Being kind to the environment involves more than simply selecting sustainable materials. Bamboo and plastic pens provide various benefits. When choosing sustainable pens, consider their purpose.
Pens should also look good, carry the company logo, and be durable enough. In other words, when making your choice between bamboo pens and custom eco-friendly pens from recycled plastic, consider all aspects of this product.
Why Is a Promotional Pen an Environmentally Friendly Choice?
Consider a green pen through a life-cycle approach. It isn’t the choice of materials alone that matters. The production process, durability, packaging, and recyclability also matter. Recycling might seem like a good idea because it conserves materials, but it has limits because it depends entirely on the materials’ recyclability.
In the course of purchasing the product, the producer must take into consideration the following:
- How much of the product is made up of recyclable/renewable material?
- How durable is the pen produced?
- Are there other materials present that are used for disposal or have an impact on disposal?
- Does the information back up any sustainability claims made?
Rather than buying a gift they may not use soon, sell them a gift they will keep and use.
What Is a Bamboo Pen and What’s Its Sustainability?
Bamboo is used extensively in promotional products because it offers not only a unique look but also uses sustainable material that regenerates more quickly than many other materials.
Its inherent look can make a pen seem warmer than regular plastic and thus works well for companies whose products have connections to nature, health, food, travel, and so on.
However, the use of bamboo doesn’t necessarily imply sustainable practices. The pen made of bamboo may still have plastics, metals, ink, finishes, and so forth. The source of bamboo significantly impacts sustainability issues.
What Are Recycled Plastic Pens and How Sustainable Are They?
Recycled plastic means that already used materials have been reused for manufacturing a new product. Recycled plastic may help reduce the use of virgin materials and increase the amount of recycled plastic used during production.
Nevertheless, it must be kept in mind that items produced from recycled plastics may not necessarily contain the same amount of recycled plastic, as there may be other types of plastics used along with this one, which have been processed in a different way.
Therefore, when any organization needs a plastic design in recycled materials, it can opt for a recycled plastic pen.
How Do Bamboo Pens Differ From Recycled Plastic Pens?
The key distinction lies in the message the product should send.
The natural image of bamboo conveys the idea of sustainability, while recycled plastic does the same thing but through the recycling process of plastic instead of the production of new plastic items.
None of these materials is environmentally friendly in every case. A product’s environmental performance depends on many factors.
Which Eco Pen Is Better for Different Types of Brands?
Think about your brand identity before choosing the material. A natural-looking bamboo pen may suit an organic food company, environmental organization, wellness business, or outdoor brand. Its appearance can reinforce an existing message about nature and responsible consumption.
Recycled plastic may suit a technology company, retailer, financial business, or corporate brand seeking a cleaner, contemporary look.
Save Your Ink recommends that promotional products have to balance sustainability with practical branding requirements. A pen needs to continue being comfortable, attractive, and displaying a logo effectively.
What Things Need to Be Considered Before Buying Eco-Friendly Pens?
Never base your purchasing decision purely on product description. Ask about the material utilized, its sustainability and source, and the construction process. Don’t overlook packaging, either.
For organizations comparing sustainable promotional pens, longevity of use should also be a key consideration. A product that lasts longer may be more beneficial than one discarded shortly after distribution.
Branding matters as well. If a pen’s surface doesn’t reproduce your logo clearly, it may not be the right promotional product regardless of its material credentials.
In Conclusion
Bamboo and recycled plastic pens can both be used by companies to incorporate more sustainable materials in their promotional marketing efforts. Even though bamboo is sustainable and looks natural, the recycled plastic pen can make use of existing materials.
In the case of selecting sustainable pens for your brand, it might not be the most eco-friendly pen that should be selected – take into account such aspects as material, longevity, ability to brand, sources, packaging, and disposal.
Have you ever used bamboo or recycled plastic pens for your promotional activities? Please share your experience and tell us which type worked out better for your brand.
