Guide to Eco-Friendly Promotional Products

Promotional products can be a moral dilemma for an environmentally conscious businesses. How can you spread the word about your company, or show appreciation to your employees or customers, without impacting the environment? By using Eco-friendly promotional products. They can be functional and fun, but best of all, they show you are Earth-conscious and environmentally friendly. This always reflects well on you and your organization.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy recycled plastic promotional products.

Plastic eco-friendly promotional products utilize plastic that has been recycled in one form or another. They are used to make promotional products such as: yo-yos, mugs, rulers, keyrings, pens, and more. The types of recycling include: Post Consumer - This is plastic recycled from consumer goods, such as water bottles, detergent containers, etc. The plastic is collected at local recycling centers, then reprocessed and remolded. Post Industrial - Plastic is often used in the production of other goods, such as cars or model airplanes. The plastic that is used in these industrial processes, and not part of a finished product, is reprocessed and recycled for other uses. Off-White Recycled Plastic - Most post-consumer plastic is a hodge-podge of colored containers, resulting in a finished product that is black in color. This process is different, as it divides the plastics by color before being reprocessed, allowing for a wider-range of colors upon completion.

I recommend: Plastic eco-friendly promotional products are just a click away.  If you're looking for more details on recycled plastics, check out the plastic recycling rates page on the site for CRI - Container Recycling Institute.

Try purchasing promotional apparel made from all natural fibers.

The fabric of our lives, cotton is still the most popular clothing material in the United States. However, cotton farms account for 25% of all pesticide and insecticide use. So with consumers becoming more Earth-conscious, alternatives are growing even more popular. Here are a variety of natural fibers you can find in earth friendly promotional products: Organic Cotton - The same, touch, feel and look of regular cotton, organic cotton is grown with minimal use of toxic pesticides and insecticides. These organic farms have a low-impact on the environment. Hemp - Different than black-market marijuana, industrial hemp was popular in the 1700's, and contains only about 2% of the drug THC. The hemp plants can also be used for many other textile purposes. Bamboo - Made from bamboo grass, bamboo fabric is soft, hypo-allergenic, and whisks away moisture. It is one of the most highly sustainable plants and typically requires no pesticides or fertilizers.

I recommend: Now you can purchase eco-friendly apparel such as t-shirts, thongs, infant clothing and hats that are made out of hemp or bamboo, or even organic cotton.  For more information on organic cotton: http://www.sustainablecotton.org/

Living items make great eco-friendly promotional products.

As the old saying goes, "give the gift that keeps on giving." Living item promotional products are the perfect way to give a gift that will literally last for years to come. Here are some examples: Seeds - Give seed packets or seedlings for everything from flowers to herbs. There are indoor herb gardens, booming bags, blooming cans, and seed kits, all with directions for growing. Trees - Imagine giving the gift of an evergreen seedling. The tree comes with directions for planting and care, and will grow for decades. Or, choose the smaller bonsai tree for indoor care and meditation. Ecospheres - Large or small decorative glass spheres that house micro-organisms in a self-sustaining environment.

I recommend: There are plenty of eco-friendly living promotional products out there to choose from.

Look for other eco-friendly promotional products

As recycled products become more popular, and the demand grows, so does the selection. Here are even more eco-friendly promotional products: Solar Power and Hand Cranked Lights - Batteries not included? No problem. You don't need them with these flashlights that are powered by the sun, or by hand-cranking. Bamboo USB Drives - Natural in look and impact, these USB drives are perfect for giveaways to Earth-conscious college students or employees. Tote Bags - Never worry about answering Paper or Plastic again, with these re-usable tote bags. Perfect for the big-box grocery stores or a trip to the farmer's market.

I recommend: Solar Powered and hand-cranked products are easy to find, as well as environmental tote bags and backpacks.  Bamboo USB drives are a bit more rare, however.