There are a lot of resources out there for crafting and activities for education providers of all levels. Here are a few ways to reduce the environmental impact by choosing what, how and where you source the materials from.

Materials

Think about what the crafting materials are made of. You can easily switch from unsustainable products to sustainable by just being aware of different materials. If you can use natural products, you will be able to compost them at the end of their life. Below are a few easy swaps that you can make to reduce the impact of your materials without having to give them up entirely!

  • Use Beeswax based crayons instead of traditional crayons. Crayons are traditionally made from petroleum.
  • Use pencils instead of felt pens where possible.
  • Use bamboo cotton buds instead of plastic.
  • Use environmentally friendly paints and glues where possible.
  • Glitter is just little pieces of plastic - try making your own out of salt and food colouring. Not only is it better for the environment, it is edible!

Re-use

Crafting is the perfect way to reuse waste materials from your school/centre and community. This can be things that would otherwise be going straight to landfill - you can extend their life by using them before disposing of them. Put a call out to families to bring in their bottle tops or

  • Use empty yogurt pottles, egg cartons, milk bottle tops for activities
  • Use margarine tubs for storage of craft supplies
  • Use second hand fabric instead of new

Where to find crafting supplies

Schools