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10 Ways Green Kid Crafts is Green

10 years of Sustainability: Happy Birthday, Green Kid Crafts!  

When I started Green Kid Crafts in 2010, I had a vision for how parents and educators could help children use their innate creativity to engage in learning and discovery. The past 10 years have been transformative for our business, our team, and our subscribers. We’ve shipped over 1,500,000 boxes to our community of parents, caregivers, and educators who value nature, the environment, and involving the whole child in the learning process.

Because of the support of our community, we’ve been successful in not only building a sustainable business but furthering our mission of taking action for a cleaner earth. Here are 10 ways we’ve built a green, sustainable business over the last 10 years.

 

Green Kid Crafts - Sustainable & Ecofriendly

1. Grounding boxes in environmental science

 

As an environmental scientist and advocate for conservation, sustainability, youth education, and activism, I use my background to give every box deep intention. Our goal is to inspire the next generation while having fun at the same time. 

In addition to being CEO of Green Kid Crafts, I’m driving change at a policy level as a thought leader in environmental science. I’m passionate about environmental sustainability, education reform, art and creativity, and encouraging women in the fields of science and technology.

 

 

2. Improving the wasteful nature of crafts

 

When I was a new mom, I valued learning and creativity, but I found that some kid projects could be time-consuming and wasteful. I didn’t want to have to run to the store to buy one special thing to complete a project.

 

Green Kid Crafts boxes are developed by teachers, crafty moms, and STEAM experts (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) to support key developmental skills for kids ages 2-10+. We provide all the supplies needed for each box’s 4-8 projects, so there’s no more buying 100 pipe cleaners for a project that only needs 10.

 

 

3. Incorporating recycled materials

 

When I designed our boxes, I made sure they were made from 100% recycled materials. We minimize packaging and printing and use recycled materials. Our kits are bundled in special bags that are made of 100% recycled materials.

 

 

4. Creating sustainability-focused box themes 


It’s important for kids to understand all the ways that we can live our values. We integrate sustainability into our product themes as much as possible: popular STEAM boxes include Alternative Energy, Climate Change, Save our Oceans, and more. 

 

Green Kid Crafts - Sustainable & Ecofriendly

 

5. Using shipping materials in crafts 

 

Most crafts use the box, which demonstrates to learners that a craft supply can come from anywhere. In our Green Energy box, the box is used to make a solar oven, Dinosaurs use the box to make a Dino habitat, and Robot uses the box to make a robot with moving parts.

 

 

6. Sharing boxes with 4-6 activities per box 

 

As the youngest of three kids, I remember the challenge our parents faced mediating sharing every day, and often that meant buying three of each toy to keep us appeased. That’s why I decided to make sure each and every box has 4-6 activities, so families can share if needed.  

 

 

7. Offsetting carbon dioxide

 

One of the ways we achieve carbon neutrality is via CarbonFund, an organization leading the fight against climate change. We offset 100% of the carbon dioxide generated through our business, helping Carbon Fund finance climate change education, carbon offsets (like ours!), and public outreach. 

 

8. Giving back to the Planet 

 

Thanks to our partnership with OneTreePlanted, we plant one tree for every box – so for a 12 month subscription, that’s 12 trees!  Since the beginning of our partnership, we’ve planted 10,000 trees all around the world. We also wanted to find other ways to give back to the environment. That’s why we donate 1% of sales to environmental organizations through our membership in 1% for the Planet.

 

 

 9. Creating sustainable growth

 

Our approach to growing our business is slow and steady. Instead of accepting outside investment, I decided to bootstrap Green Kid Crafts myself. We just transitioned fulfillment centers after reaching 1.5 million boxes sold, and are developing partnerships and affiliate opportunities so we can grow our company while supporting other organizations that share our values. 

 

 

10. Building a Grassroots team 


When we hire here at Green Kid Crafts, we try to find people who share our sustainable values. Karen Borkowski, our Customer Care Champion, was raised in a family that was green by necessity. After her grandparents survived the Great Depression, they made sure to recycle or reuse everything they could. Her approach to frugality took on new meaning after she took an Environmental Science class, where she realized many of the values she’d learned at home were contributing to a healthier planet and more sustainable society.

 

I’m grateful to everyone on our team and all of our customers for believing in us. Here’s to another decade of green living, sustainable values, and raising the next generation of creative leaders.

-Penny

 

Penny Bauder - Green Kid Crafts

To teach your kids about sustainability, view our climate change box and endangered animals box.

Every month a different box! For kids ages 3-10+

With 4-6 activities each, our Boxes pack a punch!

What’s different about Green Kid Crafts?

4-6 bite-sized learning activities in every box
Founded by a Scientist, each box has substance to it.
Mom-founded, mom-run, each box kitted by hand in the USA.
Green and rooted in sustainability, we plant a tree for each order.
  • volcanoes discovery boxexample volcano craft results

    Volcano Science

    $39.95
  • Ocean Science

    Ocean Science

    $39.95
  • dinosaur activity box

    Dinosaur Science

    $39.95
  • Insect Explorer Discovery Box

    Interesting Insects

    $39.95

2 Comments

  • genevieve champagne says:

    I am just curious in the information above on the 10 ways you are green you mention planting a tree for every box sold and that 10,000 trees have been planted but two notes later you mention having sold 1.5 million boxes.

    So do you actually plant a tree for every box sold?

  • Emily says:

    I applaud your many efforts to have your company be as green and sustainable as possible. Your kits are assembled in San Diego. That’s great. However, I’m wondering where the contents are sourced from…such as the printed booklets and the materials used in the projects. Are they all sourced from US companies?
    Are you able to ship kits to my grandchild in Germany?
    Thank you.

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