| This article will take a quick look at some of the | | | | and, like all eco-friendly choices, a strong statement |
| various options and the processes of turning | | | | for one's business. The basic process needed to |
| renewable and eco-friendly raw materials into | | | | recycle paper starts with the collected and stored |
| high-quality promotional pens, barely distinguishable | | | | paper being sorted and quality graded. It is then |
| from other models. | | | | shipped in bales ready for pulping, the paper is added |
| Biodegradable pens: By extracting the sugars, e.g. | | | | to water (and other chemicals) and virgin pulp is |
| glucose, from natural sources such as algae and corn | | | | combined with the recycled batch in order to |
| starch, scientists are able to produce perhaps one of | | | | produce higher quality paper, the paper is screened, |
| the most exciting new technological advancements, | | | | cleaned, refined, de-inked and dried and made into |
| bioplastics. In general, they are non-toxic and, | | | | sheets, ready to be used once more. In addition to |
| compared to normal oil-based plastics, compostable in | | | | recycled paper, products can be made from Forestry |
| a substantially short amount of time. Though | | | | Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. This |
| manufacturing costs and longevity are currently an | | | | organisation works on creating and up-keeping |
| issue of sorts, the promotional product market has | | | | sustainable forests. |
| already started to introduce these biodegradable | | | | Recycled Tetra Pak pens: Another, relatively new |
| alternatives and they're still as cheap and viable as | | | | material is EcoAllene®. By pulping the Tetra Pak |
| one might expect. | | | | cartons, filtrating to extract the aluminium and |
| Recycled plastic pens: An alternative to bioplastics is | | | | polyethylene, washing, shredding and melting, this |
| simply to use recycled plastic. The process can vary | | | | material can be used to create an assortment of |
| but it usually involves sorting the various plastic | | | | products. It should be perhaps noted that when using |
| products into polymer type and colour (this is either | | | | a material such as EcoAllene® for personalised |
| done manually or with the aid of machinery such as | | | | pens, it may not be possible to directly print the |
| flotation tanks and spectrometers). The sorted plastic | | | | artwork (especially with typical inks), thus some |
| is then cleaned and later cut into shreds and melted | | | | presentational packaging may be required. |
| into granules/pellets which can be finally used to | | | | Upon reflection, there are still some advantages in |
| create new products. This is a great option if you're | | | | opting for products using new/non-recycled materials |
| looking for personalised pens which are just as high | | | | and it is true that green promotional pens are still a |
| quality as those using 'virgin plastic'. | | | | comparatively new concept. However, the options |
| Recycled paper pens and pencils: Using recycled | | | | are already many and varied and production |
| paper/card (or that from renewable sources) for | | | | processes constantly improving. A business, |
| pencils, pen barrels and packaging is a fine and a solid | | | | organisation or cause can say a lot simply by |
| option for personalised pens; it's inexpensive, reliable | | | | choosing the eco-friendly path. |