Every year, as a new academic session begins, millions of families across India prepare children for school by purchasing bags, bottles, stationery, uniforms and other essentials. While these purchases are often seen as part of the excitement of a fresh start, they also come with hidden financial and environmental costs that are rarely discussed.
In this article, Amaraja Kulkarni, Head of the Environment & Sustainable Development Division at Vivek PARC Foundation; Archana Thevar, a Junior Research Associate specialising in sustainability, circular economy and waste management; and Sakshi Kalke, a Junior Research Associate focusing on public policy, governance and sustainability research, examine the growing culture of annual back-to-school consumption and ask an important question: how many of these purchases are truly necessary?
Drawing on data, practical examples and policy recommendations, they make the case for extending the life of everyday school supplies. This simple shift could help families save money while reducing waste and carbon emissions.
Across cities, towns and villages, parents flood stationery shops and online platforms, arms full of lists: a new bag, a water bottle, a box of pens & pencils, a set of notebooks in every colour, and a gleaming new lunchbox. Sometimes the new purchases are portrayed as nudges for children to prepare mentally for the new academic adventure, incentives that both parents and the planet will pay for.
Much of this spending is driven not by necessity, but by habit and social expectations. In many households, last year’s bag remains fully functional, the water bottle continues to perform perfectly, and the stationery kit still has years of useful life ahead.
The Indian back-to-school market was valued at USD 15.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 23.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.7%. Photograph: (AI Generated)
Choosing to continue using these products is not a compromise; it is a practical, resource-smart decision. Yet the cultural pull of “new academic year, new everything” is also backed by strong school supply marketing campaigns, which has overshadowed a more sensible alternative: making responsible back-to-school choices based on need rather than routine replacement.
The Indian back-to-school market was valued at USD 15.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 23.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.7%.
Clothing and accessories, including school bags, represent the largest share of this expenditure. This represents far more than a seasonal shopping trend. It reflects a consumption pattern that carries significant financial and environmental consequences. If even a small percentage of Indian families extended the life of school supplies by just one additional year, the cumulative savings in household expenditure, material consumption and carbon emissions would be substantial.
What does manufacturing these products actually cost the planet?
Every new school bag, bottle, or stationery item purchased comes with a hidden price tag – one measured not in rupees, but in carbon dioxide emissions.
The manufacture of a standard school backpack, built from petroleum-derived synthetics like nylon and polyester, generates an average carbon footprint of around 17.5 kg of CO₂ equivalent.That is roughly the same as driving a petrol car for 70 to 80 kilometres. Not remarkable in isolation. Remarkable when multiplied across India’s 248 million school-going children. If even 10 million Indian families buy a new bag every year unnecessarily, that amounts to 175 million kg of CO₂ emissions, just from bags alone.
It is not only bags. The production of polyester fabric, the dominant material in Indian school uniforms, requires 62 litres of water and releases 21 kg of CO₂ for every kilogram manufactured, along with 153 kg of petroleum inputs and 217 megajoules of energy. India’s school uniform ecosystem largely follows a linear consumption model: purchase, use and replace.
A more circular approach by taking due hygiene measures could unlock significant value. Standardised colours, durable fabrics, uniform exchange programmes and inter-sibling transfers can reduce costs while extending product life without affecting educational outcomes.
A standard 500 ml PET (polyethylene terephthalate) water bottle generates approximately 82.8 grams of CO₂ emissions just from manufacturing. The manufacture of plastic resin is the single largest contributor to a bottle’s carbon footprint, and transportation can add up to 29% more.
Reusable bottles made of polypropylene carry a much higher upfront footprint of around 21.5 kg of CO₂ emissions, but precisely because of this, they must be used for years to justify their production.
Discarding them after one school year defeats the entire purpose. The most sustainable water bottle is not necessarily the newest one purchased each June, but in many cases, it is the one already being used.
Paper production for notebooks contributes significantly to deforestation, an industry that accounts for up to 10% of global CO₂ emissions. Each sheet of paper requires water, energy, and often chemical treatment. Over a school year, the carbon cost of manufacturing virgin paper notebooks, pencils, and binders increases rapidly.
Recycling and reusing plastics saves at least 30% of the carbon emissions that the original processing and manufacturing produce. Every time a parent reuses a school bag for another year, they are in effect preventing 10-25 kg of new CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.
If India reused just 10% more school supplies
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Millions fewer products manufactured
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Thousands of tonnes of CO₂ avoided
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Crores of rupees saved by families
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Less plastic entering waste streams
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Stronger sustainability habits among future citizens
The financial and practical case for smarter consumption
Beyond the environment, the economics of reuse are straightforward and compelling.
