You're looking for a corporate gift for your company, but you've had enough of plastic? You wish a green alternative, but you don't know who to turn to?
In this article we’re going to explore the world of branded eco pens. They give you the chance to make a useful and welcome gift and protect the environment at the same time.
Branded Eco Pens: Are They Green for Real?
Most of the pens that we find on the market are made of plastic. This means that, when they can't be used anymore, we throw them into the oceans. So, why should a company still invest in pens to promote itself?
The answer is pretty simple. There really are some good green options. They make it possible to enhance the brand awareness with an eco-friendly corporate gift.
However, understanding whether an object is sustainable or not is not that obvious. Many manufacturers advertise their products as green or eco-friendly. But how true is that? A lot of these items are in fact not so good for the environment.
This is known as greenwashing. It’s a marketing strategy that is pretty common among companies. It consists of promoting commitment to the Earth and consideration of environmental policies without applying them.
Does “Eco-Friendly” Mean Good or Less Harmful to the Environment?
We often use the word “eco-friendly”. But what does it actually mean? Generally speaking, it refers to something which does not damage the ecosystem. The term is used for objects made with recycled or natural materials. In the latter case, we talk for instance of wood or bamboo.
As for pens, they are usually made with renewable materials. These include compostable plastic and cardboard. This option helps us to protect the planet, as it limits the negative impact of disposable plastic.
Personalised Pens in Recycled Plastic
Recycled plastic is a valuable green alternative. It gives new life to an object that would otherwise have ended up in the oceans. Today the number of pens made in recycled plastic on the market is increasing. They make a totally eco-friendly option for writing lovers – and not only.
If we take ABS plastic, for instance, we find that it’s 99% recyclable.
But this is not the only option. PET is another type of recycled plastic which is quite popular. It's used for manufacturing several objects, not just pens. You may have read this abbreviation on the plastic bottles of the most common drinks. If properly recycled, this plastic can be used to produce other objects.
Are you looking for the greenest option? Then you can opt for compostable plastic. This material is obtained from renewable raw materials such as vegetable starch or lactic acid. They restore the natural cycle of plastics.
Renewable and raw materials can be produced every year. This is a substantial difference if compared to fossil resources, which take millions of years to be disposed of. Plus, when compostable plastic is produced, plant carbon (greenhouse gas) is stored in the plastic during use.
Only once it's composted is carbon released into the atmosphere. This process helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. Overall, this makes promotional pens made in compostable plastic the best eco-alternative on the market.
But we are faced with a challenge. Finding these pens is not so easy. However, at HiGift we offer some models made of biodegradable PSM or PLA.
Branded Eco Pens at HiGift: Our Offer
What comes to your mind when you think of promotional eco-friendly products? You probably expect to find 100% recyclable, biodegradable or compostable items.
Unfortunately, however, this is not always possible. In the case of personalised pens, for instance, the feed is quite problematic. This is often still made of plastic because the market does not offer a lot of alternatives. Let's assume that a pen is made entirely of cardboard. This material would absorb the ink and the pen would soon be unusable.
There are, however, possible solutions. For instance, you can make the feed waterproof with paraffin. In this way, you will allow more eco-friendly materials to be used for the production of this part of the pen as well. Even so, paraffin is a chemical element. It’s extracted from oil, which does not make it a sustainable choice.
In any case, employing eco-friendly materials for the manufacture of the barrel and cap is certainly a great step towards reducing the negative impact on the environment. These are the biggest parts of the pen, so using green materials for their production is significant. Moreover, this is particularly meaningful if you consider that pens are one of the most used items in the world.
Replacing disposable plastic with alternative materials is a decisive move to defend the planet. Besides contributing to the noble cause, it will put your company in excellent light. Above all, this won’t occur thanks to greenwashing. The branded eco pens that you will give away will be the most sustainable offers on the market.
Giving Branded Eco Pens to Your Employees
If you want to increase the attractiveness of your brand, a valuable strategy is to give personalised corporate gifts to your employees. In the case of eco-friendly pens, they will be perfect for being used outside the work context as well. This is a great plus, as it will bring more and more visibility to your name.
Final Remarks
Using branded eco pens to brand your company is a method that is old school and innovative at the same time. It allows you to jump on and stay in the market. Above all, it's a winning strategy. Today, companies tend to focus on social media or web communication only. In doing so, they forget how effective the use of promotional products is.
These objects are of various kinds. They offer customers direct contact with the company. As a result, this latter is much closer to them in their everyday life. This happens not only because customers get an unexpected gift that raises positive emotions. Another reason for this is that your corporate gift will stay with them for a long time. Moreover, it will be under their eyes even when they pause from the daily frenzy for short, but meaningful moments.
In other words, advertising on social media is effective, but it’s not the only way. On the contrary, it often ends up being a drop in the ocean. Your message will easily get lost among a million other promotions. Most of the times, it even becomes annoying for the user, who is constantly interrupted by unwanted advertising. This of course does not elicit the positive response you aim at.
The branded eco pens you find on HiGift will always be in the bag or pocket of your customer. Everyone who receives one will have it at hand on any occasion, even when they unexpectedly need it. This small, but useful promotional eco-friendly product will communicate a lot. Among other things, it will say that the company pays attention to the needs of the customer and of the planet. In other words, it implies that you work in a conscious and attentive way to the care of everyone. The result is easy to imagine. Your company will earn the image of a responsible and reliable brand – a reputation it can only benefit from!
