If I were going back to school in a couple of weeks, there would be a few things on my list I'd have to have.

Here are the necessities:

• A reusable cotton drawstring lunch bag. A lunch bag is a necessity to keep your goodies together. What I love most about this on is that it's made of unbleached cotton, and, of course, it's washable! Available at grassrootsstore.com.

• An artful agenda. A planner to keep all tests and social dates in order is a must, and one made for 1oo per cent post -consumer recycled paper is a double must! This agenda sure is cuter than the one your school offers, and I'm almost certain non of your friends will have the same one. Available at etsy.com.

• New digs. I'm not encouraging you to buy a whole new wardrobe, as that's probably unnecessary, but you just might deserve one little treat that will get you off on, um, the right foot. The soles from Zoe and Zac's eco shoes are made from recycled rubber, and the material is made from organic cotton. Not only are they super cute, they're also super affordable. Available at a Payless Shoes near you.

• Lined, 3-hole paper, made from recycled and post-consumer fibre. Available at grassrootsstore.com.

• Eco-friendly, refillable pens and pencils, like the new Paper Mate Biodegradable. Available in September at a stationary store near you!

What green gear are you sending your kids to school with this year?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, I'm announcing a winner next week!

Biodegradable pens! Who knew?

Do we have to scrutinize everything we use, and question if it's harmful to the environment? Yes, even though it can be a challenge at times, I strongly believe we do. And wherever it's possible to make changes, we should. A coworker of mine recently turned my attention to Paper Mate's new biodegradable pen and mechanical pencil. I admit, before this I never gave much thought to my writing utensils, but now that I know we can even make small changes in that department, it's something I'll think about every time I pick up a pen or pencil.

Paper Mate's new products will decompose in your soil or home compost within a year. They're made from a product called "Mirel", a bioplastic derived from corn sugar. The other thing that's great is both the pen and pencil can be refilled. Paper Mate Biodegradable will be available this September.

Looking for more good news? The pens will run for about $1.50, and the pencils for $3.15. Pretty reasonable in my opinion!

There are also plenty of pens and pencils on the market that are made of sustainable wood and the same bioplastic material - they're cute and make a great gift.

Next time you write down that grocery list, think about what your pen is made of.