Here is a great BLOG entry from our new cardboard binder supplier (as I wrote about on September 25th)
Misleading Buzz Words = Customer Confusion
by brad on July 21, 2009
This type of stuff really floors me. As I walk down the aisles of big box office supply stores, it never ceases to amaze me that the “eco product choices” someone at corporate has made aren’t really better than the non eco counterpart. I’m wondering if they really want to make a difference or do they do it just to confuse customers? This particular 3 ring binder really jumped out at me while I was swimming through the sea of vinyl… A fine example of misleading buzz words of product attributes that are unregulated and unwarranted.
- 100% Recyclable - Not without a lot of work. You need an Exacto knife to get through the plastic cover and a welding torch get the ring metals removed.
- 100% Biodegradable - Nope. - Our landfills entomb our garbage. Without heat, moisture or microorganisms, even organic matter won’t biodegrade.
- 70% Post Consumer Waste - Maybe the inside board covered in plastic?
- No V.O.C.’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) - True, but if you eliminated the polypropylene plastic that covers the binder, this would be a moot point.
While I take the time to research these claims, most consumers do not have the time and make buying decisions based on trust of what has been printed. If manufacturers would make better products instead of sugar coating the same old trash, the world would be a much better place.
Great story Brad!
Cheers,
Calvin
