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Weisenbach Recycled Products...how it all began.
A History of
Environmental Sustainability
Our commitment to environmental stewardship has earned Weisenbach
Recycled Products a reputation as a leading green
manufacturer.
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1981 is when it all began. Dan Weisenbach
started making novelty buttons in the
basement of his parents' home. By the end of the year, Dan's
parents, Paul and Teresa Weisenbach, joined him to open a small
printing and manufacturing company in Columbus, Ohio.
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The company operated with a triple-bottom-line
philosophy long before that concept was identified. It just made
sense to the Weisenbachs that to be successful meant caring for the
people with whom you work, providing benefit to your community and
taking care of the environment, as well as earning a
living.
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In the mid-1980s Weisenbach began offering
promotional products made from recycled materials.
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The EcoSpout™ was invented in 1986 by the Harman Co.
(Columbus, Ohio) and later added to the Weisenbach product line
along with the Adapt-A-Jug®. Both products were granted patents by
the USPTO.
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In 1989 Weisenbach's pressman, Dave Lonsdale,
provided testing, evaluation and feedback in the development of soy
and vegetable-based inks for sheet-fed offset printing, becoming
one of the first printers in America to convert to 100% use of soy
inks. "We started using soy inks and recycled paper for all of our
customer orders, whether they requested it or not," said Dan
Weisenbach.
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Also in 1989, they were the first company to offer a
complete line of recycled and environmentally preferable
promotional products.
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1990 - The American Soybean Association's National
Soy Ink Information Center certified Weisenbach as one of the first
small offset printers to be authorized to use their "Soy Seal" logo
on printed materials.
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The 1991 Environmental Expo was held in Columbus,
Ohio and Weisenbach displayed their recycled products publicly for
the first time to businesses, schools and government
agencies.
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1992 - Weisenbach starts their environmentally
themed production of the popular "POGs" Milk-Cap-Game pieces. The
first to be made of 100% recycled paperboard and printed with soy
ink. Production required modifying and adding machines, including a
new specialized machine that Dan Weisenbach had built to his
specifications.
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ECOBUTTONS® were created in 1992 as the first and
only 100% recycled paperboard promotional buttons and badges. This
product used many of the same processes as the "caps" game
pieces.
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1993 - Dan invented a new technique for achieving
the appearance of full-color printing in only one-pass, with no dot
or screen pattern, on a press designed for single color
imprint.
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In the mid-1990s Weisenbach produced the first mouse
pads made from recycled tire rubber, in conjunction with the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The line of
ReTire® mouse pads and drink coasters was born.
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1997 - the FitFill® funnel was invented by Fitfill
Inc. to encourage recycling of fluids by re-using gallon jugs. A
utility patent was granted in 1999.
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1998 - the original Snap & Pour® was invented by
the Harman Co.
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In 1999, Weisenbach created the first 100%
post-consumer recycled glass round plaques and launched the
ReAward® line of personalized recognition awards.
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From May 1999 through December 2001, Dan Weisenbach
was a contributing editor for Cahners Publishing. He wrote a
monthly article that was published in Quick Print Products magazine (Graphic
Arts Monthly). Dan's column was titled "Press Time" and primarily
focused on printing equipment and processes. His article regarding
soy ink is still widely circulated as a resource for
environmentally responsible printing.
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In 2003, Weisenbach contracted for the FitFill®
Funnels to be made of recycled polypropylene plastic; initially
auto bumpers, then automotive battery casings and now made if
plastic beverage caps.
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In the beginning of 2004 Weisenbach produced 32,000
ice cream scoops from over 2,000 pounds of plastic yogurt cups from
Stonyfield Farms. The
scoops were printed with the Stonyfield logo and the tagline "made
of 100% Stonyfield yogurt cups."
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RecycledProducts.com hits the
internet in 2004 as the most complete source of recycled content
promotional products and awards.
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Green Anchors® recycled plastic wall anchors were
first produced in 2004. As much a hit for their name as they were
for being a recycled content product suitable for LEED Green
Building projects.
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In 2005 Weisenbach acquired the FitFill® line of
patented, special purpose funnels, including all trademarks,
patents, tooling and molds. The brand includes FitFill® Oil
Recycling Funnel, FitFill® Birdseed Funnel, FitFill® F.O.G. Funnel
(fats-oils-grease), FitBig® wide-mouth jug and drum funnel, FitPop®
beverage and spray bottle funnel, plus traditionally designed
multi-purpose funnels. (See www.FitFill.com)
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That same year, Weisenbach merged with the Harman
Co. into their operation with an exclusive marketing and production
agreement. Weisenbach now offers a comprehensive line of
specialized funnels and spouts for pollution prevention and
watershed awareness.
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In 2006 Weisenbach created 350,000 tiny flower pots
from a different scrap material from Stonyfield Farms, a mixture of
polystyrene and metalized polyester film. The little pots were
packed with organic basil seeds plus a coir soil wafer and used to
promote Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt.
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Also in 2006, Disney® contracted with Weisenbach for
recycled product ideas suitable for teenagers involved in extreme
sports. Dan Weisenbach's teenage son Paul helped create the world's
first "dog tag" necklace made from 100% recycled tire rubber. The
new Re>Tire® product was used by Disney® Environmentality™ to
promote the ESPN X-Games.
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Virtuous™ Vases recycled glass gifts and awards were
added in 2006. Dan and the staff at Weisenbach gave an
inspirational name of a virtue to each vase design.
