Glad you asked. The secret to removing rings is now on video.
What happens when it gets wet?
Good Question. We wondered too. In our shady past, we have counseled against submerging the Naked Binder in water. Bare board binder meets water seemed like a bad idea.
That brings us to yesterday. It was raining pretty hard, and I had a Naked Binder in hand. Specs: 110pt bare binders board 97% post consumer waste, 100% recycled. 1" round ring. A recycled binder. About to turn into it's component parts - or so we thought.
So we put the binder outside in the rain for three hours. it sat in a little puddle, blew over in the wind and generally got soaked. after three hours it went under the awning to dry. A little wind and eventually a bit of sun and we looked again.
I just want to say we make a great product.
exhibit A:
That's it. The cover has a bit of a bend. Not even huge, just a little. I flexed it back in seconds. I brushed the dirt off from sitting in the puddle. looks great. Now I am not recommending that you leave your binder out in the rain, but it is good to know it is tougher than you would think.
This binder has been designated as the crash test dummy of Naked Binder. We inscribed the date and time in the rain and are waiting for more oppurtunities to test it more. Stay tuned for more excitement!
Why aren't you on TV?
Well since you ask... check this out:
Can I get different ring sizes than are listed on the Naked Binder website?
Not yet. We are constantly looking to improve our product line and get you what you want, so if you can't find it on the site, please let us know what you want and we will take that into consideration when looking at future products.
What is the packaging in my box?
The crepe paper ribbon keeping your binders safe is a reinforcing material used in book binding. The material is used to bond to the headband and the book block. Library Binding Service, our parent company, take large rolls of the material and cut it down to size for use in book binderies, you are getting the waste ribbons when we are not using the entire roll.
Can I build a wall with Naked Binders?
Well, no. They will make a nice compost though. Have you tried a rammed earth wall?
Are Naked Binders Acid Free? Why, yes they are. The board was lab tested and is Acid Neutral. This means that Naked Binders will not promote the spiral of degeneration that paper goes through when in touch with acid. Those old brittle yellowed paperbacks on your shelf? acidic paper. That article about you in 3rd grade from the newspaper is yellow and brittle? Yup, you guessed it.
The board in Naked Binder is the same board used in the Archival Product binders, in fact our wrapped binder inspired Archival Products to make their own version (which doesn't say naked binder on the back). This is significant because they deal with conservators who are protecting their own very valuable papers. Almost as valuable as that article about you from the 3rd grade.
What this means for you is that the papers/photos/art/things you put into a Naked Binder will last and last. How much more green friendly is the Naked Binder recycled paper vs. virgin paper?
• Recycled paper saves 60% energy vs. virgin paper1
• Recycled paper generates 95% less air pollution: each ton saves 60 lbs. of air pollution 1
• Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water 2
Every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12-foot high wall running from New York to California
1 Center for Ecological Technology 2 EPA
According to these numbers, Naked Binder has currently saved:
• 340 trees • 160,000 gallons of water • 1200 lbs of air pollution
How strong are Naked Binders?
We had an independent lab flex the spine 250,000 times with no visible change to the spine. If you open and close your binder 20 times a day it should last you about 34 years without failing.
One reason the Naked Binder is so strong is that the hinge of the spine is pressed into the board itself. No tape, no weak spots. Vinyl binders have three boards and just a bit of vinyl holding it together. Oops. That's why you are always taping those back together.
We do realize that your use and abuse of the binder may change things, but I have been using one for 11 years for all my bills and tax information. The binder is in great shape, and I still use it.
If you add liquids, the raw board can warp. So go easy on the coffee spilling and strolling in the rain.
Why so strong? It's just a binder. (OK, I added this question. It's important.)
The longer the binder lasts, the less waste is generated. Even recycling generates waste and uses resources. New products = more waste whether or not they are recycled. We would rather sell you a better binder that is well made and will last.
How do I recycle the binder?
If you have the Naked Binder or the Wrapped Binder there are just two steps.
First, remove the rings. If you want to impress your friends and neighbors, just pull the binder and rings apart. If no one is looking grab a screwdriver and pop off the rivets on the back.
Step two: Put the binder in the paper recycling bin and the rings in the metal recycling bin.
If you have a Project Binder, you'll have to remove the spine wrap unless your paper recycling allows cottons. If not, the spine wrap can be recycled by a rag recycler. 99% percent of used textiles are recyclable. If you don't know where to go for this ask your local Goodwill or other thrift stores. This is a good to know for all your worn out clothes, too.
Is the internet the only way to get a naked binder?
Yes, at www.nakedbinder.com.
Eco-friendliness a.k.a is it really that much better to use 97% post-consumer board?
Well, one pound of 97% post-consumer paper saves three pounds of wood, four gallons of water, one pound of emissions and one pound of solid waste.*
With all the binders out in the world, that could be a lot of resources spared. The Naked Binder is also NOT made from petroleum products like a vinyl binder. We do acknowledge the use of petroleums in shipping and creating the binders, and are also working to cut down on carbon footprint by being more efficient with manufacturing.
© naked binder 2010 | 1.877.44.NAKED