Green Schools

We're committed to helping schools become as green as possible and that means delivering a whiteboard marker that is non-toxic, but also one that is made from recycled material and is refillable.

It is always great to be recognized by respected members of the school districts, as we have in the last couple of months on trips to California, Washington State and the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

As well, when respected media companies also highlight our AusPen markers it makes us feel very good about not only the markers, but the real impact it is having in the everyday lives of students, teachers and office workers - and of course local eco-systems.

Over the next couple of months it looks like several magazines and newspapers will be doing pieces on AusPen markers - we'll keep you posted.

By the way, here is a link to the Fall issue of National Geographic's Green Guide magazine article on the "Greenest School Supplies", which features AusPen whiteboard markers.
www.thegreenguide-magazine.com/thegreenguide/fall2008/?pg=68

Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving

Teachers - Whiteboard Markers That Don't Stink

We were at an educational conference recently and one of the top complaints from teachers about their working conditions was the smell of the whiteboard markers (dry erase markers) that they have to use.

That smell causes many of them to feel lethargic and have headaches by the end of the day. Many said they often feel nauseous at points during the day due to inhaling the fumes from their whiteboard markers.

Breathing in these toxins all day long is not good for you - obviously. This is a heath hazard and shouldn't be allowed in the workplace.

Make a point of asking your school administrators to only use markers that don't contain Xylene. Xylene free markers are the eay to go for a healthier work environment.

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/

Greening Your Workplace

Even small steps can help to make a big diffeence when making the inside of your workplace more eco-friendly.

Here's a tip that we have seen work very recently at a couple of companies.

"Green" learning lunches have been organized. They are completely voluntary and just a relaxed way of getting people together to discuss ways of being more green and brainstorming ideas of what might work in the office.

One company we work with has started to show movies with a sustainability theme during lunch hour. This has really had a big impact, as it gets people thinking which leads to positive actions around the office.

You might want to try this at your place of work.

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.