Finally: Zero-Waste, Plastic-Free School & Office Supplies
Plastic waste, bye.
Just in time for back-to-school.
Heather Itzla, the founder of Wisdom Supply Co., believes that the amount of permanent waste created through the mass production of school and office products is outdated, shortsighted, and reckless - so she’s come up with a better solution: Plastic-free products designed to be reused, repaired, or authentically recycled.
Lucky for all of us, what began as an activist/volunteer effort, turned into Wisdom Supply Co., a certified B-Corp on a mission to reduce plastic waste at an exponential scale.
I loved chatting with Heather about plastic-free school and office supplies, responsible gifting, and her easy go-to weeknight meal. Our interview coming right up…
Your company mission in a single sentence?
Plastic-Free, Zero-Waste School Supplies. Waste is a Design Flaw.
What prompted you to start Wisdom Supply Co.?
In 2010 I stumbled on Captain Charles Moore’s Ted Talk “Seas of Plastic”. Since watching that 7 minute video thirteen years ago, I’ve been working on what can be done to prevent it.
My sons were in middle school at that time, and I convinced their school to allow me to purchase zero-waste/plastic-free back to school supplies for all students for the year. I stocked the classrooms with the supplies, no one went back to school shopping, I split the costs by the number of students, and parents reimbursed me directly.
After reading the B-Corp Handbook, and Let My People Go Surfing (by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard), my co-founder Nikki and I built Wisdom Supply Co. to turn what started as my school volunteer effort, into a full time, B-Corp Certified business.
What should we be teaching our kids about the environmental costs of plastics?
We need to be honest with young people about plastic - school supplies or otherwise, because they're the ones inheriting the consequences. Without the truth, kids aren’t given the option to participate in protecting their own future.
Take plastic markers for example - every marker ever made (billions and billions) will exist as on this planet as pollution forever.
Plastic Markers are not necessary, we have simply become accustomed to them (consider that our parents and grandparents made it through school without them).
When we look at the staggering, permanent pollution they create - we can open a conversation with our children about whether any assignment or school project justifies this waste. Same logic applies to all of the disposable plastic items on a back-to-school shopping list.
What can we do to make a difference?
Stop putting any plastic in the recycling bin. It doesn’t help, it only perpetuates the purchasing of more plastic products/packaging. Once you accept that landfill is the least harmful destination for plastic, it changes how you view your purchasing choices overall.
Beware of greenwashing. If it’s plastic of any kind (bioplastics, hard plastic, soft plastic, “compostable” plastic), don’t buy into it - it’s not helping. We’re also a hard no on silicone products - just creates more greenwashed stuff that has no viable recycling stream.
Look for products made from materials like glass, stainless steel, aluminum, wood, paper. Things that can be reused, repaired and authentically recycled.
What do you look for when making a purchase?
Morbid as it sounds, I consider every purchase through the lens of whether or not my children will find it to have value/usefulness after I’m gone.
Everything from a cast iron skillet to a high quality pair of scissors - I want the things I have to be of value beyond my lifetime, rather than a house full of “stuff” to be sent off to landfill or dumped at Goodwill.
I still use my grandfather’s wooden Westcott ruler to this day - it’s over 100 years old and one of my favorite possessions for its utility and design.
The Most Valuable Career Advice You've Been Given?
“Just keep going kid” - from my dad, serial entrepreneur and greatest guy ever.
A Risk You Took That Paid Off?
My co-founder Nikki and I were shopping for new weekly planners in 2018, and realized everything available in the marketplace was destined for landfill (spiral-bound, book-bound, laminated). With no knowledge other than knowing what we wanted, and more importantly what we didn’t want (clutter), we designed a planner and had it locally printed and bound. It’s been our best selling product ever since.
Actual Morning Routine?
Wake at 6
Delay getting out of bed by slow-scrolling NYT
Read daily email from “spiritual minimalist" Light Watkins
Wash face
Meditate for 20 min while the house is quiet
Listen to Apple News Daily while breakfasting on hot cereal and a cashew-milk iced latté
Check the list in my Weekly Planner and dive into emails.
Easiest Weeknight Meal?
I use my kitchen shears to cut kale into small pieces that are easy to balance on a fork
Toss with olive oil, lemon, garlic, dijon, and shaved parmesan.
Top with toasted Dave’s Killer Good Seed bread, with smashed avocado, poached egg and coarse salt, pepper and hot sauce on top. Heaven.
Most Used App on Your Phone?
Pandora - stations in heavy rotation: Lukas Nelson or the Teskey Brothers
*I limit myself on social media, but when my husband travels, I’ll indulge in an embarrassingly late night binge of reels.
What's in Your Handbag Right Now?
I typically only carry a wallet when out and about - I wouldn’t even know how to properly pull off a purse - I’m awkward like that.
If I have a bag with me, it’s for my laptop and that has my Weekly Planner, a little pouch with cutlery and a stainless steel straw, and an old Altoid’s tin containing a few of every medication I own - never know when someone will need an Excedrin… or one small band aid.
How do you approach gifting?
I generally default to gifts for my friends that can be recycled, eaten, imbibed, or burned, and wrap whatever it is in a flour sack towel that can be used in place of paper towels! No one needs more “stuff” for the sake of stuff, and none of it needs to be wrapped in specialty papers and bows that are destined for landfill. I don’t want to add to anyone’s pile of “stuff” that will have to be divvied up or carted off to goodwill one day.
My friends know my favorite gift is that of their company or something we can do together like hiking, a day-class on mushroom foraging, or dinner at a favorite restaurant.
How can we learn more about Wisdom Supply Co. and support your work?
Click here to visit our website and check out our zero-waste school supply starter set right here. Use code SHIRAGILL for 15% off your order. (I will be donating 100% of earned referral fees back to Wisdom Supply Co. to support their mission and work.)
Thank you, Heather! So grateful for the work you’re doing to create a cleaner, greener future for all of us.
Photography Credit: Vivian Johnson
I do believe that we have to start somewhere, but as an elementary teacher, I can tell you that some of the suggestions in this post are just not realistic for underprivileged families and schools that are underfunded. Most underprivileged students are reliant on the schools or their teacher (we all know how underpaid teachers are) to provide them with school supplies. As a teacher, if I have to provide supplies (and I have and still do), I can’t afford to buy supplies that are at the price point on the Wisdom site or rely on parents to reimburse me.
I do try and do my part that is in my control by returning supplies to families that are not used at the end of the year, in hopes they will be used the next year.
I hope that the mission of Wisdom does make some headway so that one day their products are more affordable and we can start supplying all children with earth friendly supplies.
Thanks for this important work. But my question is “How can I buy my blueberries or raspberries which always come in hard plastic containers?”