| The promotional products industry topped $18 | | | | is not banned by the Consumer Product Safety |
| billion in sales in 2006. As one of the | | | | Commission, suppliers in our industry have |
| larger promotional products distributors in | | | | been experimenting with inks, such as |
| the country, Absorbent, Ink. takes the | | | | soy-based and zinc-based, to replace those |
| welfare of our customers very seriously. We | | | | with trace amounts of lead. The challenges |
| strive to work with environmentally conscious | | | | these inks present are a lack of gloss, less |
| suppliers who manufacture and produce the | | | | resistance to scratches, and less dishwasher |
| safest products in the industry, and have | | | | durability. Imprinting with these inks |
| been very pleased to see our industry take | | | | sometimes leaves customers unhappy with the |
| our environmental concerns seriously. | | | | end result, but are potentially safer for |
| | | | society. |
| A recent article titled Recalls have Parents | | | | |
| on Alert, by Kevin Rader of said Mattel | | | | One state that has gone above and beyond to |
| recalled a toy jeep that contained lead | | | | protect people from potential harm is |
| paint. The jeep was a promotional product | | | | California. The CPSC has standards and |
| marketed from the movie cars. Lead paint has | | | | guidelines with products containing lead |
| been banned in this country since 1978 but it | | | | paint and heavy metals. California, however, |
| is still produced in China, wrote Rader. | | | | has set its own guidelines. |
| | | | |
| The promotional products industry topped $18 | | | | Californias guidelines are outlined in The |
| billion in sales in 2006. As one of the | | | | Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Act of 1986, |
| larger promotional products distributors in | | | | also known as Proposition 65. Proposition 65 |
| the country, Absorbent, Ink. takes the | | | | is more stringent than the CPSC regulations |
| welfare of our customers very seriously. We | | | | require. It requires companies to put warning |
| strive to work with environmentally conscious | | | | labels on products with paint or ink |
| suppliers who manufacture and produce the | | | | containing miniscule amounts of lead. There |
| safest products in the industry, and have | | | | still remains debate on whether Prop 65 is |
| been very pleased to see our industry take | | | | necessary or not, but we are happy to comply |
| our environmental concerns seriously. | | | | with these regulations |
| | | | |
| A recent article titled Recalls have Parents | | | | State governments are not the only ones |
| on Alert, by Kevin Rader of said Mattel | | | | tightening production guidelines; some |
| recalled a toy jeep that contained lead | | | | companies are as well. Sabina, a drinkware |
| paint. The jeep was a promotional product | | | | supplier, is one of many printers that have |
| marketed from the movie cars. Lead paint has | | | | honored Proposition 65 by marking items with |
| been banned in this country since 1978 but it | | | | low lead content imprints with warning |
| is still produced in China, wrote Rader. | | | | labels. Sabina also offers zinc-based and |
| | | | organic-based inks as an alternative. |
| A press release from Mattel on Aug. 15, 2007, | | | | |
| stated the company voluntarily recalled the | | | | Claudette Bretzloff, an employee at Sabina, |
| toy because the paint on the die-cast vehicle | | | | said the company uses ink that complies with |
| had impermissible levels of lead. This recall | | | | CPSC standards. Sabina offers warning labels |
| caused Mattel to change the way it regulates | | | | for any shipment, but for all states other |
| and checks for lead in paint. | | | | than California, the warning label is |
| | | | optional. |
| Promotional products are supposed to leave a | | | | |
| good impression in clients minds, not leave | | | | Keeping people safe is an important priority |
| them worrying if they purchased an item that | | | | and we are relieved to see that companies in |
| could be potentially dangerous. | | | | our industry go above and beyond in meeting |
| | | | federal regulations. |
| Although ink containing a low level of lead | | | | |