Well, when I first started exploring picks last year I decided to look for environmentally friendly picks. Of course they’re tiny but I like to avoid buying little bits of plastic and to support companies making a sustainable initiative.
So found a few that I’ll mention below and I’d love to hear of others experiences of these or other “eco-friendly” picks.
I’ve found two recycled plastic picks.
Lindo-eco: Lindo Eco Plectrums Recycled ABS Picks Mixed Gauges and Colours x 6
Made from recycled ABS in a variety of thicknesses. I like the 1.2 and the 1.5. I found them to have a fairly warm tone, versatile for picking and strumming. They are medium noisy picks on acoustic or electric but not much chirp. They tend to slide a bit in my fingers, especially the lighter ones.
Reprotone: http://www.reprotone.com
Three picks: .5, .75, and 1 mm. Made of recyled PET, Nylon (shag carpet), or a mix of Nylon with copper. I like the Shag. they are a bit larger shape, nice to hold, good for strumming blues - a crunchy sound on acoustic or electric. I don’t like them as much for lead due to the thinness. Not chirpy. I like the Nylon-copper blend and the nylon best. very friendly company - I couldn’t get them in the UK so he sent me a sample for free.
Wood: I’ve tried some oak picks made from recylcled Irish whisky barrels and from oaks cut down by the canals in England. Can’t quite get used to them though I love the idea. Fairly thick 1.5 or 2 mm. A bit chirpy, warm tone, slight scrappy feel when picking yet a smooth sound. Need to use them more as a I can’t quite figure them out. I got them from two people on Etsy - I’m keen on avoiding unsustainably sourced wood so the recuperated picks were what I went for. They look great.
Buffalo horn: 10 Real Buffalo Horn Guitar pick with hand carved groove and thumb impression | eBay
These are beautiful with a nice indent for the thumb, on the back there is an angled groove that works for an extended-trigger grip or an angle pad grip. They feel nice in the fingers and pick doesn’t turn in your fingers at all. Fat. 2 mm. Slightly irregular as hand made, but most have a lovely bevel. They slide very smoothly over the strings and create a very warm tone with good sustain. They do produce a lot of picking noise and considerable chirp. The pick doesn’t give at all so encourages flexibility of having a strong or a light grip on the pick as needed.
Anyone out there tried any of these or others that are out there?