A decent school bag in India costs anywhere from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500. A stainless steel or BPA-free water bottle costs Rs 300 to Rs 800. A full set of stationery – pencils, pens, a geometry box, a scale, and an eraser – can add another Rs 500 to Rs 1,500. Multiply this across two or three school-going children in a household, and the annual June spend easily exceeds Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per family.
Now consider that most of these items, particularly bags and bottles, are built to last two years or more. Extending the life of a school bag by just one additional year can save a family Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 while avoiding unnecessary consumption.
It is a simple example of how future-ready consumption benefits both household finances and the environment. Over a child’s 12-year school life, smart reuse habits could save a family anywhere from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 – money better directed toward tuition, extracurricular activities, or savings.
For lower-middle-income families, this is not a trivial amount. Encouraging a culture of reuse is not only an environmental imperative but also a financially prudent approach that makes quality education more affordable for families across income groups.
What can parents do?
1. Pause before you purchase
Before the new school year begins, lay out all school items from the previous year. Does the bag have a broken zipper that can be repaired for ₹50? Is the water bottle dented but functional? Could the pencil box go another year? Where possible, prioritise repair, maintenance and continued use before replacement. Extending the life of a product is often the most economical and environmentally responsible decision available. .
2. Invest in durability, not annual replacement for look and feel
When purchasing is genuinely necessary, invest in higher-quality, durable items. A Rs 1,500 bag that lasts four years is far more economical and environmentally superior than four Rs 600 bags bought year after year. Durability reduces long-term costs, lowers resource consumption and represents one of the most effective forms of responsible consumption.
3. Organise community swaps
Schools and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) can facilitate annual swap events where families exchange gently used bags, bottles, and stationery. This extends the useful life of products at zero additional cost.
4. Choose recycled and sustainable products
When new products must be bought, prefer those made from recycled materials or certified sustainable sources. India’s eco-products segment is growing, with several verified sustainable school supply options now available both online and in stores. Look for recycled paper notebooks, refillable pens, and FSC-certified stationery.
Just as many schools run annual book donation and exchange events, a formalised exchange drive for bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, and stationery should become standard practice at the start of each academic year. Photograph: (AI Generated)
5. Teach children the why
Children who understand that reuse reflects thoughtful decision-making rather than financial limitation develop a deeper appreciation for resource efficiency, responsible consumption, and long-term sustainability. A child who understands the environmental footprint behind everyday products is more likely to make informed and responsible consumption choices throughout life. Teaching children to value usefulness over novelty helps build habits that align with a future-ready and resource-efficient society.
Policy recommendations
Creating a circular school year cannot depend on individual families alone. The greatest impact will come when schools, governments, manufacturers and communities work together to normalise reuse as a smart and responsible choice.
India already possesses many of the policy foundations required to support a more circular approach to school supplies. The challenge is not the absence of policy, but the translation of broad sustainability commitments into everyday consumer decisions and the right behaviour nudge to trigger the action.
For schools
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Annual supply exchange drives: Just as many schools run annual book donation and exchange events, a formalised exchange drive for bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, and stationery should become standard practice at the start of each academic year. Products that have completed their role in one household can continue creating value in another, extending their useful life while reducing unnecessary expenditure.
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Standardise uniform colours and accessories:Schools should standardise the colour and basic style of uniforms, particularly costly items like blazers and school bags, so that they can be passed between siblings and across families without mismatched school-specific branding. This single change could eliminate a large share of the annual uniform and accessory expenditure for millions of families.
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Establish textbook lending libraries:Every school should maintain a lending library of textbooks and reference books that students can borrow for the year and return in good condition. Several schools already do this informally; it must be formalised and encouraged as a standard model. This alone could save families thousands of rupees per year while dramatically reducing the paper and printing burden.
The choices families make at the beginning of every school year may appear small in isolation, but collectively they shape patterns of consumption that have significant economic and environmental consequences.
A school bag reused for another year, a water bottle repaired instead of replaced, or a notebook used more thoughtfully may seem like minor decisions, yet multiplied across millions of households, their impact can be substantial.
The start of a new academic year does not have to mean starting from scratch.
By prioritising durability, reuse and thoughtful consumption, families can reduce costs, conserve resources and help nurture a generation that values sustainability alongside education. In the process, the annual back-to-school ritual can become not only a preparation for learning, but also an opportunity to practise the responsible habits that a resource-conscious future will require.
