Eco-friendly trends continue to bloom throughout the world. From one person to another, the seeds of sustainability are being planted each day. Likewise, each month our supply of environmentally-friendly products grows. It's clear that people are eager to incorporate eco-friendly items into their lives and into upcoming promotions.

However, many of the materials used in environmentally-friendly products, and even more of the terms used to explain them are not yet common knowledge. When you choose a biodegradable item we want you to know that it's got the ability to safely and quickly break down into the raw materials that nature embraces. Similarly, we want you to know the difference between organic giveaways and recycled giveaways.

To help every customer to understand the perks to any given environmentally-friendly product, we present this list of eco-friendly terms originally from Halo/Lee Wayne Green Promotions, 2010.

Bamboo – Bamboo is 100% naturally grown and sustainable, it is also naturally antibacterial & Bamboo fiber is 100% biodegradable. As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years. Bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.

Biodegradable – The ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means into the raw materials of nature and disappear back into the environment.

Bonded Leather – A recycled synthetic material containing elements of recycled leathers, leather scrap & tannery leather fibers, which otherwise would go to a landfill.

Compostable – A product made of materials that will break down over time in a landfill.

Corn Plastic – Derived from corn & 100% biodegradable

Cotton-Organic – Organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, chemical pesticides, irrigation or genetic engineering.

Green – The movement that incorporates environmental awareness, social responsibility, bioregionalism, and nonviolence.

Organic – Products created through a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.

Organic Leather – Made from skins that are tanned using only vegetable extracts and chemicals approved by TUV. All possible by-products are also re-used. Non allergenic.

PET – Polyethylene terephthalate is the most popular thermo-plastic packaging material used for drinks and food. It is lightweight, transparent, and has a good moisture barrier.

Polypropylene & Non-Woven Polypropylene – Made from carbon and hydrogen, and manufactured without any dangerous emissions. Can be recycled, incinerated, or land filled without any harm to the environment. When burned, polypropylene will give off only water vapor and carbon dioxide, which is converted by photosynthesis. Sometimes known as “pp”.

Post-Consumer Material/Waste – Term used to describe material that is being reused/recycled after it has been in the consumer’s hand (i.e. soda bottles, yogurt containers).

Post-Industrial Material – Term used to described scrap or excess material that a manufacturer reuses or recycles throughout the manufacturing process.

Recyclable – Materials that can be reused. Includes glass, paper, aluminum, asphalt, iron, textiles, plastics and biodegradable waste.

Recycled – Term used to describe material that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new product and then brought back to the consumer as a new item.

Recycled Cardboard – The material is made from cardboard that has been discarded or once used by a consumer.

Recycled Content – The amount of pre- and post-consumer recovered material introduced in a material production process, usually expressed as a percentage.

Recycled Leather – Material is untreated and is made with leather scraps – recycled to save waste. (As opposed to scraps going into a landfill, they are recovered and reprocessed to make leather material.)

SAFE Plastic – Truly biodegradable in landfills & composting, environmentally safe, no toxic effects, can be recycled.

Talk about a fun eco-friendly giveaway. The Corn Mug Coffee Keg has a 10.5 oz capacity so it can hold plenty of coffee (or whatever you choose to put in it!). It comes in five great colors (Corn Silk White, Maize Yellow to name a couple) and it's got a significantly large imprint area so you can display your logo proudly. Everyone will be able to see that you care about the environment. The mug is microwave safe, and you can be assured that even though it's made of corn, it's not going to pop like Orvile Redenbacher's. Still not 100% sold yet? It's practically indestructable! Drop it and it doesn't break! Choosing promotional corn plastic coffee mugs is a wise decision for the office since you can be sure that they won't be reaking anytime soon and no replacements will be necessary!

via: Wisegeek.com 

In this age of increasing dependence upon foreign fuel sources, many Americans are looking for renewable fuel sources closer to home. Because the U.S. is one of the leading producers of corn, it's little wonder people have become interested in a specific type of heater known as a corn burning furnace.

A corn burning furnace uses shelled corn rather than natural gas, propane or electricity to generate heat for the home. In some regions of the country a corn burning furnace wouldn't be practical because there is no immediate fuel source, but throughout the Midwest corn is readily available and relatively inexpensive.

A bushel of shelled corn provides four times the heat generated by a single gallon (3.78 liters) of propane, or 352,800 British Thermal Units (BTUs) compared to 91,500 BTUs. In a price comparison, the corn burning heater fares very well. While a bushel of corn can range in price due to market fluctuations, for comparison purposes, let's assume the going rate is $2 (US dollars) per bushel, verses $1 per gallon of propane. Based on these numbers, you'd have to burn $1 worth of propane to 50 cents worth of corn, to generate the same amount of heat.

Technological advances over the past decade have improved the efficiency of a corn burning furnace. Shelled corn is delivered from a local feed lot and stored in a metal storage bin to protect it against moisture and vermin. When the thermostat activates the furnace, the bin opens to pour corn into the fire pit, where a small fan provides air circulation for the burning of the corn. The heat generated is then sent through the house's heat exchange system in the same way that it would be circulated in a gas furnace system.

