Comments on: Beth’s Big Back to School Binder Debate & Give-Away

By: Notes on a Plastic-Free, Shopping-Free Holiday | Fake Plastic Fish

Notes on a Plastic-Free, Shopping-Free Holiday | Fake Plastic Fish — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:35:17 +0000

[...] what do you think? As I wrote in my post about plastic-free binders, I think we need both reducing overall consumption and also supporting sustainable businesses. The [...]

By: mcmilker

mcmilker — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:37:53 +0000

Great debate Beth,

Interesting subject for me because I worked marketing binders and other school supplies for Avery-Dennison for a number of years.

One of the issues that manufacturers face is the fact that binders are a commodity product. The margins are terrible, many times binders are almost a loss leader.

This leaves the traditional (read big) manufacturers in a bit of a quandary. A typical school binder sells for a few bucks. An Eco-binder sells for at least twice as much (often more). And why is there this margin pressure? It comes down to large retailers who also use the binders as loss leaders.

I’m for encouraging both retailers and manufacturers to change marketing strategies to green the entire supply of binders. Wal-Mart could pay a big role in this and they have the vehicle with their sustainability campaign. (I won’t go into details, but there are ways to implement this).

OK- that wasn’t one of your choices – I don’t really need to make a choice because I have many, many old binders from my years working in corporate America and a child who is past the chewing stage

By: compost_and_cats

compost_and_cats — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:56:07 +0000

Binders seem to always be readily available at thrift shops and yard sales, and they're very affordable. If you don't like the PVC or the color, couldn't you decoupage the binder? Might be fun to get pictures from old magazines and adhere with non-toxic glue.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:49:14 +0000

I'd choose Option D- a sustainable school pack from redapplesupply.com. It has a rebinder plus demonstrably sustainable set of supplies including a spiral notebook, filler paper, pen, #2 and color pencils, a highlighter and ruler. All fun, colorful and Earth-friendly

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:49:34 +0000

I would choose option C. It doesn't make sense to me to buy new when I already have the item at home. Also I feel both binder options A and B are ugly.

By: mary Hunt

mary Hunt — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:42:47 +0000

You brought back memories of making our own supply box via an old cigar box with an inch wide hole in one end to stick in your ruler – that's the only way it would fit.

Making your own folders sure raises the bar.

By: Susie

Susie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:25:50 +0000

Beth,
How about a 4th option…
Sew a cloth cover out of some cool fabric your child loves. Slip it off and throw it it the wash when it gets dirty. You could even use a favorite old clothing item. Add a pocket on the spine for pen/pencils, etc. You can make it a totally custom binder cover.
"Add a dangling chew toy for those who haven't grown up yet"!

By: Cousin Yellowstone

Cousin Yellowstone — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:14:05 +0000

I face a similar dilemma when it comes to pens. I find countless pens while out walking, and am able to avoid buying new pens by using the pens I find buried in the mud and grass. However, this means not giving my economic support to the manufacturers of refillable pens. I intend to continue using other people's discarded pens and binders, but I respect the efforts of people who purchase eco-friendly school/office supplies.

Please don't enter me in your drawing. I rescued many discarded binders from the trash at my previous workplace, and even after giving away several boxes of them on Freecycle, I still have many left.

By: Lynn Blevins

Lynn Blevins — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:15:52 +0000

A is my choice for the long term. The components of this product can continue to have a life even after the product has finished it original job (cardboard can be recycled or composted and metal spine/rings can be used over and over again or recycled as scrap metal if they become damaged). This ability to easily remove the cardboard (considered a biologic nutrient in cradle to cradle design) from the metal component (non-biologic nutrient) is key to keeping binders out of landfills since each piece can be composted and/or recycled separately from the other. If they remain bound, the item can be reused but will likely ultimately end up landfilled. This is definitely the case for C, and likely B.

In the short term, C is an ok choice but not for sensitive populations.

Supporting A sends a message that we'd like a change in the way our goods are produced and disposed.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:31:10 +0000

For two years I have had a "no-buy back-to-school" policy. Whenever my kids receive a box of crayons or colored pencils for a gift, I put them in a box in the basement marked "school supplies" (we already have more than enough of these things on our art table). When (and if) I get a supply list from school, I rummage in the box to find what we need, sharpen and send already-used pencils and re-use the same pencil box my son has had since kindergarten. I do feel a moment of guilt when all the kids line up in their sparkling new shoes and fashionable clothes, but at 8, my oldest doesn't seem to notice or care. So, in my own home, I would definitely go with option C–re-used binders. Even though they are plastic, we have a bunch of them and may as well use them till they die (we don't chew on them, much). But if I didn't already have reusable binders (and I don't want to import any more into my home), I would be mighty tempted by A, because it has so much other swag (althouh I'm trying to learn to say no to free stuff) and B (because of the pretty colors). Right now my kids don't require binders for school, so this debate can stay in the hypothetical for me, but I would sorely love to buy some eco markers and pencils and beeswax crayons from stubby pencil studios–too bad I have that whole box full of them downstairs!

Now, what can you recommend for "green" tape and glue stick (is there such thing as plastic-free?)
andreaelani{at}yahoo