The first retractable ballpoint pen to be awarded the world's most well-known environmental label, the Blue Angel: Grässlin Kunststoffe, Sax Polymers, and Schneider Schreibgeräte are working closely together to develop the material for the Reco retractable ballpoint pen.
A ballpoint pen that not only stands out for its outstanding design but also conserves resources—a dream come true for thousands of companies worldwide. Why? It’s simple. The Reco push-button ballpoint pen from Schneider Schreibgeräte is always a timelessly beautiful gift idea and a popular promotional item. Combined with the experience and expertise of Grässlin Kunststoffe and the Saxaplast PET material from SAX Polymers Industrie—which they developed together—they can now also score points together in the megatrend of sustainability, which is increasingly reshaping business practices.
The Reco is a great example of how we at Grässlin work closely with our partners and customers to turn our projects into shared successes. For Schneider’s refillable Reco ballpoint pen , the plastic had to meet several very specific requirements. To ensure a smooth and reliable injection molding process, the focus was primarily on the material’s flowability, while fracture behavior and impact strength were equally important for the subsequent safety and durability of the finished product. In addition, the Reco pressurized ballpoint pen was designed to have an elegant, matte-shimmering surface. Saxaplast PET was able to meet all of these requirements. The development department at Sax Polymers specifically highlighted the excellent collaboration with Schneider’s engineering and development teams. Schneider’s development team returned the praise and emphasized the outstanding collaboration during the material development phase, during which the entire requirements profile was successfully met. The ultimate challenge in finding the perfect material for the Reco ballpoint pen was ensuring cutting-edge sustainability. Only by using certified, traceable material streams of post-consumer recycled PET can the final product receive the coveted Blue Angel certification. Saxaplast PET can also effortlessly meet this requirement.
The Reco’s particularly environmentally friendly and resource-efficient manufacturing process has met the strict criteria of the world’s best-known eco-label. The barrel is made almost entirely of recycled plastic. When calculated across the entire production process, this retractable ballpoint pen reduces CO2 emissions by nearly two-thirds compared to the use of conventional plastic. The percentage of recycled material has been verified by an independent and reputable testing institute. Raw material and energy resources are conserved. The claims regarding the use of post-consumer recycled materials are substantiated by the European certification body EuCertPlast.
By the way: Even the refill tube for the Eco 725 M high-capacity refill used in the pen is made from recycled plastic, making it the world’s first refill made from recycled material. Overall, Schneider’s Reco retractable ballpoint pen was recognized by the jury of the 2021 German Design Award for its product and eco-design. Above all, the combination of sustainability and outstanding design was highlighted by the market as a key differentiating feature. And that’s not all: In addition to the German Design Award, Reco also won the Green Award and, in the promotional sector, the Promotional Gift Award as well as the PSI Sustainable Product Award. Applied plastics technology could hardly be more successful. Conversations, great shared ideas, and relaxed moments at our “Fire” evening to wrap up each trade show day. We were delighted by the positive feedback from many customers, suppliers, and industry peers. We’ll see you at Fakuma 2024 in Friedrichshafen—or, of course, anytime and anywhere you need us. We’ll stay (n)on fire for you!
