Reusable Bags News

The fall equinox has arrived again, and the days are getting shorter, but for the team at Factory Direct Promos, the most critical time of the year is just beginning. The year of 2010 has been a timely reminder for all those who care deeply about the environment.  From the tragic Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill to further increases in average daily temperature resulting from Global Warming, increased pollution, and a human population that is growing exponentially, there has never been a more important time for individuals and organizations to take action by contributing to the solution, rather than the problem.

Jason Tunick, owner of Factory Direct Promos, which is a leading supplier of green promotional products for businesses, sees this devastating trend and wants to see monumental paradigm shifts in the way we treat our planet. Since 1996, FDP has been committed to finding and using renewable resources in their design, development and manufacturing of premium eco friendly promotional products to help countless companies improve their brand and image, while also helping create a clean and healthy planet for current and future generations.  Jason explains that the last quarter of the year is the best opportunity for individuals and organizations to reduce their overall negative impact on the environment.

Biodegradable Bags & Promotional Products

“We can’t underestimate how much we can accomplish as individuals and collectively in the final quarter of 2010.   The facts remain that our planet is in an environmental crisis, and it is with our collective individual actions that we can make our planet a better place one decision at a time.  For example, we can choose to use reusable green bags when shopping instead of a plastic bag that will just end up in a landfill. I got into the business to business realm because I saw an opportunity to help companies promote their brand while also raising awareness for these critical environmental issues our society is facing today.  With the approaching holiday season, the sky is the limit for the amount of people businesses can reach before this year is over.”

FactoryDirectPromos.com features over one hundred eco promotional items such as stainless steel water bottles, non-woven polypropylene reusable shopping bags, RPET recycled grocery bags, bamboo pens, seed paper notebooks, recycled plastic USB drives, seed paper products, 100% biodegradable corn products and more. He has just extended a full line of biodegradable bags comprised of jute, cotton, bamboo and other organic materials.  As opposed to traditional waste, when biodegradable materials are exposed to sunlight, oxygen and heat, they are converted into water, carbon dioxide, mineral salt, and biomass. This means that no harmful residue will remain in the soil once discarded in a landfill or anywhere else.  Eco bags are very fashionable and last a lifetime. By branding eco products, businesses can empower their customers, employees, vendors, partners and colleagues to go green.

These durable promotional products can be custom imprinted with your company logo, message and with many products, even your colors. Check out the brand new “yourBag” customization page on FactoryDirectPromos.com to embroider your personality and company mantra on each bag or bottle. This section allows you to choose your bag material, size, colors and patterns, as well as the choice of adding features like handle type, handle length, velcro, snaps, zippers, pockets, and attachments such as carabiners, lanyards and keychains.   This gives business owners all the power in creating a bag that is best for your company and target audience.  Jason is able to provide a quick turnaround time these imprinted custom bags of 60 days, while in-stock reusable promotional bags are shipped within a week.  There’s also a “yourBottle” section (similar to yourBag) which allows you to design custom stainless steel reusable water bottles for your organization.  Visit http://www.factorydirectpromos.com/custom-water-bottles.html to place a custom bottle order.

Factory Direct Promos understands our planet’s environmental health issues are growing, not shrinking.  Not only is 2010 shaping up to be the hottest on record according to the NY Times, our “throw away society” is compounding the problems by trashing huge percentages of what we buy and not recycling nearly enough.  Eco friendly promotional products can be a convenient and positive daily reminder for all of us to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever the opportunity presents itself.  Factory Direct Promos is a pioneer of this paradigm shift and you can follow Jason’s efforts on his blog at www.reusablebagblog.com. Throughout the year of 2010, the FDP team has blogged about environmental issues ranging from deforestation to the Gulf Oil Spill, disposable bag waste problems, plastic bag bans, and even political issues such as climate legislation.  Visit the blog and join the discussion today.  Your actions and voice can make all the difference in the world.

What is the big deal when it comes to disposable shopping bags?  You may have heard in the news over the last several years that we need to think twice about using plastic and paper grocery bags.  But why?  Why should you go out of your way to avoid using disposables, and start using eco friendly reusable or recycled grocery bags?  Before buying into any movement or cause, it is important to know exactly how your actions will make a positive impact on the environment and our world.  Today, we will go over some key environmental issues and problems associated with disposable shopping bag usage.

