| Thanks to its high versatility and low production | | | | recycling are strongly debated but generally |
| cost, the promotional product market's primary | | | | speaking, greater collection and production |
| component material is, of course, plastic. | | | | efficiency, lower temperatures needed to produce |
| However, over recent years, biodegradable and | | | | bioplastics and an ever increasing demand for |
| recycled materials have become an equally viable, | | | | eco-friendly materials over traditional plastics and |
| eco-friendly alternative. Though the new materials | | | | non-recycled material, allow for the price of green |
| and new technologies are, at worst, highly | | | | promotional printed pens to be highly competitive |
| promising, there may be some concerns regarding | | | | with their counterparts. |
| their ability to compare to the high quality and | | | | Printing: |
| effectiveness of traditional promotional pens. | | | | The vast majority of eco friendly pens can |
| Quality and longevity of biodegradable pens: | | | | certainly be printed on using conventional methods. |
| Renewable sources such as corn starch and algae | | | | One mustn't forget though, the colour of the |
| can be utilised to create biodegradable 'bioplastics'. | | | | printing area(s) may vary the colours of the |
| Bioplastic products are not only recyclable and | | | | artwork and restrictions on the number of colours |
| compostable but are also just as high quality as | | | | may be required. It should additionally be noted |
| those using purely virgin material and retain the | | | | that due to the nature of a material such as |
| professional look consumers have come to | | | | EcoAllene® (a material derived from recycled |
| expect from promotional pens. It is also true, | | | | Tetra Pak cartons) and inks commonly used for |
| however, that biodegradable pens live up to their | | | | printing on pens, ink adhesion cannot be achieved. |
| name as elements such as heat, enzymes and | | | | Therefore, alternative methods such as |
| moisture break-down the structure of the | | | | presentational packaging may be required. |
| material. As such, bioplastic pens may not last | | | | Certainly there are good, legitimate concerns |
| quite so long but the pros really do better the | | | | regarding the use of eco-friendly materials for |
| cons. | | | | promotional pens and other products. However, |
| Cost(s): | | | | the quality retention of most green materials as |
| Price is inexorably one of the most important | | | | well as the already competitive pricing and |
| considerations when it comes to promotional | | | | promising future for these technologies means |
| items, especially in regards to those produced | | | | that promotional gifts, as a whole, are becoming |
| using newer materials and or production methods. | | | | an evermore attractive prospect for all |
| The real costs involved in producing bioplastics and | | | | concerned. |