Saving money with refillable whiteboard markers

Thousands of educators, office workers and organizations that use whiteboard markers are saving money with refillable markers.

When customers contact EcoSmart Products to re-order dry-erase ink or new nibs for their refillable whiteboard markers, many of them say they have been using the same markers for years. When I asked a teacher recently if she was a new customer, she laughed and said she's been using the same markers for 3 years. Her order? A few bottles of refill ink ($7.95 each) and a pack of new tips for her markers ($12.50 for 10 double-tipped nibs). When we finished the order and said goodbye, I think she really meant it!

While AusPen markers are comparable in cost to regular disposable markers (Expo brand, etc), a purchase of these refillable markers means no more marker purchase. The cost of refilling the markers is significantly less expensive than constantly purchasing new markers. The AusPen marker and bottle of refill ink system costs approximately 29 cents per marker - saving about 75% off the price of regular disposable markers.

Imagine spending 75% less on your market budget at your workplace? Refillable markers make good money sense. No longer just an innovative product for those going green, refillable whiteboard markers help you keep your green!

To find out more about refillable whiteboard markers, and to place an order, visit http://www.ecosmartworld.com

A Case for Eco-Friendly Dry-Erase Markers

The way we see it at EcoSmart Products, there are at least 3 major problems with regular dry-erase markers.

First, the moment a marker is uncapped, noxious smells and harmful toxins are released. Xylene? Toluene? Why are we using neurotoxins in our office supplies? (Headaches and brain fog, anyone?)

Second, the amount of waste associated with discarded single-use dry-erase markers is astounding. Since these markers are not recyclable, they are sent to their local landfill where they will stay for a very looong time.

Finally, the markers are always running out, which leads us to our third pain point: the expense.

Now here’s a look at AusPen eco-friendly markers. They are made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials, the ink is certified non-toxic, and they are refillable. When a marker starts to fade, a few drops of ink can be added into the marker barrel and it’s as good as new. By refilling your markers, AusPens are approximately 75% less expensive than disposable markers.
Fill your pen, not your landfill
Find out more about why thousands of people who use dry-erase markers have switched to AusPen eco-friendly markers: http://www.ecosmartworld.com

Dry-erase markers that protect your health

I used to love when the teacher picked me to stay in at recess to slap the chalkboard brushes together to clean them. To my delight, billows of chalk would fill the air.

But now environmental and health concerns over chalk (it's resource-intensive and can cause allergies and breathing problems), not to mention the mess, have led to the cleaner, healthier whiteboard and dry-erase markers.

But are dry-erase markers healthier? More environmental?

Some of the more toxic dry-erase markers contain the chemicals xylene or toluene. These chemicals are classified neurotoxins, as they affect brain functioning. They can cause headaches, dizziness, irritation of the nose or throat, lack of coordination, 'brain fog' and breathing difficulties.

In response to the outcry over harmful chemicals in dry-erase markers, many marker companies have developed markers labelled, 'AP Non-Toxic'.

Why is it then, that at EcoSmart Products we receive calls on a daily basis from people complaining about these 'non-toxic' markers? People are still experiencing headaches, skin reactions, brain fog and even temper tantrums, not to mention the turnoff of the nasty smell. (Sound familiar?)

Then there's also the environmental blight of the 500 million dry-erase markers thrown out annually by teachers in North America. These markers are rarely made of recycled plastic, nor are they ever biodegradable.

That's why an educator in Australia developed AusPen eco-friendly markers - dry-erase markers that are made of 90% post-consumer recycled materials, whose ink is truly non-toxic and that can be refilled. Over and over again. No landfills required.

Thinking about it, I miss the fun of slapping the chalk erasers hard enough to get a white dusting of chalk in my hair and eyebrows. It was a much more fun way of experiencing gray hair.

Non-Toxic Markers and Whiteboard Paint

A great idea from this mom who painted a whiteboard wall and stocked her son with AusPen non-toxic, refillable markers. What better way to keep toxins out of the home and discarded markers and whiteboards out of the landfill.

Refillable Markers Save Money

Is it just me, or does everyone else feel as though they are pouring money down the drain? Every toy in my house is always out of batteries. Every electronic device in my house has just become obsolete. Every child has just outgrown his pants. You can relate, can't you?

I know I can't stop buying things, so one of my New Year's resolutions this year is to choose things that I can re-use, re-charge, refill in a larger proportion to the things I replace.

Reusing items such as shopping bags, food and drink containers and wrapping fabric, and refilling items such as dry-erase markers and ink cartridges simply saves money.

I have learned this lesson from my experience with AusPen refillable markers . It's a great example of a truly green alternative. AusPen markers are made of recycled materials, they use certified non-toxic ink, and they cost approximately 70% less than regular throw-away markers. The AusPen motto, Penfill Not Landfill says it all to me.

2011, give me your best. I'll give you mine.

Going Green with Refillable Markers

Are your school or office supplies unnecessarily contributing to solid waste? Are you tired of constantly throwing out dried up plastic markers?

