This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of Proforma Simonetta Freelance, an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see proformagreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.
Making good on their announcements at the ASI show in Dallas, Shepenco continues to expand their environmentally friendly pens and pencil lines, and as a bonus they now even offer their entire catalog printed on recycled paper. For wooden items made from virgin materials Shepenco is offering items certified by the The Forest Stewardship Council.
All this has happened right in time to help Ecopreneurists with the great Earth Day promotional push.
Here is a short list of some of Shepenco’s 2009 eco-friendly pen & pencil line. To see more visit Shepenco’s website, which also has a new green make over.
- Newsprencil is made of 75% recycled newspaper and 25% non-recycled newspaper (EQP $0.28)
- Carpenter and Round pencils are FSC Certified (EQP $0.31)
- ECO pens are 100% biodegradable material (EQP $0.81)
- AMAZE is 100% certified compostable biodegradable material (EQP $0.82)
- TERRA-RIFFIC Grip is 100% compostable/biodegradable starch material (EQP $0.84)
- BIOS75 is manufactured from natural plant starch and is 75% biodegradable (EQP $0.59)
- PLA and the TRI PLA are made from annually renewable plant based material and is certified compostable
- ENCORE pens and pencils are made from post consumer waste material (EQP $0.31)
As I have mentioned in other articles switching from traditional to eco-friendly pens is a no brainer. Even retail brands like Bic and Sandford are making eco-friendly pens these days. So if you are using pens in the office or giving them away, please check out your green alternatives.
If you are a member of PPAI or ASI, the contact at Shepenco is Vicky Elmore, Sales & Marketing Director, Shepenco/Shelbyville Pencil Co., Inc. If you are not in the promotional items business email info@proformagreen.com for pricing and additional information on Shepenco items.
Adventures in Green Marketing 
For Green Office supplies take a look at EarthShare’s mall – here’s their Green Office section: http://shop.earthshare.org/shop/index/196.
On top of offering Green products, a percent of every sale will go towards EarthShare’s nonprofit groups who are dedicated to making a difference for our planet.
Enjoy and Happy Earth Day!
I’m writing a comment on this post because I have been looking for something related to Earth Day to share some information that I have about an Earth Day celebration EPA Photo/Video project. It lets people submit photos and videos to the EPA about how they help the environment in their communities. The best photos and videos are displayed for all to see by the EPA.
More information on this can be found in the community/politics section of my environmental news blog at greenvitals.net.
Who uses pens anymore? Are there any eco-keyboards out there?
Matt,
Sort of. The promotional items industry is seeing a lot of Antimicrobial-Washable Keyboards new for 2008/9 – http://www.logomarkportfolio.com/simonettafreelance/Default.asp?F=ShowProduct&ProductID=4313
These are great for hospitals, call-centers, etc were keeping germs at bay are important. So far I has not see any made from RPET or other recycled materials, but I suspect that is coming.
Email me for more information.
FYI – A lot of people still use pens, it is estimated that six billion pens are thrown away every year in the US.
See http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/10/20/bic-ecoluctions-line/