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Now offering Soy based Toner Cartridges!

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11/05/2009

Are Green Products worth the Money?

Elisabeth Leamy takes a closer look at eco-friendly products.

 

In the past five years, there's been an explosion of products marketed as "green" and good for the environement.

And last year, Americans spent a great deal of money on them. But now, the government has cracked down on some companies, saying their green claims aren't accurate.

Critics call the marketing practice "greenwashing" -- a way to attract customers by labeling products as eco-friendly when they may not be. The problem is that there is no legal definition of what "green" is, so companies can make all sorts of claims without providing proof.

Click here to see the story on abc News.

 

 

 

REMANUFACTURE VS. RECYCLE

John Scott, MS

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I am often asked by clients (and often by an inquisitive guest at a cocktail party), "What’s the difference between recycled and remanufactured products?" The difference can be confusing, even if you have had only one Cosmo. So, to help you along the path of sustainability (and to make very engaging conversation at cocktail parties), following is an operational definition.

 

Remanufactured - In this process a used product/part/machine is taken apart (i.e. becomes the raw material). Some components are replaced or refurbished, i.e. cleaned, polished, etc. Reassembly occurs with (as in the case of our products), inspection via a quality controlled process. The product/part/machine is put back into operation or sold to a consumer for a reduced price when compared to "original."

 

Recycled – In this process a used product/part/machine is broken down to its essential elements/components. These elements/components are then used in a manufacturing process that produces a new product. So, metal removed from a car can be used to make window frames. Or, high density plastic from a toner cartridge can be used to produce a trash can.

 

We are very proud of our recycling/remanufacturing programs for the ink and toner products we sell. At Ink Squid we are committed to offering our clients products and services that can help them go green, environmentally and economically. Many of our clients use pre-paid UPS-labeled "recycling" boxes that we provide. They fill them with empty ink and/or toner cartridges, seal the box and give it their UPS person. Done! The box is sent to our recycling center and you contact us for another box. For non-business or infrequent users, a postage-paid plastic mailer is provided in the box with a new cartridge. Lost the envelope? No worries. Many US Post Office sites collect and route them to recycling centers through a program implemented by Clover Technologies, a global leader in providing businesses with environmental solutions. When the empties reach their destination, they go through a stringent selection process, which is the first step in the remanufacturing process. Cartridges that remain viable for remanufacturing are separated from those that aren’t. Those that aren’t, are recycled.

 

We encourage all of our clients to work towards zero waste in their businesses. It is our intention to provide resources to help achieve that goal. Education is the first step and learning moments can happen anywhere and at anytime. So, at that next social gathering… Cheers!


 

 

THERE IS A NEW ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC! BUT SAVE YOUR SUNTAN LOTION!

By John Scott, MS

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In the winter of 2008, I gave a presentation to a business group about our products and the emphasis we put on using recycled materials. Plastic is a key ingredient in the production of original ink and toner cartridges; we prefer to re-use or recycle them. One of the points I made during that presentation was regarding the impact of discarded plastics on our water and food supply, and especially, on marine sources of food. I asked the group how many of them had heard of the "Gyre" (pronounced "jire")… a few hands went up… but the majority had puzzled looks on their faces. I proceeded to explain that floating in various layers north of Hawaii, exists what has also come to be known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch." It is a natural tidal convergence zone of human-produced plastic and marine debris located 1,000 miles west of California. This evoked a lot of conversation! Needless to say I got a lot of feedback... people were glad to be made aware of the problem.

 

On August 28, 2009, there was an article written in the San Diego Union Tribune (by Mike Lee), entitled “Floating Dump Seen as Deadly to the Sea.” The article chronicled a new project being conducted by scientists from UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The Gyre, a floating “dump” is about the size of Texas (about 1,000 miles west of California) and we may NEVER be able to completely clean it up. The debris can kill marine life and could have more insidious effects, such as concentrating poisons in the food chain (look at recent concerns about BPA and BPH in plastic water bottles)! The gist of this article is, "Oh boy, do we have a mess!" Scientists are "afraid" of what the project team will find when they actually start to do their in-depth study and the situation is probably getting worse as you read this!

 

So, besides the issues with regard to global warming, we are slowly poisoning ourselves… via our plastic products! Hey, I've got an idea. Start buying remanufactured/recycled products! Use certified recyclers when you finally dispose of that plastic product (electronic or non-electronic). Your local grocery store is a great place to recycle those plastic bags that are piling up under the kitchen sink. Buying a reusable bag is a great way to cut down on the waste and pollution.

 

Finally, we all have to take responsibility for the world we are all going to leave behind. I like the idea of our children being able to enjoy the resources of our oceans and land, preferably land not made out of plastic! Speaking of land, let's keep those empty cartridges out of our landfills where they can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose, all the while leaching their toxic substances into our land and water resources.

 

John Scott is a co-founder of Ink Squid. He has an MS degree in biology from Old Dominion University and over 25 years of experience in the Medical Device/Pharmaceutical/Biotech industries. He is also co-chairman of the Green Business Alliance Group in the San Diego County Regional Chamber of Commerce.