Ryman stores have recycled over 3.5 million pens since joining the Writing Instruments Free Recycling Programme sponsored by BIC and managed by TerraCycle in 2019.
The announcement from Ryman comes as Recycle Week 2024 kicks off in the UK (14 – 20 October), which this year focusses on focusing on rescuing recyclable items from heading to the rubbish bin.
The Writing Instruments Free Recycling Programme is an in-store service that allows customers to bring in any type of pen for recycling across all of Ryman’s 190 stores, making it easier for people to do their part and recycle. The programme is sponsored by BIC as part of its sustainability programme, with the programme logistics and recycling managed by TerraCycle.
Not only does this scheme benefit the environment, but it also benefits charity. For every kilo of pens collected and shipped to TerraCycle for recycling, Ryman earns TerraCycle points, which are redeemed as charity donations. Since 2019 Ryman is proud to share that over £34,000 has been raised which will be shared equally with Ryman’s charity partners Starlight Children’s Foundation UK, the British Dyslexia Association and Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.
Commenting on this sustainability success, owner and chairman of Ryman, Theo Paphitis, said: “I’m very proud that Ryman has been able to do its bit and make a positive impact on such a major issue by recycling over 3.5 million pens since 2019 in partnership with BIC and TerraCycle. Not only has this successful collaboration rescued the equivalent of 35 tonnes of waste from landfills, but it has also raised over £34,000 for our charity partners in the process – a real win-win, and I know we’re not stopping there!”
TerraCycle ceo and founder Tom Szaky commented: “Many waste products, including writing instruments, are technically recyclable but are not recycled via municipal kerbside recycling due to the complexity and cost of recycling. Some people might think that a single pen is insignificant but if you add up all the pens being used it adds up to a considerable volume. We are therefore delighted to collaborate with Ryman with their stores acting as a network of public access drop off locations across the UK for members of the public to be able to recycle their pens. To have saved over 3.5 million pens from landfill and raised £34,000 for charity since 2019 is a real achievement!”
To celebrate UK Recycle Week 2024 and this momentous achievement, Ryman is also offering customers a 10% discount on BIC pens (terms and conditions apply) when they recycle their old pens in-store between the 14th and 20th of October 2024.