The Environmental Literacy Council does a great job of explaining the negative effects of both plastic and paper disposable bags at EnviroLiteracy.Org.  Let’s start with the environmental impact of manufacturing plastic and paper bags in the first place.  Plastic bags are produced using oil, and so the environmental consequences of production includes everything from extracting the oil, to the separation of products in the refining process, to the plastic manufacturing process, and the energy used and emissions created to distribute the bags to retailers.  So in reality, the production of plastic bags (caused by our demand as consumers) is a contributing factor to our dependence on oil.  Paper bags, are of course made from trees and contribute to worldwide deforestation and reduction of habitats all over the earth.  Also, the amount of energy used to manufacture and distribute paper bags and the carbon emissions created even exceeds that of plastic bags.  The truth is that neither paper nor plastic bags are a healthy product for our environment, especially compared to eco friendly reusable shopping bags.

Of course, as you likely know, another major issue with disposable bags is the widespread pollution and litter problem, especially associated with plastic bags.  Plastic bags have evolved to become the “modern tumbleweed”.  They show up everywhere and often end up in ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and in the ocean.  While researching this article I came across some startling information at 5gyres.Org, which educates people regarding the 5 gyres in our world’s oceans.  Here’s an excerpt:  “At sea floating plastics are swept up into slow moving currents.  These currents are called ‘gyres’.  Our Oceans are dynamic systems…. made up of complex networks of currents… Large systems of these currents, coupled with wind and the earth’s rotation, create ‘gyres’, massive, slow rotating whirlpools in which plastic trash can accumulate.”  The most famous of these is the North Pacific Gyre, which has also been called the “great pacific garbage patch”, has been researched the most and is an accumulation of trash and plastic estimated by many to be twice the size of Texas.  What most people don’t know is that there are actually 5 gyres spread throughout our world’s oceans where trash, and especially plastic is accumulating at a fast rate.  One of the scariest parts about all this is that marine animals often ingest this waste floating in the sea and suffocate or starve to death as a result or then WE humans turn around and eat these fish (and the plastic).  By using biodegradable bags, as opposed to disposable paper or plastic bags, our individual actions contribute to the solution rather than the problem.

The environmental crisis our world finds itself in today demands that we take action.  As you can plainly see, the widespread use of disposable shopping bags contributes to major environmental problems that are not going away.  We must change our individual habits by remembering to use eco shopping bags and/or reusable green bags every chance we get.  When we take a stand against the widespread pollution problem caused by disposable shopping bags, we are creating a healthier world one decision at a time.

With an environmental disaster in the Gulf dominating the headlines in recent weeks, now more than ever, people from all backgrounds understand the great environmental need for changes in our individual lifestyles and cumulative habits as well as for company’s organizational culture and dedication to our Planet’s future. Much in the way that smoking has largely been pushed away from indoor public spaces and why it is not socially acceptable to text or talk on the phone while driving, we’ve also nearly reached the tipping point for cultural consciousness when it comes to reducing, reusing, and recycling.

The public gets it, and the green movement will continue to grow rapidly.  Any large company that is not routinely evaluating its processes and procedures for eco friendliness faces a potential public relations nightmare over the next decade and beyond. It’s critical for small businesses and large corporations to solidify their eco conscious reputation too.  Businesses must always remember that customers have choices.  As consumers critique sustainability in their own lives, they’ll also be looking at your business.  It is more important than ever to show these potential customers your corporate commitment to green practices.

It is so easy to go green and support the environment.  A very common way for a business to go green is by starting some sort of company recycling program in the office place.  As a matter of fact, the newest trend is to eliminate the need to recycle altogether whenever possible.  Simple green practices include having your employees and customers go paperless or distributing reusable stainless steel water bottles and reusable coffee mugs to employees to help reduce the use of disposables.  Another great way is to simply remember to turn the lights and business machines off when leaving the office.   Individual circumstances will vary, but you’ll likely find that many localities don’t provide public recycling options for the community, nor do they do much to encourage people or businesses to go green as of yet.  If your business finds a way to implement sustainable and recyclable business practices and office culture, despite existing roadblocks, then don’t hesitate to blog about it or brag about it in a press release, and tell the story of your company’s eco consciousness and dedication to the environment.  Be an advocate for your community, and help remove the barriers to recycling, through the practice of thousands of companies we can motivate millions of consumers to make changes in their lifestyle creating monumental and fundamental change.  The extra efforts to take care of our planet in this era will eventually be recognized, improving your organization’s reputation as an eco ambassador and pioneer.

