ReBinder Review and Giveaway

I started college this spring semester and the first thing that crossed my mind was school supplies, and where I needed to get them and what exactly I would need. As some of you already know our family is trying to be more “green” so naturally when I started looking into school supplies I was wanting to find a company that offered “green” and/or recycled products so when I was introduced to ReBinder I knew that this was the company and products I had been searching for, they have a wonderful selection of recycled binders and many other prodcuts !

About ReBinder (taken from website):

Each year, over 500 metric tons of toxic PVC ends up in landfills as the result of vinyl binders that people use. Today we should expect more. Products should be made in our country, with our workers, out of responsible materials with the intention that no landfill be required. ReBinder meets that demand.

ReBinder is the only true zero waste office supply manufacturer and the brand of choice for customers looking for sustainable, quality office supplies. Assembled by a local, AbilityOne certified disabled workforce, all ReBinder product materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests and verified FSC and SFI certified sources. With each purchase of ReBinder products, solid waste, greenhouse gas, energy, tree and water consumption are reduced. Check out our original recycled binders line.

ReBinder products have recently been nominated for the Best Office Products in North America. Learn more about our product line and how they stack up against traditional vinyl binders.

Making products responsibly means considering the source of the materials, the use of the products and where they end up at the end of their life. When used for Sales & Marketing, Events & Training or simply every day internal use, our innovative, durable and practical products raise both brand and environmental awareness while helping responsible organizations reduce solid waste and lower their carbon footprint.

Together, our customers have saved:
-Millions of pounds of greenhouse gases
-Millions of gallons of water
-Tens of thousands of trees
-Tens of billions of BTUs of energy
-Hundreds of tons of solid waste

As a privately owned business in Seattle, Washington, our philosophy embraces a balanced approach to providing exceptional value to our customers with products that reduce the environmental footprint of our industry and our customers.

Our Thoughts:

ReBinder was kind enough to send me their one of their Green Office Supply Sample Pack to review and this kit included:

RePocket: Our recycled presentation folder that is ideal for reports, media and press kits or back to school. RePockets are thicker and more rigid than traditional recycled folders. Made from 100% Recycled 20 point FSC Certified bending chipboard.

1" ReBinder Original: The original cardboard recycled binder with a removable and recyclable cover. Made from rigid recycled corrugated cardboard, our 1 inch ReBinder is the binder chosen by the industry's top architects, graphic designers and creative agencies. Your presentation and brand is sure to stand out from the rest when you present in a ReBinder.

RePouch -- (IN THE 1" BINDER): When your proposal requires an additional pocket, CD and or business card, the RePouch slash pocket folder fulfills all those requirements. Made from 20 point recycled bending chipboard, RePouch keeps loose paper in place while holding up to continuous page turning.

ReTab -- (5 Tab Dividers): Divide your documents with our rigid brown recycled tab dividers. ReTabs are made from sturdy bending chipboard in a five-cut tab configuration. ReTab is also available in an 8 tab version (not included in the green office supply sample pack).

1.5" ReBinder Select: Rougher and tougher, our 1.5" ReBinder is made from solid 100 point solid recycled chipboard and contains our unique removable ring metal assembly. Just because it's not made of plastic, doesn't mean that it's not durable! Great when used in a presentation, as a sales manual or a general office supply, our ReBinder Select is built to last.

ReSleeve: Our recycled cardboard CD sleeve without the plastic. ReSleeves are made from rigid 16pt bending chipboard to protect your CD/DVD . The perfect off the shelf solution for the software company, music label, the band or the board room. Show off the artwork on your CD through the open hole in the front...or choose the version with no hole.

RePlay: Ideal for one disc or two, RePlay recycled cardboard CD cases come with two open pockets that fit a single disc and a small booklet or two discs. The same size and shape as a traditional jewel case but made from 18 point recycled bending chipboard. You'll want to replace all your broken plastic jewel cases with a RePlay.

ReBadge: Tradeshows, Conferences, and Seminars all produce a lot of waste. ReBadge is sure to be the topic of conversation at your event. Your attendees won't believe that their badge is made from plants and not from plastic! We hope you'll reuse your ReBadge multiple times, but if you can't -- compost it! Comes with a sample our 100% recycled perforated brown cardstock.
ReWrite mini -- LINED: We've created the perfect sized 5" x 8"recycled notebook for taking notes, sketching or doodling. Our ReWrite mini comes with 32 pages of 100% Recycled / FSC Certified paper and a recycled FSC Certified bending chipboard cover. You'll get a sample of our most popular college ruled (lined) version but our ReWrite are available in case quantities in ruled, blank or quad ruled graph paper.

ReBound: Make your presentation a game winner -- go for the ReBound. Document Finishing supplies have been limited to plastic and non recycled paper options. ReBound's clear cover looks, feels and performs like plastic but it's made from plants! ReBound can be used with any comb or coil binding system and comes with a clear PLA cover and a 20 point recycled FSC Certified chipboard back. It's the perfect solution for eco friendly presentations or LEED proposals.

This sample pack could not have arrived at a better time, just as I was attending my first few days of classes and I immediately put them to work. The one thing I have to say that I love most about ReBinder (besides that it’s recycled) is that they are a simple brown color that can be decorated as you wish so it didn’t take me a “Bug” long to customize the folder and binders. I love that I was able to label them with the adorable stickers from the scrap booking section of my local craft store as well as add some stickers from some of my favorite rock bands, (yes, it was just like I was in High School all over again!).

After using most of these items on a daily basis for three months straight I have to say that they held up wonderfully of the active college life and the late night studying and taking them to and from class. Unlike other school supplies, I’ve used (back in high school) I did not have the issue of these products trying to rip and fall apart halfway thought the semester. These are for sure some of the best office/school supplies that I have ever used and I will be sure to put in an order for some more of their binders, folders and recycled notebooks for the upcoming semesters.

Not only are these products very durable and super fun to decorate and add your own “style” to they are also very firm so you don’t have to worry about your papers getting beat up in your bag or during transfer to one office to the other. I also love the RePlay and ReSleeve (cd sleeves) and I am currently looking to order some more of these for my pictures that I keep on disk to keep them safe and unscratched. The ReTabs are also awesome they seem to be quite a bit more durable than traditional tab dividers I’ve used in the past and they stayed put on the divider and didn’t crack or fall apart!

Bottom Line:

After trying all the wonderful sample products in the kit, I am super pleased to say ReBinder you now have yourself a new loyal customer and I have told lots of my schoolmates, family and friends about your products and hopefully they will take my advice and make the switch to the better for the environment and more durable products you offer for their school and office needs! I know my sister is currently looking to put in an order for her next semester college supplies for the fall semester, so I will be sure to update you all on her thoughts!

Help out the earth and add some durable and recycled office/school supply products to your office or locker! I’m telling you, you will not be sorry because these products from ReBinder will save you money in the long run simply because they are made to last!

Buy It:
To purchase the sample kit mentioned above and many more ReBinder products visit the ReBinder website!

Win It:
ReBinder has generously agreed to offer one of my fabulous readers one of their Green School Supply Kit (ARV $39.99)!!

Mandatory Entry: Visit ReBinder and tell me what product you would most like to have! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (2 extra)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to ReBinder be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” ReBinder on Facebook

6. Follow ReBinder on Twitter


Giveaway ends June 29, 2011 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the ReBinder Sample Pack mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.