A corn burning furnace can generate enough energy to supply heat to an entire room or house. Although the unit is large and requires quite a bit of space, once installed it will provide years of service at substantial energy savings.

Many manufacturers offer the corn burning furnace in a variety of styles and sizes. A corn burning stove and oven is also available, as are fireplace inserts. Corn burned in the fireplace does not smell, unlike wood. Other products include corn burning space heaters, and hot water heaters.

Corn plastic or PLA (polylactic acid) cups, utensils, and packaging have been popping up everywhere and I have been curious how they stack up against conventional plastic. It seems obvious that plastic made from corn would be more eco-friendly right? I did a little research and compiled a list of PLAs green pros and cons.

Pros:

• Manufactured from corn starch, a renewable resource.
• Biodegradable, breaks down into mostly carbon dioxide and water.
• Compostable, 6-12 months in a home composter (Many people are reporting that they will not compost in a home composter), 1-6 months in a commercial composter. Longer for heat resistant utensils. Once composted it is indistinguishable from the other compost.
• Does not emit toxic fumes if incinerated.
• Does not leech chemicals into food or soil.
• Freezer safe.
• Can handle hot items up to 120F (200F for utensils).
• Looks, feels, handles just like plastic.
• Is inexpensive.

Cons:

• Is not recyclable, must be kept separate from plastic.
• Few commercial composting facilities (113 in U.S.), only 1/4 of which accept residential materials.
• Commercial Composters use Microbes to break down organic material. Large amounts of PLA in a composter would cause problems because it breaks down into lactic acid which is wetter and more acidic. They can break this down but it requires more oxygen for the microbes to consume. Commercial Facilities would have trouble providing enough oxygen for large amounts of PLA to breakdown. Anaerobic digesters would not have the same problem.
• It is estimated that in a landfill PLA will take anywhere from 100 to a 1000 years to biodegrade.
• Typically made from genetically modified corn and usually not organic.
• Diverting corn away from the world’s food supply.

To me the cons don’t seem too bad considering plastic can’t be composted, takes longer to decompose in a landfill (starts decomposing after around 700 years), and can leech chemicals into food and the soil. Overall I think PLA is a pretty good substitute for disposable plastic cups, utensils, and packaging. 

via: AtoZSustainability.com

Is it corn or is it plastic? It's both. Lend an "ear" for a minute and I'll give you the skinny on corn plastic.

What is Corn Plastic?

Corn plastic is a plastic that is created and manufactured from ears of corn, which at the end of the day, is able to breakdown into harmless natural compounds. (aka: it's biodegradable)

How does corn become plastic?

Corn kernels are delivered and milled, dextrose is extracted from starch. Huge fermenters convert the dextrose into lactic acid, a simple organic chemical that is a by-product of fermentation (or respiration, in the case of the lactic acid that builds up in muscle tissue after intense activity). The compound is converted to lactide, and lactide molecules are linked into long chains or polymers: polylactic acid, PLA. via: Corn Plastic To the Rescue

Why is corn plastic good for the environment?

It breaks down into substances that are non-toxic to the environment. Also, production of corn plastic uses 65% less energy than regular plastic and generates 68% fewer green house gases.

If I get a corn plastic product, can I eat it?

While we know some people have a habit of chewing on pen caps, corn plastic is NOT edible. So you can chew on your pen caps, but don't think you're getting a healthy snack.

I've heard you can use corn as fuel. Is this for real?

It's true. 1 bushel of corn has as many BTU's as 5 therms of natural gas, 5 gallons of LP, 3.2 gallons of fuel oil, or 131 kilowatt hours of electricity.  

So I'm liking corn plastic, what options does my company have to get on board with it?

Motivators offers a large selection of corn plastic promotional products. Corn plastic pens are very popular, and with winter just around the "corn"er, the corn plastic ice scraper has become a big hit. In addition to being eco-friendly promotional products, our selection of corn plastic products is very easy on the wallet, ranging in price from about fifty cents to about five dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promotional Corn Plastic Ice Scraper

When you are thinking about using a custom imprinted ice scraper for your next promotional giveaway, you may want to consider an eco-friendly option. This corn plastic ice scraper promotes your company and expresses to your clientele that you are concerned about the impact we all have on our environment.  Every order placed for eco-friendly promotional products with Motivators from
now through December 31, 2008 will result in a tree being planted.

 

Eco-Green Biodegradable Writer Click Pen

The custom imprinted Eco-Green Writer is an environmentally friendly promotional pen that will attract attention to your logo, while doing its part to help save the environment. Made from a corn derivative, this eco pen can biodegrade in as little as 12 weeks and reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions.

Custom Corn Plastic Mug

Do your part to protect our fragile environment by promoting your company with this custom imprinted corn mug™. Making conscious decisions to provide eco-friendly promotional giveaways tells potential clients that you care about our world and the people in it, not just the bottom line.