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Green Promotional Items, 2 Cottage Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923

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Biodegradable Pens
Biodegradable Cups
Biodegradable Key Rings
Biodegradable Bags
Biodegradable Golf Tees

Organic T-Shirts
Organic Golf Polo Shirts
Organic Hats
Organic Tote Bags
Organic Hand Sanitizer

Recycled Pencils
Recycled Pens
Recycled Mugs
Recycled Key Rings/Tags
Recycled Rulers
Recycled Sports Bottles
Recycled Bike Bottles
Recycled Holiday Cards
Recycled Calendars

Corn Plastic Pens
Corn Plastic Coffee Mugs
Corn Plastic Travel Mug
Corn Plastic Luggage Tag
Corn Plastic Letter Opener

Solar Calculators
Solar Flashlights
Solar Picture Frames
Solar Flash Drives

Bamboo Shirts
Bamboo Hats
Bamboo USB Flash Drives

Eco-Friendly Glossary

Environmentally friendly, or eco-friendly, products or services, have little or no impact on the environment and its resources in the breakdown process. Our Glossary is intended to educate consumers on the benefits of buying green and the materials involved in creating every day products that leave virtually no carbon footprint.

Bamboo Garments – Bamboo is naturally grown material. Bamboo is 100% biodegradable, sustainable, and also naturally antibacterial.

Biodegradable – A material is biodegradable if it is capable of decomposing through the sole effort of biological agents. In other words, a biodegradable material breaks down naturally, returns raw materials to the earth, and has no negative environmental impact. Biodegradable cups are a great way to reduce waste!

Bonded Leather – Bonded Leather is an environmentally friendly solution to leather production byproduct problem. Bonded Leather is a man made material created with recycled leather fiber and leather scrap that would otherwise go to waste, and eventually end up in a landfill. Also known as Reconstituted Leather, Bonded Leather is usually made up of 66% recycled leather fibers, 30% (Natural) Latex, and 4% Tanning Oil.

Compostable – A compostable product is a product that is able to be biologically decomposed over time without leaving an unnatural byproduct.

Corn Plastic– Corn plastic is derived from corn and is a 100% biodegradable material. Try a corn plastic coffee mug for home or the office!

Cotton-Organic– Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemically altered fertilizer and is in no way genetically engineered. In addition, for cotton to be considered organic it must be grown in soil that has been completely chemical free for at least three years. Organic cotton ensures that cotton is grown with a minimal ecological impact.

Cyclepet – Recycling PET into fabric prevents it from ending up in the landfills.

Green – The green movement is a general term that refers to groups of people and organizations focused on environmental awareness and bioregionalism. The term “Green” is very often inappropriately used to lump in any effort to be more environmentally friendly, which could mean simply cutting back on environment damaging practices.

Organic- Organic products are made and grown without the use of chemically altered fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, genetic engineering, or synthetic hormones. Organic growers and handlers must be certified by organizations that are accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bring organic tote bags to the grocery store to reduce plastic waste.

OrganicLeather – Organic leather is often made from the hides of organically fed animals, but the true organic benefit comes from the fact that the leather is tanned using only plant tanners, vegetable extract tanners, and other tanners approved by TUV. By using these tanners, toxins created by the tanning process (run off & disposal) is reduced to zero. This is extremely important as normal chrome leather tanner produces toxic chrome when incinerated and will thus not fully decompose.

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, making it good for bottled mineral water, food trays for oven use, videotapes, and mechanical components. PET soda bottles are the most recycled container.

Polypropylene & Non-Woven Polypropylene – Polypropylene is made up from carbon and hydrogen, and is manufactured without any dangerous emissions. Polypropylene can be recycled, incinerated, or land filled without any harm to the environment. When burnt, polypropylene will only give off water vapor and carbon dioxide, which is converted by photosynthesis. Polypropylene is 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). Material or product used by the consumer for its original purpose and then discarded.

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

Recyclable – A recyclable material is a material that is able to be reused. Such materials include glass of any sort, paper products, aluminum, asphalt material, iron and other metals, textiles, plastics and biodegradable waste.

Recycled – A recycled material is one that has been separated from the waste stream, reprocessed into a new material and subsequently brought back as a new item.

Recycled Cardboard –Recycled cardboard is made using cardboard that has been discarded or previously used by a company or 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.)

SAFEPlastic – SAFEPlastic is considered environmentally safe because it is completely biodegradable when introduced into landfills or smaller composting environments. There are no toxic effects to the environment if discarded, and SAFEPlastic can even be recycled.

Soy/Soya Bean – Soy bean or soya bean products are extremely environmentally friendly in that they are not toxic and 100% biodegradable.

Soy/Soya Wax Candle –A soy (soya) bean wax candle does not emit dirty soot, and because it burns cooler, a soy bean wax candle last approximately 33% longer than your standard candle. In addition, non-chlorine bleached cotton wicks also burn cleaner, cooler and longer. These candles are also 100% biodegradable.
Tree-Free – Tree Free paper is made with recycled (post consumer) paper in combination with industrial hemp / organic cotton. This paper eliminates the need to use bleached wood pulp to create paper, effectively cutting back on the need to log trees for paper production.

This is the universal recycling symbol used to designate recyclable materials to people around the world. It was created in 1970 by a college student who won a contest to come up with a design to celebrate the first Earth Day. The symbol is public domain (without trademark) so it can be used by anyone to promote recycling worldwide.

Number 1 Plastics
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, biodegradable bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers such as recycled bike bottles.
PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

Number 2 Plastics
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, biodegradable pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, recycled pens, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing
HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

Number 3 Plastics
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, recycled key rings, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins. Number 3 plastics, as mentioned, are also found in clear food packaging and some shopping bags. Consider using organic paper bags instead.

Number 4 Plastics
LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, recycled sports bottles, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile
LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

Number 5 Plastics
PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, recycled mugs, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays
Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

Number 6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, recycled rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers
Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.

Number 7 Plastics
Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber and custom-made products such as biodegradable golf tees.
A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.