Back-to-school time brings the rush for new lunchboxes, school supplies and clothing. Most of the time, we're so busy crossing items off our lists we don't have time to worry about whether the item is eco-friendly. Here's how you can do your part while you shop, without spending extra money or time.

Pack a waste-free lunch. If your kid will carry a lunchbox this year, strive to pack lunches that are 100 percent waste-free. Start with a reusable lunchbox or bag, especially one made from recycled material. Invest in a few reusable food containers to cut down on single-use plastic baggies. Don't forget that you can re-use small plastic containers of foods that you've already purchased, such as lunch meats, cheeses and butter. Fill up a reusable bottle with a favorite drink. For cutlery, pack a cheap fork and spoon, then toss in a reusable napkin or one made from recycled paper. With this lunch system, your kids won't need to visit the garbage can. Everything comes right back home.

Track down last year's school supplies. Before shopping, make sure there aren't perfectly good backpacks, binders or pencil pouches from last year that you can re-use. If you do need to go new, look for binders and clipboards made from recycled plastic or notebooks and journals constructed of recycled paper. Even cool pencil pouches can be found made from recycled juice boxes, among other things.

Buy used clothing. We know kids agonize over the perfect back-to-school outfits, but you don't need to break the bank to get them dressed. Children and teen resale shops have brand-name clothes in gently used, broken-in condition. Sometimes, you even get lucky and find new items with the tags still attached.

Or swap with friends. Another idea, especially for girls, is to host a clothing swap before school starts. Have each girl bring gently used items they no longer wear and let them swap with their friends.

Shop smartly when buying new clothes. Look for clothes made from sustainable sources. Items made of organic cotton and denim are a good place to start. Try to avoid clothing labeled wrinkle-resistant, stain-proof or odor-resistant, which are commonly treated with untested chemicals.

There's no better time than now to make sure your kids are practicing the 3 R's -- reduce, re-use and recycle. Find out more at www.doyourpart.com.