Faber-Castell Launches EcoPencil Line in Argentina
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 03.10.08
(Picture: marellinux from Flickr) In line with the beginning of the school year in Argentina, German firm Faber-Castell has launched a new line of products called EcoPencil, produced with 100% FSC certified wood from reforestation sources in Brazil.
The EcoPencil’s commodity is wood from the ‘Arboris’ project, a 10 thousand hectares reforested area in Minas Gerais (Brazil) that produces 20 cubic meters of wood every hour. The area, which used to be a sterile ground, is now also house to 307 species of native plants.
Via El Blog Verde
According to the Argentine branch of the firm, the EcoPencil launch is actually a re-branding: “from this year on, the ‘pencil’ will no longer exist and will give place to the ‘EcoPencil.’ Only the right name for a product that is being produced since decades ago,” says in its website. The new eco-conscious name shows how concern over environmental issues is starting to grow in some Latin countries.
Besides this particular measure, Faber-Castell has different environmental and social initiatives in Latin American countries.
In Brazil, for example, it has natural reserves to preserve animal species, carries on with soil preservation programs, environmental education programs, and volunteer initiatives to assist children in need. Through its website Ecomunidade (which stands for eco-community), the company also educates people in sustainability subjects.
The new line of EcoPencils includes Color Grip, Permanent Color, Watercolor-like, Neon, Metallic and Bicolor pencils; and can be found at stationary shops.
::Faber-Castell Argentina (in Spanish) ::Faber-Castell Brazil (in Portuguese)
At bloody last. Something my kids can relate to. And I can stop looking for excuses when they ask. Will it be sold in popular shops in the US?
Seems nice...... I'm more curios about http://www.smencils.com
Has anyone tried these pencils? are they any good?
Hi Angry African, I'm not sure this line with the EcoPencil logo are available in the US, it's a launch in Argentina. But as they say this is a re-brading, maybe they are doing this worldwide. Keep an eye open for the EcoPencil logo, pictured above.
I believe it`s a good idea. Using reforested area for pencils it`s fine, but you still make them of by wood, why not avoid totally wood, or wood from trees, and making the pencils out of recycled cardboard for example or any other recycled stuff?
I'd rather see them made from MDF or some other product that uses scraps of wood and sawdust.
surely itd not as tree frirndly as it seems... like or not trees, even if specially grown for this, are going down :(
it's more than known that this is not a real solution. and there are solutions, even for pencils, make out of left-overs of wood, or even better, pencils made out of old newspapers (smencils http://www.smencils.com) which clearly is environmental friendy for it's conscient life cycle.
think about this: trees are always trees!
surely itd not as eco-tree friendly as it seems... like it or not, real trees, even if specially grown for this, are going down for these pencils :(
it's more than known that this is not a real eco-solution. eco solutions envolve reutilization and recycling of materials more than just an eco-label! and there are solutions, even for pencils, that can be made out of left-overs of wood, or even better, pencils made out of old newspapers (smencils http://www.smencils.com) which clearly is environmental friendy for it's conscient life cycle.
think about this: trees are always trees!
They are terrific quality and kids love the watercolor ecopencils. We have this line, Smencils, and other unique eco art and craft supplies available at Stubby Pencil Studio.