Back-to-school shopping usually centers on completing the teacher’s supply list, comparing prices, and finding products children will enjoy using. Yet school supplies are also everyday-use products that can remain in close contact with children’s hands, skin, food, and breathing environment for hours at a time. From crayons and markers to backpacks, lunch bags, binders, and pencil cases, choosing simpler materials can be one practical way to reduce unnecessary chemical exposures during the school year.
Making more informed choices does not require researching every ingredient or avoiding every synthetic material. A few straightforward habits can make shopping easier, particularly when selecting products that children will handle frequently or that younger children may put in their mouths. The goal is not to create fear around ordinary school supplies, but to understand which labels, materials, and product features deserve closer attention.
Look for the ACMI AP Seal
One of the easiest shortcuts for choosing children’s art supplies is the ACMI AP (Approved Product) seal. The Art & Creative Materials Institute evaluates art and creative materials through a toxicological review process and identifies products that meet its requirements for their intended use. The seal can be found on many crayons, markers, paints, colored pencils, modeling materials, and adhesives.
The AP designation does not mean that a product is organic, plant-based, or completely free of synthetic ingredients. Instead, it provides a useful third-party safety evaluation that can reduce the need to interpret complex ingredient information while shopping. For parents and caregivers, checking for the AP seal can be one of the simplest ways to narrow down art-supply choices.
Check for PVC and Vinyl
Another useful label check is the #3 recycling symbol, which identifies polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC, also known as vinyl, is used in flexible products such as pencil pouches, plastic folders, binder covers, and some backpack and lunch accessories.
Flexible PVC may contain plasticizers such as certain phthalates, a group of chemicals that has received significant attention because of potential effects on hormone signaling and child development. When a fabric or other material can perform the same function, choosing an alternative can be a practical way to reduce unnecessary exposure.
Canvas and cotton pencil cases, organizers, and bags are widely available and can provide durable alternatives to soft vinyl products. There is no need to replace every plastic item a child owns, but frequently handled products can be a reasonable place to prioritize material choices.
Choose Unscented When Possible
Scented markers, erasers, notebooks, and other novelty stationery are designed to make ordinary school supplies more appealing. The added fragrance, however, does not improve the product’s primary function and can contain multiple chemical compounds that are not individually identified on a consumer-facing label.
Fragrances may be irritating for people who are sensitive to scented products, potentially contributing to headaches, skin irritation, or respiratory symptoms. For children who do not specifically need fragranced materials, unscented products are an easy alternative.
The same principle can be applied to other novelty features. When a decorative coating, fragrance, or special finish adds no meaningful function, choosing the simpler product can reduce unnecessary materials without changing how the item is used.
Consider Beeswax Crayons
Conventional crayons are commonly made with paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. Reputable manufacturers formulate crayons to meet applicable safety standards, so conventional crayons should not automatically be considered dangerous.
For families who prefer alternatives made from renewable materials, beeswax crayons are one option. They can provide good durability and color application while replacing petroleum-derived paraffin with a naturally derived wax, making them particularly appealing for younger children who frequently handle their crayons.
Keep Glue Simple
For routine classroom projects, basic water-based adhesives are usually sufficient. Standard white school glue and traditional glue sticks are designed for common activities such as attaching paper, cardboard, and craft materials.
Stronger adhesives deserve more caution because products such as rubber cement, contact adhesives, and some spray adhesives can contain solvents and release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These materials may irritate the eyes and respiratory system and are generally unnecessary for ordinary schoolwork.
When a simple water-based glue will accomplish the task, there is little reason to choose a stronger solvent-based product. Simple is often the most practical choice.
Look Beyond Art Supplies
Art materials tend to receive the most attention, but children also interact with backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases, binders, and folders every school day. These products can contain synthetic fabrics, plastics, adhesives, coatings, and water-resistant treatments, all of which are worth considering.
Backpacks and PFAS
Some backpacks are marketed as stain-resistant or highly water-repellent, features that may involve treatments containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS are a large class of persistent chemicals used for their resistance to water, oil, and stains, and some have been studied extensively because of their persistence in the environment and potential health effects.
Most children do not need a backpack to resist every stain or spill. When practical, a simple canvas or untreated fabric backpack can provide the necessary function without an unnecessary water- or stain-resistant treatment.
Pencil Cases and Lunch Bags
Soft vinyl pencil pouches are another common source of PVC exposure. Cotton and canvas pencil cases can perform the same function while avoiding flexible vinyl.
Lunch bags require additional consideration because they are used around food. Products specifically designed for food storage, made with easy-to-clean materials, and free from unnecessary coatings or strong chemical odors are reasonable choices for everyday use.
Air Out New School Supplies
New backpacks, lunch bags, binders, and plastic products can sometimes have a strong chemical smell when first removed from their packaging. This odor may result from off-gassing, a process in which volatile compounds are released from materials such as plastics, adhesives, coatings, and synthetic fabrics.