You can also benefit by making going green a part of your marketing strategy.  Giving out eco friendly promotional products at trade shows and job fairs is a subtle way to create a memorable experience and promote eco consciousness and awareness of world-wide green issues.  Trade shows and job fairs are a great example of where your business must stand out above the competition, and eco friendly custom bags are a great way to do just that.  Not only do you hand out a reusable product with your company’s logo and insignia that stays with the customer indefinitely but you are also showing your corporate sense and dedication with the use of sustainable and recyclable products. In this lackluster economy, your company must be admirable and memorable in the eyes of every possible customer, vendor, colleague and even a talented candidate for employment.  In most cases, a final decision is not made on the spot, so you must stand out and perpetually stay in the prospect’s mind, customized recycled trade show bags made entirely of one use plastic water bottles is a cost-effective and sociably admirable marketing method as well as a great way to leave a quality long lasting impression on your audience and our Planet’s fragile future.

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The first thing made apparent is that product options don’t suffer. A look at their reusable shopping bags, for instance, shows a range of options. From typical custom printed bags to green shopping bags with shoulder straps or even wholesale wine totes, they offer a full product line-up. Their custom promotional bags offer a range of options to display your logo or message. Creativity is definitely not lacking in Factory Direct Promos’ products.
Next, you see that an eco-friendly take on promotional business items can actually expand your product catalog. Factory Direct Promos offers a wide range of promotional products, from seed bookmarks that bloom when you plant them to their unique Turf’n’Tin item (wheatgrass that grows out of a branded tin.) Eco friendliness not only helps the Earth, but from a marketing standpoint brings a breath of fresh air to product lineups.

Finally, and most importantly, is the benefit to all citizens of this planet. Their custom recycled bags, once the user gets two years of life out of them, decompose harmlessly. Likewise, imprinted pens made of corn (rather than plastic) don’t occupy space for long in our already overflowing landfills when they run out of ink. Further, seed paper products actually benefit the Earth, leaving behind a nice blooming flower.

At last count, over 360 billion plastic bags have been consumed this year. This is a truly frightening number, especially considering businesses can easily switch to reusable shopping bags. The benefits are apparent. Reusable bags are a better product, far more durable, eco friendly, and give business a great opportunity to shape their image or message. I encourage all stakeholders to turn to Factory Direct Promos for their next eco-friendly custom manufactured items. We can, and must, all work together to make sure we leave our children with a strong Earth, and shopping with Factory Direct Promos is but one of many simple ways to do this.

1. Eco Friendly Materials and Production

“Eco-friendly” is the phrase of the day across industries. When showcasing your brand message, as is the case with promotional bags, it is imperative to change in order to meet customer needs. As consumers grow more and more eco conscious, it’s now a necessity that your products reflect that. This doesn’t limit your choices however, as suppliers offer a wide range of eco friendly bags in a wide variety of shapes, colors and styles.

2. Made with Recyclable Materials

Bags from quality manufacturers are lasting longer and longer. However, they do have a life cycle. After years of use, consumers will need to dispose of your custom branded bags. When they do, make sure that they are biodegradable, and won’t contribute to America’s growing landfill problem. You can take a look at a great selection of custom recycled bags and reusable bags by clicking here.

3. RPET is the Way to Go Green

RPET products, or those made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate are growing in use and utility. RPET has even been described as the “new polyester” by industry insiders. PET, most commonly used in water bottles and fabric, is long-lasting and can be recycled into new products. RPET represents a low- cost and environmentally friendly solution for your next giveaway bag. Not only are you reducing the amount of new raw materials needed, you are also giving consumers a long lasting and durable product they can recycle when they are finished with. Factory Direct Promos, the leader in eco-friendly manufacturing offers a wide range of RPET recycled bags, (plastic bottle bags), that are sure to suit your needs.

4. Unique Size and Shape

Regardless of eco friendless, you still want a product that is sure to stand out and attract your customer’s attention. From a clean corporate look to something fun and youth oriented there are a plethora of design ideas for unique looking green bags that are sure to be used. Their eco bags are offered with plenty of design, patter, size, and shape options that are sure to please even the most discerning marketing manager.

5. Fills a Need

When purchasing green bags you are sure to be left with a product that fills a definite need in the lives of recipients. Originally coined as “the Whole Foods Bag,” reusable shopping cart bags are growing in popularity and usage in astounding numbers. New uses for green bags are coming up every day. The latest has buildings using RPET bags as apartment recycling bags. Residents store newspapers and other recyclables such as cans and bottles in colorful recycled bags until trash day.

6. Cost

Eco friendless aside, cost is still a very important factor. Despite having a wide range of branding options (think sizes, shapes, colors, lay-out) Factory Direct Promos is still able to offer eco friendly reusable bags at affordable prices. This low cost option comes with the same high quality service and support that you would gladly pay more for. So next time you are in the market for custom branded bags be sure to request a quote from Factory Direct Promos and see what an industry leader can do for you.