College Shopping Essentials + a Project Green Dorm Challenge

Ace the aisles! Whether you’re off to a dorm room or your first apartment, take charge of your cart and choose from a huge selection of carefully sourced products to start the school year off right. (Read on to see how you could win prizes that will have you going back to school in eco-style.)To get going, download this College Survival Shopping List opens in a new tab (think of it as a cheat sheet that won’t get you in trouble). Next, take note of the essential information about the back-to-dorm basics you’ll find in our stores:

Basic Chow + Sips & Snacks

You won’t find scary stuff like hydrogenated fats, synthetic nitrates and nitrites or artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners of preservatives in food at Whole Foods Market! Go for organic or 365 Everyday Value® dairy products if you want to keep synthetic hormones (rBGH/rBST) out of the equation too. And don’t forget – we’ve got organics in every aisle, not just in the produce and dairy sections.

Cleaner Cleaners

We’re committed to carrying products that help you make the best eco-friendly cleaning decision to be effective, not destructive. Our color-coded Eco-Scale™ rating system does the homework for you by rating each of our products orange, yellow or green. Learn more at wholefoodsmarket.com/eco-scale opens in a new tab.

Wellness Supplies

When you’re constantly running to class or study groups, accidents and little things are bound to happen. Did you know we have a Whole Body™ department stocked with a great selection of effective products and knowledgeable team members ready to help you find just what you need – from multivitamins to first-aid products to Flu Ease and more.

The Best Body Care

Soap and slather with the highest quality products that contain beneficial amounts of natural ingredients at “worth it” prices. You’ll find organic body care products that adhere to the same standards as those for organic foods – and keep an eye out for the Premium Body Care™ seal to get the very best there is! Learn more about our Premium Body Care Standards and see which ingredients are not allowed opens in a new tab.

 

The Project Green Dorm Makeover Contest

Whether you’re already passionate about living a greener lifestyle or you’re just curious about how to start, turn to Teens Turning Green opens in a new tab – an organization that provides inspiration and resources so young people can realize their potential, take action and affect change to better the environment and their communities. Their Project Green Dorm opens in a new tab website includes a checklist with the top eco-friendly products picked by and for high school and college students. They’ve done all the work, looking at safety, efficacy and environmental impact.

Think you know green? Teens Turning Green is challenging all high school and college students (though you have to be 18 years or older – rules, you know) to enter the Project Green Dorm Makeover contest opens in a new tab. Use Pinterest to curate the ultimate green dorm room or living space with images and links by September 1 and you could win some phenomenal prizes opens in a new tab, including Whole Foods Market and eBay Green gift cards, an organic sleep set up from OMI, and an eco-conscious care package filled with products from Nature’s Path, Natracare and more. The contest details and rules are on the Teens Turning Green site opens in a new tab.

You can also join the #GreenDorm conversation on Twitter @TeensTurnGreen opens in a new tab or on Facebook @Teens Turning Green opens in a new tab. Share what is essential to have in your dorm room in the comments below.

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