Odor alone cannot determine whether a product is harmful, but a strong smell can be a practical reason to let the product air out. Before school begins, remove supplies from their packaging, open backpack compartments and lunch bags, and leave them in a well-ventilated area for a day or two when possible.
This simple step requires no special equipment and can allow some of the compounds released most strongly during the initial period to dissipate before the products become part of a child’s daily routine.
Don’t Assume Cheap Means Unsafe—or Expensive Means Safer
Price is not a reliable indicator of product safety. However, investigations have shown why consumers should pay attention to manufacturers’ transparency and quality-control practices rather than assuming that every children’s product has been evaluated equally.
In 2024, the Washington State Attorney General announced a $190,000 settlement with Dollar Tree following an investigation that identified illegal levels of lead and cadmium in some school supplies. The investigation led to requirements for stronger testing and compliance procedures, underscoring the importance of quality control for products intended for children.
This does not mean that every discount-store product is dangerous or that premium brands are automatically safer. Instead, it reinforces the value of considering materials, certifications, manufacturer information, and intended use rather than relying solely on price.
A Simple Safer School Supply Checklist
Art supplies: Look for the ACMI AP seal; choose unscented markers and stationery; consider beeswax crayons; and use basic water-based glue or glue sticks for everyday classroom projects.
Plastic products: Check for the #3 recycling symbol or “vinyl” labeling, and consider canvas or cotton alternatives for frequently handled items such as pencil cases and folders.
Backpacks: Choose simple construction when possible, and avoid unnecessary stain-resistant or water-repellent treatments when those features are not needed.
Lunch gear: Select products intended for food use, prioritize easy-to-clean materials, and avoid unnecessary coatings or strong chemical odors.
Shopping habits: Compare manufacturers and look for transparent safety information instead of assuming the cheapest or most expensive product is the best option.
Before school starts: Remove new products from their packaging and allow backpacks, lunch bags, binders, and other strongly scented items to air out in a well-ventilated location.
The Goal Is Reducing Unnecessary Exposure
Creating a completely chemical-free environment for children is neither realistic nor necessary. A more practical approach is to identify situations where a lower-exposure alternative is inexpensive, accessible, and capable of doing the same job.
The frequency of use can help determine where to focus. A marker or pencil case that a child touches every school day may deserve more consideration than an item used for a few minutes once a year, particularly when a simpler alternative is readily available.
Ultimately, safer school shopping is about becoming a more informed consumer rather than pursuing perfection. Reading labels, recognizing useful certifications, avoiding unnecessary fragrances and coatings, and choosing straightforward materials can help families make thoughtful decisions without overwhelming back-to-school preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ACMI AP seal mean?
The ACMI AP seal identifies art and creative materials that have undergone toxicological evaluation and meet the institute’s requirements for their intended use. It is commonly found on products such as crayons, markers, paints, colored pencils, modeling materials, and adhesives. The certification does not mean the product is organic or completely free of synthetic ingredients.
Why is PVC a concern in school supplies?
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a plastic commonly used in flexible products such as pencil pouches, folders, and binder covers. Flexible PVC may contain plasticizers, including certain phthalates, which have been studied for potential effects on hormone signaling and development. When practical, fabric alternatives such as cotton or canvas can reduce reliance on flexible vinyl products.
Are scented markers safe for children?
Scented markers are designed to release added fragrance, which does not serve a functional purpose in coloring or writing. Fragrance formulations can contain multiple chemical compounds and may be irritating for people with sensitivities. Unscented markers provide the same basic function without the added fragrance.
Are beeswax crayons better than conventional crayons?
Beeswax crayons offer an alternative to conventional paraffin-based crayons and are made using a naturally derived wax. They can be durable and effective for coloring, particularly for younger children. Conventional crayons from reputable manufacturers are also designed to meet applicable safety requirements, so the choice is primarily a matter of material preference.
Should new backpacks be aired out?
Airing out a new backpack can be a reasonable precaution when the product has a strong chemical odor. Plastics, adhesives, synthetic fabrics, and coatings can release volatile compounds during an initial period of off-gassing. Opening the product and leaving it in a well-ventilated area for a day or two can help reduce the strongest initial odors before regular use.
Are cheap school supplies unsafe?
Not necessarily, and price alone cannot determine safety. However, past investigations have identified school supplies containing excessive levels of substances such as lead and cadmium, demonstrating why manufacturer quality control and transparency matter. Evaluating materials, certifications, and available safety information is more useful than assuming either budget or premium products are automatically safer.
What is the easiest way to choose safer school supplies?
Start with a few high-impact choices instead of evaluating every ingredient. Look for the ACMI AP seal on art materials, choose unscented products, consider alternatives to flexible PVC, use simple water-based adhesives, and avoid unnecessary stain-resistant treatments when possible. Airing out new supplies before use is another low-cost, low-effort step.
References:
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