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2007 - "Get Green Columbus: Community Garden
Resource Manual," a 28-page, full color book was produced by
Weisenbach in cooperation with the Franklin Park Conservatory, the
City of Columbus and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. The
project was printed with soy ink on 100% recycled paper and was
donated to the "Growing to Green" Community Garden
Program.
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2007 - The first Green Halloween® was celebrated
in Seattle, Washington. The concept was founded by Corey
Colwell-Lipson, a mother concerned about healthier treats for her
children on Halloween. Weisenbach was amongst the first sponsors,
along with Whole
Foods and Treeswing.
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Green Pumpkin™ brand of writing instruments, school
supplies and office products was conceived in October 2007. The
retail products were then launched in August 2009 at select "green"
retailers and online at RecyclingIsCool.com
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The Eventware® line of plastic plates, cups, saucers
and trays for use at special events, was introduced in 2007.
Eventware® became an official Registered Trademark in 2011. The
full line is now available for sale at RecyclingIsCool.com.
Eat, Drink, Socialize!
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The acquisition of Harman Co. was completed in 2008,
securing EcoSpout™, Adapt-A-Jug®, Snap & Pour® and Adapt &
Pour™ Sprinklers and Spouts, including all trademarks, patents and
tooling/molds, as wholly owned Weisenbach products.
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2008 - Alum Creek® brand of tote bags and textile
products made of recycled-content fabrics was first
introduced.
- In January 2008, Weisenbach
launched a glass recycling pilot project and began working with 5
local Columbus, Ohio restaurants to collect all of their empty
wine, beer and spirits bottles. Although sorting is done by hand,
new glass crushing equipment was installed at our factory. Each
month, Weisenbach collected nearly a ton of glass that was crushed
and melted down into our exclusive ReAward® line of post-consumer
recycled glass awards. The program was discontinued in 2011, as
Weisenbach collected enough raw material for nearly a 2-year
supply.
- 2009 - Plastic cap recycling
becomes a reality at Weisenbach Recycled Products as new equipment
was added to process polypropylene (#5 PP) caps and other #5
plastics. Partnerships have been established with wildlife centers,
schools, and zoos to collect the caps for recycling. The cap
collecting program is officially known as Caps Can Do®. Weisenbach
received the official Registered Trademark for Caps Can Do®
collection bins in 2010.
Awards & Recognition
Partnerships & Community Relations
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In 1992 Dan Weisenbach was appointed to the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling and
Litter Prevention Advisory Council, representing wholesale and
retail industry. Dan is now serving his fifth term, having been
appointed by three different governors.
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In 2006 Dan Weisenbach was elected to the
Keep Ohio Beautiful (KOB)
Board of Directors, the state affiliate of Keep America
Beautiful.
- Also in 2006, Dan Weisenbach
joined Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's Green Team, as part of
the city's Get Green initiative.
- In 2007, Dan was selected
for the Green Columbus Board of Directors
where he helps plan and coordinate each month's Green Drinks
event, as well as the Columbus Earth Day Event - the country's
largest Earth Day community service project.
- Weisenbach Recycled Products
was a 2007 co-sponsor of the first Green California
Summit presented by Green Technology for the State of
California.
- February 2008 - Dan
Weisenbach represented the small business perspective as part of
the panel on Ohio's Economy at the Ohio Department of Education's
Policy and Leadership Forum. The panel of seven also included Eric
Fingerhut, Chancellor of Ohio Board of Regents, and Lisa
Patt-McDaniel, now interim director of the Ohio
Department of Development
- 2009-2011 Platinum or Gold Sponsors of the Annual Texas Recycling and Sustainability
Summit
- In
2011 Weisenbach officially "adopted" a 2-mile stretch of highway
near Port Columbus International Airport through the ODOT
Adopt-A-Highway litter control program.
- Twice
a year, the staff at Weisenbach Recycled Products participates in
"Dress-Down Day" to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(LLS). Staff persons can make a monetary donation to dress-down for
the day. The company matches the funds that are raised and all of
the proceeds go to the LLS.
- Dan
Weisenbach and his father Paul Weisenbach are both long-time
members of Charity Newsies. The Charity Newsies work throughout the
year to provide clothing to needy children, with 100% of the
proceeds going to clothe children. Weisenbach Recycled Products
also makes donations of misprint pens and pencils to the Charity
Newsies, who provide them to the children for school
supplies.
- Weisenbach
Recycled Products also makes at least 2 annual donations of
misprint pens, pencils and other products to the Montgomery County
Material Recovery Facility (MCMRF). The MCMRF donates the items to
area teachers for use in their
classrooms.
Certifications & Memberships
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Green
America Certified Green Business (formerly Co-Op
America)
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Registered with the Fair Labor Association as an FLA
Category D Licensee
- Registered as an EPA Energy
Star Partner
- Columbus Green Spot - green
business
- Member of the Association of
Ohio Recyclers (AOR-OMEX)
- Member of the Colorado
Association For Recycling (CAFR)
- Member of the Carolina
Recycling Association (CRA)
- Member of the Indiana
Recycling Coalition (IRC)
- Member of the Michigan
Recycling Coalition (MRC)
- Member of the Ohio
Association of Litter Prevention and Recycling Professionals
(OALPRP)
- Member of the Professional
Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP)
- Member of the Society of
Plastics Engineers (SPE)
- Member of the State of Texas
Alliance for Recycling (STAR)
- Member of the Solid Waste
Authority of North America, Ohio Buckeye Chapter (SWANA)
- Member of the US Green Building
Council (USGBC)
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