O'Bon Giveaway

I was really excited about doing a product review for eco-friendly school and office supplies not only because I hadn’t tried any yet but because I wanted to research which ones I would like to offer at My Baby’s Green store as well.  Believe it or not, we are still using supplies from a couple years ago when Jesse was in art class and from when an ex-employer of mine was moving to a larger building and was throwing a HUGE amount of supplies away! 


O’Bon was founded on the green principle that the simple products we use daily, like pencils, could be made in a more environmentally-friendly, responsible manner. The images they use on their products are from nature.  Fresh, luscious fruits, beautiful close-ups of bird feathers and more-all in hopes that kids will see the link between their purchases and the environment. Who knew recycled newspaper could be so pretty? Both the wildlife series and the fruit colored pencils come beautifully packaged,with eco-friendly packaging and each one has an intricate design that features rich and vibrant colors. I really can’t imagine any child not liking the designs.

O'Bon Pencils and O'BONanza Color Pencil Packs- In case I haven’t mentioned it enough, I am a HUGE supporter of products that are made and distributed in environmentally and socially responsible ways. The extra cost of the products compared to that of conventional office and school supplies is a small price to pay considering the light footprint they have on the environment during manufacturing. Beyond just looking cool and saving resources in the manufacturing process, these pencils are also a bit more sturdy.  With normal wood pencils, if/when you drop them the impact is not absorbed as well as that of the newspaper pencils.  The wood and lead can sometimes split with a normal pencil, but because of the softer and more cushioned properties of the newspaper, there is less of a chance that the lead will break inside the body, and shorten its useful life. O'BON pencils generally last longer than ordinary wood pencils-saving money, time, and most importantly; the earth's natural resources.

When it gets down to actually writing with these recycled pencils, they preform quite well.  After sharpening them I was curious how the section above the lead point would feel.  I would assume that them not having any frayed, rough edges like traditional wood pencils tend to have, was due to them being made from newspapers.  I really liked this feature only because that is the one thing that kept me from using pencils anymore-my finger tip would always feel raw afterwards a while. I think you will agree with the pencils lasting usually 3 times longer than traditional wood ones are worth the few extra bucks.

The benefits of using newspaper for the bodies of these pencils go beyond just saving trees, it’s also important to note that the processing of the paper instead of wood uses less energy and resources, plus it produces much less waste.  The only waste left over from the process of creating these pencils is some extra particles of newspaper, which O’BON actually uses to make mulch used in the landscaping surrounding their factory….pretty cool.

O'BONanza A5 Journal in Apple and Pearl-these journals are remarkably unique considering the paper is made from sugarcane pulp or "bagasse". Most recycled paper is grainy, rough and dull in color. O'BON journals, on the other hand, offer a smooth, bright, high quality paper your pen can glide effortlessly over. They collect the sugarcane pulp used to make our paper from the sugar industry, where it is common practice to either burn or dump the leftover sugarcane "waste." At O'BON, they pride ourselves in using discarded material to create beautiful new products for their customers.

The first thing you will notice about an O'BON journal is the remarkable design. A selection of detailed prints of bird feathers, textured images of fruit and stylized sugarcane graphics are extremely appealing to the eye. They know you're fed up of store shelves littered with boring covers, ugly patterns and cheap paper. Instead, let their great designs compliment your individual style and taste for the unique and interesting. O'BON journals consist of a strong yet soft, white paper. Particularly unique to their eco-friendly journals is the smooth writing surface, typically a trademark of paper made from trees. Writing on their paper is clean and easy no matter what your pen preference is. Moreover, the paper will not bleed through when writing with more inky, fountain pens, a true test of the durability of sugarcane pulp. The shiny, black aluminum spirals result in a strong spine to the journal yet add a classy compliment to the overall design of the journal.
  

O’BON products are not only functional but also beautiful to look at. Many of their binders and notebooks have such up close and beautiful pictures of bird feathers that it was nice just to have them out on my desk! 

Sizes for all-Small, medium or large journals are widely used for all ages and an endless variety of purposes. Journals come in three sizes and a large selection of amazing designs so you will find exactly what you're looking for.

If you are looking for eco friendly office supplies, or school and art supplies for kids, you can’t go wrong with these gorgeous and eco friendly stationery products. Not only do they please the eye with their gorgeous designs, they also create a new market for recycled products and provide a mini-education about environmentalism. At O'BON they are really proud of their ability to find creative ways to produce useful, everyday stationery items in clean, renewable ways. Bagasse notebooks and pencils are a clear reflection of this and represent an important part of O'BON's lineup of amazing products. 

Shopping for supplies can be fun, educational and, best of all, green. O’BON and its products are something to get excited about!  No excuses-why wouldn’t you opt for supplies that are good for the planet?

At O'Bon's website you will find so much more- please click HERE to learn more about them!

RULES

This contest is open to the US.  You have until 8:00 p.m. EST November 1, 2010 to enter.  REMINDER-Please do what you say you did-if I can’t verify any MBG entries they WILL NOT count.  Please visit Rules for more information.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive one of each of the items I reviewed-value $21

MANDATORY ENTRY

PUBLICLY (not anonymously) follow MBG’s Blog either on Networked Blogs or GFC.  Visit O’Bon and leave a comment about their site.  Sponsors LOVE this :)

Extra entries do not count if BOTH aren’t completed

EXTRA ENTRIES

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BONUS ENTRIES for BLOGGERS

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Many thanks to O’Bon for sponsoring this giveaway!

**Disclaimer: The product(s) mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for an honest review and for being featured on 

My Baby’s Green, the Blog