Are you one of those people who love the aroma of a freshly uncapped marker pen, relishing that little tingle you get when you have been at the whiteboard just a tad too long? Well then, I’m afraid this review is not for you. If, however, you can live without the aforementioned fix, and want to do a little something to reduce the amount toxic waste entering the environment then, please, read on. This article is looking at eco-friendly marker pens and how swapping our traditional permanent markers for one of these greener products can reduce the damage we are inflicting on the planet. I have looked at what this product has to offer, the claims it makes as to its eco-credentials and why we, as conscientious writers, should be making the change.
Why are traditional markers so un-eco friendly?
The environmental impacts associated with permanent markers are:
- The casings are produced from either plastic or aluminium.
- They are non-recyclable and often end up in landfill or incinerators.
- The ink is toxic.
As I’m sure you’re aware, the production of plastic is a highly pollutant industry and also consumes one of our planet’s precious resources – oil. The production of aluminium is also energy intensive; about 1 per cent of the world’s total energy supply is used in the process of extracting aluminium. So marker pens – or anything for that matter – that can be made from alternative materials is a step in the right direction.
Because they cannot be recycled, literally millions of used marker pens enter landfill sites globally, where they don’t biodegrade and leach toxic chemicals into the natural environment. They have also been found in the guts of dead albatrosses, and are in all likelihood, responsible for the death of any of these magnificent creatures unfortunate enough to swallow one.
Traditionally, marker pen inks contain one of two chemicals: xylene or toluene. These are the chemicals responsible for that (oh so sweet) pungent aroma, but they are also highly toxic and are created using fossil fuels. According to the Environment Agency, xylenes can be toxic to wildlife and they are also volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to harmful ground-level ozone formation (Environment Agency). They are also harmful to aquatic organisms and can have health impacts for humans, although in regard to marker pens, this risk is generally perceived as low.
Toluene is an irritant to the eyes, skin, nose and lungs … a dangerous fire hazard and can lead to a flashback due to its heavy vapour. It is produced by the catalytic reforming of naphthas and from pyrolysis gasoline co-produced in the steam cracking of liquid feedstocks. A very small amount is still produced from light oil formed by the carbonisation of coal, (ICIS.com). Ok, I won’t pretend that I’m a chemist, or even to completely understanding what this actually means, but my experience of environmental issues tells me, this is not good stuff. What’s more, the aforementioned harmful vapours are filling the classrooms of our children, daily – and as I‘m sure you’ll agree, kids have a hard enough time studying for exams, let alone being slowly poisoned at the same time!
What eco-friendly markers are currently available?
There are different types of eco-friendly markers out there at the moment: Several simply use non-toxic ink, others are refillable and there are some that are made from green materials, such as recycled plastic and post consumer packaging. However, top of the pile, in my opinion, are those pens that have been manufactured with their complete life cycle in mind, from the materials used in production right through to how they are disposed of. I’m not going to name all of the different brands of pen that I have discovered, except for the one that has been created with all aspects of the environment in mind: the AusPen.
AusPen claim that just one marker pen along with one refill bottle will replace 20 traditional marker pens, or to put it another way, 6 markers with 6 refill bottles will replace 240 throwaway pens (AusPen). Not bad.
To paraphrase what the makers and suppliers say; they use a recycled material (aluminium) to create the pens, saving valuable resources. They don’t use the above-mentioned toxic substances in the ink. To further increase the savings – both ecologically and financially – the pens can be refilled when empty. Plus, when your writing days are over, the pens themselves can be recycled, not sent to landfill or incineration, saving about 9kg of toxic waster per AusPen Kit (6 markers and 6 refill bottles).
Now, because I’m not a teacher or a trainer, and as I have embraced the digital revolution, I never use this product. However, all of the reviews that I have found are positive; but hey, if it’s true to its credentials and writes ok, what more can you say?
Other pens available
It’s easy to find numerous eco-friendly pens and pencils on the market, that are made from sustainable wood, recycled materials etc. but there are far too many to review here – and this article is about markers anyway. But just to quickly digress, as a father of two children, who both aspire to be the next Rolf Harris, I do throw away a lot of colouring pens, which is costly both to my bank balance and the environment. I have looked for children’s felt tips boasting the same care in their production as the best of the marker pens, but as yet I have not managed to find any (a possible gap in the market?) While I personally have no use for permanent markers, a set of felt tip colouring pens that are made from responsible materials and also are refillable would defiantly be on my shopping list. Anyway, back to the point at hand. I have put a shortlist below of some products that I feel are the greenest and why, along with a comparison of some typical prices for marker pens.
- AusPen – made from recycled material, refillable, recyclable.
- V Board Master Whiteboard Marker – made from minimum 70% recycled material, refillable.
- Pilot Jumbo Twin Marker – made from 82% recycled material.
- Remarkable – made from used crisp packets, car parts and carpet off-cuts.
- Copic Ciao – refillable.
- (All of the above use non-toxic ink)
Make sure you visit our store for our range of eco-friendly marker pens
Some sample prices:
- Normal permanent markers – about 50 pence each.
- Normal markers made with non-toxic ink – about £1.00 each.
- Refillable, made form a large percentage of recycled material – about £1.00 – £2.00 each (but much cheaper when you exercise the refill option)
- Fully recyclable, refillable, non-toxic (AusPen) – About 20 pence each (if you buy the AusPen Kit)
Please note; these prices are guide only; they will depend on how many pens you purchase, how often you refill them, and naturally, where you buy them.
In summary then…
Almost all of the above products claim to be eco-friendly, but from the research that I have undertaken, my personal endorsement would be for the AusPen. This is simply because it is the only one I can find that ticks all of the green boxes: non-toxic ink; made from recycled materials, that are themselves recyclable; and it’s refillable.
I have to admit that I was only made aware of eco-friendly marker pens by a colleague who thought I might be interested in this whole issue. Therefore, the concern of permanent markers and the damage they inflict on both the planet and ourselves has proved to be a bit of an eye-opener. The humble marker pen may appear small and irrelevant, but as with many other topics associated with environmental degradation, a small, apparently innocuous little item, when multiplied by vast numbers, can have a detrimental impact. Nevertheless, you also have to think on the reverse side of this; my point being that it’s very easy to feel our own tiny contribution is too small to make a difference and that changing the marker pens we use won’t have a great effect on the overall problems of landfill and resource depletion. But if everybody starts to make the switch, then we will see a difference; no matter how insignificant it may appear to us at the time. Multiply all of these minor differences and we will soon begin to see a major, worthwhile change. So go on, make your mark.
References
AusPen – www.auspenmarkers.com/refillable-pens. Online. Accessed 02/06/10
Environment Agency – www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pollution/254.aspx. Online. Accessed 29/06/10
ICIS.com www.icis.com/v2/chemicals/9076548/toluene.html. Online. Accessed 29/06/10
