Why Buy Eco Products?

Concern for the environment and preservation of the earth’s resources has become a significant focus. U.S. Companies and organizations are taking their own initiatives and catering to the preferences of their customers by purchasing products that make an environmental impact. Businesses have adopted sustainable policies.

Promotional products of virtually every type are now available in an eco-friendly alternative design which, in aggregate, will make a difference for our planet. While these products may seem relatively insignificant in size, we must remember that the scale of distribution of promotional products is tremendous and hundreds of millions of small Earth friendly products make a significant difference.

Buyers of promotional products now have hundreds of product choices that are friendly to the environment. Some look just like products made from virgin materials and others have a recycled look that is obvious and helpful to their promotional goals. These promotional items have few performance standards that require them to be made from new raw materials. Plates, vinyl portfolios, pencils, tote bags, notebooks, clothing, mugs, pens and the like can be fabricated from recycled materials or produced from resins that are not derived from fossil fuels.

Henya Direct has a large selection of eco-friendly, organic, sustainable and recycled products that companies can proudly advertise their services and products on. So strengthen your relationships with your clients by supporting our environment with your next promotion.

About Earth Friendly Materials

What are eco-dinnerware products made from?

Polylactic Acid (PLA): PLA, otherwise known as “Corn Plastic”, is the material used to make many compostable products. This includes cold cups and lids, various food containers, cutlery, hot cups, soup cups, and straws. The basic idea is that any starch can be converted into a polymer with similar molecular traits to those derived from petrochemicals. That polymer can then be formed into pellets and made into a wide array of plastic products. The products look and feel just like traditional plastics but, because they are made from organic matter, have a heat tolerance of 105 - 165 degrees (F). (Check for specific heat tolerance on each product.)

Bagasse (Sugarcane): For many plates, bowls, and food containers designed for hot foods, a material called bagasse is used, more commonly known as sugarcane. In warm climates around the world sugarcane is grown for its cane juice. Commonly, once the juice is extracted, the stalk is either incinerated or discarded. That stalk now represents a “reclaimed resource”, as we are able to break it down into a pulp that can be used to make products that would otherwise be made from tree fiber.

Plant Starch: Plant Starch is the material used to make high heat tolerance cutlery. This material is made from a variety of plant starches including corn, potatoes, and other vegetables. It has a heat tolerance of 220 degrees, which makes it optimal for hot foods.

Bamboo: Bamboo dinnerware is made from the bamboo sheath. The sheath is a protective covering found on newly emerging bamboo plants. As the plant matures, the sheath falls to the ground and most often is unutilized. The process collects these sheaths and then they are cleaned, boiled, laminated to the desired thickness, and pressed into shape. The result is disposable/reusable dinnerware that is elegant, strong and positive for our Earth.

Why are products compostable and not just biodegradable?

The term “biodegradable” lacks the legitimacy of certification. In essence, everything biodegrades when given enough time. In contrast, compostability has set definitions and certain qualifications that must be attained to be deemed “compostable.” ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, and Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) provide reliable third party certifications. The general standards to achieve compostability validations are: 1) 90% or greater degradation must occur within 45-120 days, and 2) no toxic residue remains in the final compost.

If these products end up in a landfill, is there any benefit?

Yes. We like to talk about two sets of benefits when talking about our products . The obvious benefit to most is what we call “Back End Benefits”, and that deals with end of life (composting). In communities where commercial composting operations exist, our products are compostable and will return to their natural state in 90 – 120 days. What is less obvious is that there is another set of benefits that we call “Front End Benefits”, and these benefits are applicable regardless of whether or not your community has access to commercial composting facilities. First, these products are made from plants, which means they are produced from a resource that is renewable. Precisely because these products are made from plants, they take less energy to produce and are responsible for less CO2 in the atmosphere. This means that, even if you do not have access to commercial composting, you are still making a difference by choosing these products.