button".

2) The bluesign® seal guarantees that at least 90% of the textiles and at least 30% of the accessories are processed in certified factories.