AusPen eco-friendly dry-erase markers are a unique solution. Not only are AusPen markers non-toxic, but they are also refillable. Markers running low on ink can be topped up and used again and again – no trash can, no waste. And at the end of the AusPen’s long life, the marker goes in the recycling bin since it is made of 100% recycled aluminum. The cost savings amount to approximately 70% the cost of disposable markers. AusPen’s health, environmental and cost benefits add up to a triple threat.

The value of refillable markers – not what you’d think

Whenever something that belongs to my kids doesn’t work, there’s a moment of hesitation, and then, fling! Away it goes. So much in their world is disposable, replaceable and broken. So many of their things hold no real value.

That’s why the concept of the AusPen refillable whiteboard (dry-erase) marker may take a moment to wrap our minds around. Add drops of ink to the marker and keep on using it? When eventually the nib frays, turn it around and use the other end? After countless refills, when the aluminum marker has had its day, throw it in the recycling bin instead of the garbage? Well, it must cost a fortune.

The irony is that goods that are designed to have a short user-lifespan, such as regular whiteboard markers, cost considerably more, 70% more in the case of regular whiteboard markers compared to the AusPen.

Consider the message to children in a class where a teacher can hold up the AusPen kit – 6 markers with their refill inks – and say, “Because of this kit I am not going to throw away 246 toxic, non-biodegradable markers into our local landfill.” Imagine the children’s thoughts. Imagine the impact on their actions. Imagine the value in that.

"Green My School"

CBS and EcoZone Media teamed up to put on a great project for schools in three areas across the country. It's called the "Green My School" contest and the winners have started to be announced...in San Francisco, the Chicago area and Miami.

The winning schools receive "green" makeovers, amounting to over $100,000 in green school supplies, green products and green services.

Refillable whiteboard markers are one of the components to the "Green My School" contest, as each winning school gets outfitted with AusPen markers. What does that mean? It means no more Expo markers being thrown in the trash bin and hauled off to the local landfill. It means reducing the toxicity in classrooms, making it a better environment for the students, but also for teachers, who have to stand inches away from markers with Xylene for large parts of the day.

And one of the great benefits as well, the schools will start to save literally thousands of dollars every year by using a recycled, refillable product...the AusPen markers cut whiteboard marker budgets by more than 70% when they get in the system.

It's a great contest and congratulations to all schools who sent in entries.

ABC News Highlights Non Toxic Whiteboard Markers

ABC's Good Morning America recently put together a feature on safe school supplies and green school supplies as the kids head back to classrooms this fall. They particularly focused on non toxic school supplies, products with low VOCS (volatile organic compounds) which reduce exposure of harmful toxins for the students and the teachers.

As they stated, conventional whiteboard markers are one of the top sources of toxic waste for schools, as they contain Xylene. These markers go to the landfills by the truckload, filling landfills not only with non-biodegradable plastic containers, but these little toxic bombs will keep leaking Xylene into the soil (and in many cases, into the water table).

ABC News identified AusPen refillable markers as a safe, green alternative to the disposable dry erase markers, as they are made up from recycled material and they are non toxic.

Have a look at the ABC News feature on their website here

Non Toxic Markers

Just checking out my local stationery supply store and I have to say I'm impressed with how far the product supply has come in the last year, in terms of offering non toxic dry erase markers. There were several brands available. However, be careful when buying a marker that says low-odor, as just because it is low-odor doesn't mean it is non toxic.

But the shift over to eco-friendly products at a retail level has been impressive, whether it is refillable, non toxic markers like AusPen markers, to recycled paper, non toxic glue, like Elmer's new product and more.

So the next time you are looking to buy school supplies or new supplies for the office, think about green, non toxic options.

Green Guide

The latest issue of the National Geographic Green Guide magazine arrived on newwstands and in subscriber mailboxes over the last week. The cover story is "Safe School Supplies" as most kids head back to school.

We are very proud to say that our AusPen whiteboard markers have been included in the article by National Geographic. Not only did they use a good size image of our eco-friendly markers, but they put us number one on their list of "Guide To Greener Schools" with six other products.

It was good to see refillable, recyclable dry erase markers and whiteboard markers make this esteemed list. The big key for them was we have non-toxic markers.

You can pick up the magazine at leading retailers everywhere, or at their website at http://www.thegreenguide.com/

It's Back To School

For some regions, it's back to school, or at least teachers are getting ready for the kids to start arriving. Other areas still have a few weeks before the doors fly open to another school year.

When you're getting ready to outfit the classroom with supplies, please try and think green with what you purchase, but also with how you go about your day-to-day activities once school has started. Recycle, reuse, reduce are the keys.

Whiteboard markers are one part of the equation when it comes to making positive changes in making classrooms and schools greener (refillable, recyclable, non-toxic products in any area are great to be looking out for).

For those who are back at school, have a great year, for those with a few weeks of vacation left, enjoy it.