The disposable writing industry has undergone significant changes in an era that now takes into account measures like green and sustainable performance.
Just ask thePentel, a writing instrument manufacturer, which launched its Recycology program in 2007 to enhance the mission of “helping the environment by creating less waste and increasing recycling activity.” For companies like Pentel, linking this program to the green building industry is important.
As Pentel states, “In today’s world, the protection of the global environment and the prevention of pollution represent tough challenges and have become more important than ever before.”
Having said this, the company reports it focuses on protecting natural resources and the environment during all stages of the manufacturing process. This means all manufactured products must “meet strict environmental standards” according to Pentel.
Part of the environmental focus mandates using both recycled content and post-consumer recycled content in the products it manufactures. Company reports that all products in its Recycology line are made from a minimum of 50 percent recycled content but excludes consumable content and refills.
With the upcoming Earth Day celebration, Pentel provides this timeline for its environmental stewardship that eventually led to Recycoloy:
- 1974 – the Pentel Ibaraki Factory was recognized and honored for its wastewater treatment facilities and its participation in environmentally friendly programs
- 1992 – Pentel began cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
- 1995 – Pentel completely abolished the use of substances which are harmful to the ozone layer
- 1996 – Pentel developed the “Pentel Environmental Platform” to outline its philosophy of protecting the global environment and controlling pollution
- 2005 – Pentel adopted the “Pentel Guidelines of Corporate Activities” which details our corporate social responsibility and intention to build a sustainable enterprise
- 2007 – Pentel instituted the Recycology program in which all products are made from a minimum of 50 percent recycled materials by weight.
The Recycology program was launched on Fox News in this interview. Recycology embodies the 3Rs of green initiative: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – all key mainstays for the green building industry.
Pentel manufactures automatic pencils, lead, erasers, nonrefillable roller ball pens, refillable ballpoint pens and correction fluid. Pentel stakes these claims to its line of products: it invented roller ball technology and pioneered graphite lead and its “Super Hi-Polymer Lead.”
