A History of Environmental Sustainability

• 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.
• 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.
  
• In the mid-1980s Weisenbach began offering promotional products made from recycled materials.
• The EcoSpout (TM) was invented in 1986 by the Harman Co. (Columbus, Ohio) and later added to the Weisenbach product line along with the Adapt-A-Jug (R). Both products were granted patents by the USPTO.
  
• 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.
  
• Also in 1989, they were the first company to offer a complete line of recycled and environmentally preferable promotional products.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• ECOBUTTONS (R) 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.
• 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.
  
• 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 (R) mouse pads and drink coasters was born.
• 1997 - the FitFill (R) funnel was invented by Fitfill Inc. to encourage recycling of fluids by re-using gallon jugs. A utility patent was granted in 1999.
• 1998 - the original Snap & Pour (R) was invented by the Harman Co.
• In 1999, Weisenbach created the first 100% post-consumer recycled glass round plaques and launched the ReAward (R) line of personalized recognition awards.
  
• 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.
• In 2003, Weisenbach contracted for the FitFill (R) Funnels to be made of recycled polypropylene plastic; initially auto bumpers, then automotive battery casings and now made if plastic beverage caps.
  
• 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."
  
• RecycledProducts.com hits the internet in 2004 as the most complete source of recycled content promotional products and awards.
• Green Anchors (R) 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.
• In 2005 Weisenbach acquired the FitFill (R) line of patented, special purpose funnels, including all trademarks, patents, tooling and molds. The brand includes FitFill (R) Oil Recycling Funnel, FitFill (R) Birdseed Funnel, FitFill (R) F.O.G. Funnel (fats-oils-grease), FitBig (R) wide-mouth jug and drum funnel, FitPop (R) beverage and spray bottle funnel, plus traditionally designed multi-purpose funnels. (See www.FitFill.com)
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
• Also in 2006, Disney (R) 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 (R) product was used by Disney (R) Environmentality (TM) to promote the ESPN X-Games.
• Virtuous (TM) 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Green Pumpkin (TM) 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
• The Eventware (TM) Plate for holding food and drink in one hand hand while standing, was designed for conferences, networking and special events and was introduced in 2007. The handy plate is dishwasher safe and made of recycled polypropylene (#5 PP). Now available at select retailers. "Eat-Drink-Socialize!"
• The acquisition of Harman Co. was completed in 2008, securing EcoSpout (TM), Adapt-A-Jug (R), Snap & Pour (R) and Adapt & Pour (TM) Sprinklers and Spouts, including all trademarks, patents and tooling/molds, as wholly owned Weisenbach products.
• 2008 - Alum Creek (R) 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 Weisenbach. Each month, nearly a ton of glass is collected, crushed, and melted down into our exclusive ReAward (R) line of post-consumer recycled glass awards.
• 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, zoos and aquariums to collect the caps for recycling.
  

Awards & Recognition

• 1997 recipient of the first ever "Recycler of the Year" award from the Association of Ohio Recyclers
• "Best Workplace in America 2001" with special recognition as "Best of the Best" as selected by Printing Industries of America and Graphic Arts Technical Foundation.
• 2001 honoree Dan Weisenbach as "Forty Under 40" - Business First
• 2004 Recycled Product Trade Show "Exhibit Personnel Award" - California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) joint conference held in Sacramento, CA.
  
• 2008 recipient of the Bronze Environmental Excellence Award for Most Environmentally Conscious Printer (Under 25 Employees) by American Printer Magazine
  

Partnerships & Community Relations

• 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.
  
• 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 Platinum Sponsor of the 12th Annual Texas Recycling and Sustainability Summit
  

Certifications

• Green America Certified Green Business (formerly Co-Op America)
• Registered with the Fair Labor Association as an FLA Category D Licensee
• Registered as an EPA Energy Star Partner
• Columbus Green Spot - green manufacturing business