| In today's current global climate, businesses seem | | | | cartons). These pens are classed as recycled, eco |
| under more pressure than ever to take a more | | | | friendly and ethical promotional products, again as |
| environmentally friendly path wherever possible. | | | | they are mainly manufactured in Europe and have the |
| Promotional Products can play a large role in helping a | | | | backing of a large brand in Tetra-Pak meaning |
| business give a public face to their eco credentials. | | | | certification is readily available. The final and probably |
| There are hundreds of different eco business gifts | | | | most popular choice when it comes to eco friendly |
| available in the market and they all seem to fall into | | | | writing instruments is wooden products. Wooden |
| different sub categories - eco friendly, recycled, | | | | Pencils and Wooden Pens come from many different |
| biodegradable, even ethical... but how do you choose | | | | wood sources, and identifying which are classed as |
| what to use to represent your company's image? | | | | eco friendly or not can be a minefield. |
| If you take a best selling example in eco friendly | | | | You will find that some promotional pen suppliers now |
| promotional pens, you will find that this relatively | | | | sell FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Products; the |
| straightforward product can be made from many | | | | FSC accreditation is a means of providing a chain of |
| different materials. The most common is | | | | custody over the sources of wood used in the |
| post-consumer waste...things like plastic bottles, CD | | | | manufacture of an FSC product, such as FSC Pencils, |
| cases and plastic packaging. These products are | | | | and FSC Promotional Pens. Any product sold bearing |
| classed as Recycled Pens and tend to be the | | | | FSC accreditation can be traced back to its source, |
| cheapest option but may not be classed as an ethical | | | | with the supplier being able to provide information |
| product, due to the methods of transportation from | | | | such as what variety of wood each of their |
| the Far East to Europe. Many European | | | | promotional products is made from. FSC Promotional |
| manufacturers supply Biodegradable Pens, made from | | | | Products carry the best form of certification, and are |
| recycled corn starch or maize. Products made from | | | | very close to their non-accredited counterparts with |
| this material can be categorized as Recycled, Eco | | | | regard to pricing. |
| Friendly and Ethical as they are manufactured much | | | | There are many different Eco Friendly Pens and Eco |
| closer to market. As a result of this, the | | | | Friendly Pencils to be found in the promotional |
| Biodegradable Pens are a more expensive option, but | | | | market, but sourcing the right product for your |
| should hold a higher perceived value, and can back up | | | | customer can be a dizzying task. There are currently |
| the statement a company wishes to make by | | | | no specific guidelines or legislation in place to govern |
| putting their name to this product. | | | | what classifies a product as "Recycled" or "Eco |
| Some recycled promotional pens are made from | | | | Friendly", so until there is...the safest bet when looking |
| recycled Tetra-Pak cartons (orange juice or milk | | | | is to go for FSC Promotional Products. |