ReBinder Product Review

One of the things writers use a lot of is paper products and if you keep your manuscripts in print form then you probably use a lot of binders with PVC covers too. In the decade of “be green” or you’re going to hell we all need to be careful with our choices.

This month a company called ReBinder sent me a sample pack of their “green office products” to review for Book-in-a-Week. I had never heard of ReBinder up to that point. They are a “true zero waste office supply manufacturer” located in Seattle Washington that offers recycled binders, CD sleeves, pocket folders and much more.

For review purposes I received one of each of their best selling recycled products:

• The RePocket (2 pocket folder) is great for presentations, media and press kits etc. It’s very sturdy and is the same basic size and shape of any other pocket folder except it’s made from 100% Recycled 20 point FSC Certified bending chipboard and is brown.
• The 1″ ReBinder is the original 3 Ring Binder with a removable and recyclable cover that is made from rigid recycled corrugated cardboard. It’s a great every day use for working manuscripts but I fear the cover wouldn’t stand up to repeated sliding in and out of shelves without some added protection. In the few days I was using it it seemed fine and the rings are strong.
• The RePouch is a pouch insert made from 20 point recycled bending chipboard for holding cards, photos etc.
• The ReTab is a collection of dividers made from 18 point FSC Certified bending chipboard in a five-cut tab configuration. They also have an 8 tab version. This is my favourite type of divider to use. They allow me to use each section as a mini cover to write intros or notes on and they don’t have plastic tips on them that I have to rip off when it comes time to recycle them.
• The 1.5″ ReBinder is obviously stronger than the 1″ original corrugated that I already mentioned. It has the D-ring design that makes viewing contents easier and with the 100 point solid FSC Certified recycled chipboard it is much sturdier. Of the two binders that were sent to me I definitely prefer the D-ring 1.5 inch ReBinder for durability and I didn’t fear I’d get a paper cut from the edges like I did with the original.
• The ReSleeve is a recycled CD jewel case made from 16 point rigid FSC Certified bending chipboard. It can be used to hold a copy of your valuable manuscript, for submissions, or backup.
• The RePlay has two open pockets that fit a single disc and a small booklet or two discs. It is from 18 point recycled FSC Certified bending chipboard.
• The ReBadge is made from plants (and is compostable) and is a perfect reusing your name badge holder for writing conferences, book fairs, and seminars. Definitely recommend them to your next writer’s conference.
• The ReWrite mini is a lined 5″ x 8″ 40 page recycled notebook for taking notes, sketching or doodling. The pages are made from 100% Recycled / FSC Certified paper and the cover is recycled FSC Certified bending chipboard. It was the perfect size for writing down notes and fit easily into my computer bag. My only peeve with it is the FSC stamp on the bottom back of every page and takes up a 1″ x 1.5″ of my writing space. Having it printed on every page seems overly redundant.
• The ReBound is a see through cover with recycled chipboard backing. Like the name tags the clear cover is made from plants but “performs like plastic”. When I first saw this item I thought it was for overhead projector presentations and didn’t realize it was for coil booklet presentations.

The first thing I that stood out when I opened the box from Rebinder was how brown everything is. Brown paper bag brown. Being a creative type myself I thought how incredibly boring this would be for writers. Then I realized this offered another creative opportunity for us. If a binder holds a manuscript images from magazines that represent setting destinations and people could be easily stuck to the outside of the binder like you would with a character board. Or a fabric slip cover could be sewn and slipped on the binder for extra protection and vibrancy. Another option is to have an image / text silkscreen on by ReBinder — great for organizations or conferences or you can have your name scripted on them: “Authored by…” for both looks and inspiration.

Overall, I was impressed with the product sampling and think ReBinder would be a better option for any writer (or writing conference / seminar) wanting to be a little more green. All items are made in the USA and can found at their official website in bulk form.

I gave my husband a few of the products (replay, resleeve, rebinder) to use and here is what he had to say:

The idea of a recycled product made into heavy card-stock / corrugated with no bleaching / coloring or coverings made from oil (vinyl) is a novel idea. The products are simple in design yet functional.

Pros:

• made of recycled material
• material is not bleached or colored
• no vinyl covering
• recyclable at end of life
• all function well

Cons:

• disk holders rigid nature may create scratches if disks inserted/removed often from holders
• not sure how binder would stand up to heavy use (will edges fray, moisture damage)

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.