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We know you're holding on tight to the last days of summer, but like it or not, the time to head back to school ^[6] is just on the horizon. Gear up for a new academic year in a green way with some eco-friendly school supplies sure to keep you prepared for even the most daunting assignments. To help you on your way to a higher education, we’ve rounded up all the goods you need to start the school year right -- and as an added bonus we're giving away a whole slew of these green goodies in our back to school contest! ^[7] Be sure to enter the contest (worth $1,155!), and jump ahead for your best bets in sustainable school supplies!

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Naked Binder – $7-$16 at Naked Binder ^[8]

Behance Action Line – $5 and up from Creatives Outfitter ^{[18] [8]}

ecosystem Notebooks – $10.95 at ecosystem ^[9]

TreeSmart Recycled Newspaper Pencils – $8 for 12 at TreeSmart ^{[21] [9]}

7 Piece Recycled Cotton Desk Organizer – $105 at Bambeco ^[10]

HP Pavilion dv6t Series – starting at $599.99 at HP ^[11]

Cotton Lunch Bags – $19 at Bambeco ^[12]

Aladdin Lunch Set – $24 at Bambeco ^{[25] [12]}

Lunchopolis Insulated Lunch Set $31.95 at Bambeco ^[13]

PETE Backpack – $49 at Bambeco ^{[28] [13]}

NYC Recycled Messenger Bag – $47 at Bambeco ^[14]

Pike Messenger Bag – $129 at Bambeco ^{[31] [14]}

Voltaic Solar Backpack – $199 at Voltaic ^[15]

The plastic and vinyl commonly used in school binders are often not recyclable, but did you also know that they release dioxins during production? Thankfully there are Naked Binders, which are free of plastics, vinyl or toxins, are made from 100% post consumer waste, and are 100% recyclable ^[16]. Made in the USA, the Naked collection has everything students need to keep organized and green from the start of the school year to the finish!

Naked Binder – $7-$16 at Naked Binder ^[8]

Behance’s Action Method system is determined to get even the most chaotic of minds organized. Their line of journals, notebooks ^[17], and calendars have been a favorite of creative professionals world wide — the 2008 TED Conference even featured a limited edition Action Book! The suede-t0-touch cover is packed with 30% post-consumer recycled paper, and a color-coded grid system helps you streamline your thoughts and plans.

Behance Action Line – $5 and up from Creatives Outfitter

Moleskine notebooks have always been a stylish favorite for notebooks and planners. Ecosystem brightens up the classic notebook ^[19] with their 100% recycled paper  journals. Available in bright rainbow colors, the company has already saved thousands of trees, water, and prevented greenhouse gases with their notebooks that feature a trackable ID number, enabling consumers to not only see its origins, but learn how to recycle them post-use.

ecosystem Notebooks – $10.95 at ecosystem ^[9]

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Jot down all your brilliant thoughts with TreeSmarts’ awesome pencils. Made from rolled recycled newspapers, TreeSmarts pencils are a great way to keep with old school writing materials, all while being eco-conscious.

TreeSmart Recycled Newspaper Pencils – $8 for 12 at TreeSmart

Organization is also important at home. A desk organizer keeps supplies handy and ready to use. This Recycled Cotton Desk Organizer from Bambeco looks like leather but is actually made from salvaged cotton from the apparel industry. The journal, note holder, pencil cup, magazine holder, mail sorter and business card rest will keep your home study area ^[22] in check.

7 Piece Recycled Cotton Desk Organizer – $105 at Bambeco ^[10]

A high-speed laptop ^[23] is a staple for students of all ages, and the HP Pavilion dv6t series is top of the line. A qualified Energy Star device, the dv6t has an incredible smart SimplePass fingerprint reader – no passwords necessary! The super-fast processor also has an HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive, which locks in your data should you drop your laptop on your way to class!

HP Pavilion dv6t Series – starting at $599.99 at HP ^[11]

You can save a bundle by bringing your lunch to school. But note: brown bags are out, and reusable lunch bags and boxes are in! Kids especially will love the dogs and birds on these bags, and you will love the machine washable 100% organic cotton, and removable rinsable liner.

Cotton Lunch Bags – $19 at Bambeco ^[12]

Aladin Lunch Sets compartmentalize your pasta, sandwiches and salads in a 100% recycled, food-grade polypropylene and BPA free plastic. Great for leftovers and new noms for the day, you can bring your favorite dishes to the office ^[24], and toss them right in the dishwasher when lunch is over. 

Aladdin Lunch Set – $24 at Bambeco

Lunchboxes aren’t just for the kids. The Lunchopolis set comes with four stackable containers ^[26], a reusable bottle, and fits inside an insulated top-handled pack. It works just as well in the break room as it does the school cafeteria.

Lunchopolis Insulated Lunch Set $31.95 at Bambeco ^[13]

You can lug your notebooks, binders and pencils to class in style, with a recycled backpack ^[27]or messenger bag. The PETE Backpack is made from recycled plastic, and comes in red, blue or black, with convenient pockets for laptops and supplies.

PETE Backpack – $49 at Bambeco

If messenger bag style is more your thing, show your love for New York with this bag ^[29] that is made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. A silhouette of the Brooklyn Bridge is emblazoned in a faux-stencil across the flap.

NYC Recycled Messenger Bag – $47 at Bambeco ^[14]

You an also go for the Pike messenger bag ^[30], made from upcycled inner-tubes, with a recycled seatbelt shoulder strap. This bicyclist favorite also has reflective safety tape and adjustable straps to keep your belongings secure when you’re on the go.

Pike Messenger Bag – $129 at Bambeco

Who would’ve thought that toting your school books could gain you more talk time on your cell phone? The Voltaic Solar BackPack soaks up rays while you’re studying in the Quad, which can convert to serious charge time for your devices. Your lunch hour outside can charge your cell up to 4 Watts, or 3 hours of talk time. The solar panel ^[32] also opens up to reveal the perfect pen organization pocket.

Voltaic Solar Backpack – $199 at Voltaic ^[15]

With our featured products, you’re sure to start the school ^[33] year off right: organized, charged and of course eco-conscious! Be sure to stay tuned on how you can nab some of these green goods in our giveaway for yourself – or for that special student in your life!

ENTER TO WIN INHABITAT’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAY CONTEST! ^[7]