Ultimate Guide to Eco Promotional Products
Ultimate Guide to Eco Promotional Products
More and more people are starting to lean towards eco-friendly alternatives and are becoming more aware of the impact we have on the planet. Although some green alternatives come at a slightly increased cost, more than a third of global consumers are willing to pay for them. Over time the demand for environmentally friendly alternatives has increased and businesses that wish to keep themselves afloat need to actively take steps to adapt.
So then, let me tell you about some things to look out for to not only help your business but help our planet. Being based in the UK, here is a top list of things to look out for when ordering promotional merchandise:
Is it UK made?
I know what you’re thinking “how can this be eco-friendly?”, but hear me out, made-in-the-UK items instantly eliminate toxic gases freight/shipment harm caused to the planet if imported across the World. Shipping is responsible for 18-30% of all the world’s nitrogen oxide pollution and 9% of the global sulfur oxide pollution. It seems like an unusual solution; it does however create a big impact.
Is it made from sustainable materials?
Sustainable materials are where a product manufactured from natural materials. Natural materials are generally grown or mined; wood, bamboo, wheat, and cotton. stone, clay, metals, and many more. The uses can range from technology to wheat pens, stone paper notebooks, and bamboo phone stands.
Is it recyclable?
Recycling has played a big part in the UK for a while and people are slowly becoming more mindful of it. The UK waste totals 26 millions tonnes, 12 million of which are recycled. Giving us an average recycling rate of 45%. It’s important to factor that in when ordering promotional merchandise, especially for events that can include a considerable amount of single-use items like napkins, plates, and giveaways. This is a great opportunity to re-consider the products and materials you want to use that paint you and your business in a green light.
Is it EU made?
For similar reasons to the UK-made products, ordering from the EU significantly reduces pollution due to shipping distances. EU does also have a sustainable product policy in place in order to reduce and/or eliminate harmful materials and gasses in production. The policy does also act as an advisor when it comes to reducing production costs by switching to renewable energy which also falls under the “eco-friendly” category by reducing harmful gasses.
Recycled Materials
Companies are becoming incredibly innovative when it comes to reusing and repurposing used items. There are many reasons for recycling plastic; it is cheap, readily available, flexible and reusable after ot reaches its end of life. A great example of this would be coffee cups, bags, mailers, bottles, wireless chargers, lanyards, tote bags, and many more.
Water Saving
As the name suggests, it is to reduce water usage during production. We can get hold of fantastic ranges of products to help lower environmental impact. One of such is the “AWARE” range is made from 100% traceable recycled materials. See some facts below on how good this range is for the environment:
- Verified by blockchain technology,
- Saves water as well as donates 2% to water.org.
- So far, it saved 699,564,652 (and counting) litres of water.
There is a forever-growing list of suppliers who are turning away from single-use plastic and starting to look up to good quality materials with a purpose rather than cheaply made goods. Be the change you want to see, inspire others to be more mindful, and look after our beautiful planet by choosing a more sustainable option.
Find out more about our Eco Icons in our Sustainable Supply insight.
Sources:
https://www.recyclingbins.co.uk/recycling-facts/
https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/sustainable-product-policy_en