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Sarah Paiji Yoo was horrified when she learned that microplastics were lurking in the water she was using to mix her son’s formula. That moment of maternal panic sparked a mission that would eventually lead to founding Blueland—but more immediately, it transformed how she approached every product in her home.
“I started looking more closely at what was in my home from both a waste and an ingredient safety standpoint,” Sarah recalls. “I also couldn’t unsee the fact that most of what we buy is designed to be thrown away.”
Now, as back-to-school season approaches, Sarah shares the strategies she’s learned for creating safer, more sustainable routines without sacrificing effectiveness or breaking busy family schedules.
Myth-busting: What parents get wrong about sustainable products
Before diving into specific sustainable swaps, Sarah wants to address the elephant in the room. The biggest misconception she hears from parents? “That they’re going to be more expensive, less effective, or too hard to fit into busy routines. I hear this all the time, but the truth is, the right sustainable swaps can actually save you money and time in the long run.”
Her advice stems from real experience as both a mother and an entrepreneur who’s tested countless products in search of ones that actually work for real families.
Sarah’s top 3 back-to-school swaps (and why they matter)
1. Reusable water bottles: The easiest win
Sarah’s take: “Find a quality, easy-to-clean option and let your kid pick the color and style so they’ll want to use it for years!”
Why it works: One reusable bottle per child replaces hundreds of plastic ones over a school year. It’s also the swap that gives “the biggest impact with the least effort,” according to Sarah.
Pro tip: Let kids choose their own bottle. “They’re more likely to want to use it,” Sarah notes from experience with her own sons.
2. Silicone snack bags: The surprise game-changer
Sarah’s personal revelation: “I didn’t realize how many single-use plastic baggies we were going through until we stopped buying them.”
Reusable snack bags turned out to be “one sustainable swap that surprised [her] with how much of a difference it made” in her family’s routine. “Bags from brands like Stasher can replace thousands of single-use plastics, and they won’t expose your family to more microplastics!”
The hidden benefit: They’re dishwasher safe, making cleanup actually easier than disposable bags.
3. Microplastic-free cleaning products: The safety essential
Sarah’s perspective: “School means mess, and having a set of microplastic-free products that are proven to work is a simple way to make your household and the planet safer and healthier.”
This swap hits close to home for Sarah, whose company Blueland was born from her search for cleaning products that were both effective and safe for families.
The hidden waste source you’re missing
While hunting down reusable water bottles, don’t overlook the waste stream that might be even bigger: snack packaging.
“Single-use snack packaging,” Sarah identifies as “one ‘hidden’ source of waste in typical back-to-school routines that parents might not realize they can easily change.”
The culprits: “Granola bars, chips, individually wrapped treats–it all adds up.”
The solution: “Swapping to bulk snacks and portioning them into reusable containers can make a huge difference, and once you get into the routine it really doesn’t take much extra effort.”
Sarah’s smart shopping strategy
Her approach starts before leaving the house: “Start by ‘shopping’ at home! Chances are you already have notebooks, markers, and folders left over from last year. Make a list of only the items you really, truly need.”
The three questions Sarah asks herself before buying:
- Do we already have something that works just as well?
- Can this item last another year with a little cleaning or a quick repair?
- Is this purchase solving a real problem?
“Sometimes all it takes is a pause to avoid spending unnecessary money and overconsuming.”
When you do need to buy: “Find opportunities to look for durable items that will last more than one school year. Sometimes spending a little more upfront saves money long term.”
Getting kids excited (not resistant)
Sarah’s discovered the secret to sustainable success: make it their choice, not your rule.
“I let them be a part of the process. They get to pick their lunch containers or choose a reusable bottle in their favorite color. It makes everything feel personal and special so it doesn’t feel like mom’s rule, it feels like their choice.”
This strategy transforms potential battles into collaborative decisions that kids actually want to stick with.
Sarah’s real-world lunch packing setup
After years of trial and error, Sarah has landed on a system that works: “I love a stainless steel bento box. It keeps everything organized, and my kids actually eat more when their food is separated. Add a couple of silicone snack bags for sides, and a good insulated water bottle. That’s all you really need.”
For picky eaters: “Bento boxes are a lifesaver for picky eaters. You can offer healthy variety without overwhelming kids, and nowadays they come in colorful silicone varieties that make it all a bit more fun for them.”
Sarah’s back-to-school shopping cart
What’s actually in Sarah’s cart this year? Her must-haves include Stasher Bags and Bee’s Wrap for lunch packing, a collapsible Stojo cup for her morning coffee runs, and Blueland’s microplastic-free laundry detergent tablets for handling inevitable sports uniforms and playground mishaps.
Cleaning school gear safely
For inevitable messes, Sarah reaches for the products she tirelessly formulated herself: “I always use our Blueland Multi-Surface Spray. It’s tough on kid messes, but formulated safe so I’m not worried about my sons grabbing their own backpacks or lunch boxes after I’ve cleaned them.”
Her complete cleaning kit:
- Safe multi-surface spray
- Reusable cloths (which “work so much better than paper towels”)
- Gentle powder dish soap for sticky lunch boxes
Sarah’s method: “A little warm water, gentle soap, and an overnight air-dry will usually do the trick” for stubborn lunch box cleanup.
Your action plan
Start this week: Do Sarah’s “shop at home” audit and make your real needs list
Before school starts: Let kids pick their reusable bottles and lunch containers
First week of school: Set up your bulk snack portioning system
Ongoing: Ask Sarah’s three questions before adding any new purchases
The bottom line
Sarah’s journey from panicked mom discovering microplastics to successful entrepreneur offers a roadmap for any parent looking to make safer, more sustainable choices. Her approach isn’t about perfection—it’s about finding swaps that actually work better for busy families.
“The right sustainable swaps can actually save you money and time in the long run,” she emphasizes. Start with her top three recommendations, get your kids involved in choosing their own gear, and build from there. The planet—and your family—will benefit from every small change.