PPB December 2019

Eco-FriendlyMaterials 101 Interest in eco-friendly products has never been greater. This demand is coming from a changing culture where plastic waste reduction is celebrated and laws banning single- use plastics are popping up in countries all over the globe. In response to this planet-conscious movement, industry suppliers have reaffirmed their commitment to serving the needs of buyers with more eco-friendly product offerings. Here’s a quick primer on some of the terms associated with products in this category. Recycled PET Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is the most common type of plastic used for water and soft drink bottles, and food containers such as peanut butter jars and household cleaners. PET is the most recycled plastic in the world. Used PET containers are sorted, cleaned and ground into pellets that are reintroduced into the manufacturing process. Bamboo Bamboo is a strong and fast-growing resource. Bamboo trees grow to maturity in only three years, so they require fewer natural resources such as water than other types of trees. Bamboo is not only 100-percent biodegradable, it is highly renewable because it is easy to plant and harvest. Wheat Straw Wheat straw is the stalk that’s left over after wheat grains are harvested. Traditionally, it has been treated as a waste. However, these stalks can be reclaimed and used to make eco-friendly products. Wheat straw is durable enough to become the barrel of a pen or even a lunch box. Recycled Cotton When dumped in landfills, textile waste can take hundreds of years to decompose. Fortunately, the leftover cuttings from apparel and textile factories can be recycled and used to make products like tote bags and notebooks. Producing a cotton tote using existing materials that would otherwise be thrown away helps reduce CO2 and fossil fuel emissions into the environment. Source: Polyconcept North America Gr een Pr oduc t s Everyone needs a pen, so why not make it eco-friendly? The B2P Bottle-2-Pen Gel Roller Pen features a translucent barrel made from 89-percent post-consumer recycled plastic, so it’s good for the planet and for making a great brand impression. This fine-point pen features vibrant gel ink for smooth, effortless writing and is available in black, blue, red, green (shown) or purple. It also includes a four-color process label for your client’s logo or message. Pilot Corporation of America PPAI 112712, S5 www.pilotpenpromo.com | DECEMBER 2019 | 51 GROW