Shoppers should take a few minutes to think about what is placed inside the bags before automatically reusing them without taking time for cleaning. According to recent studies, almost 2/3 of the bags that are being reused in the store are contaminated with bacteria or mold. Some of the contamination comes from the outside of packaging that is handled by numerous other shoppers as well as store employees. Others may come from the fresh produce or meats that are being placed in the bag.

Most of the cloth reusable bags can easily be washed and then dried on a clothesline or by hanging over a shower bar. The simple act of washing and drying the bag can help to reduce the bacteria and mold that is being found in the reusable grocery bags. With the heavier plastic bags that are becoming popular in many warehouse stores today, the bag should be wiped clean using a good antibacterial cleaner and allowed to air dry.

Additionally, shoppers may want to consider using a specific bag each time for meats and another for produce. While it is still necessary to clean bags in between uses to keep the contamination to a minimum, this helps to ensure that the bacteria from meats and produces do not mix, creating a similar problem as that caused by using the same knife or cutting board for both meats and vegetables.

Another option for persons making purchases at large warehouse stores, like Sam’s Club or Costco is to take plastic totes or even ice chests for packing their goods back home. Just as with the reusable bags, the bins should be cleaned after each use. These bins and coolers are easily cleaned using a water hose after each use, but if they become especially grubby, a little soap and a scrub brush or a shot of chlorine bleach can help to disinfect the item. If using bleach, be sure to allow plenty of time for the bin to air and the smell of chlorine to dissipate before the next use. An added advantage of using coolers for refrigerated or frozen food is that there is less chance of spoilage on the way home from the large monthly shopping trip.

In general, reusable grocery bags are a great idea. They cut down on landfill waste and the number of disposable bags that cause litter along the roads and highways. However, there are some issues of which users need to beware and take proper precautions to avoid.

One main article which has come out of late includes one of the most well known plus extensively beloved companies within the digital products realm, Apple. Reported by Lance Whitney at , the company has been combatting troubles involving its’ environmental impact since 2009. At that time, a supplier Apple worked with named Wintek had been using a hazardous poison referred to as n-hexane in the touch screens it creates for iPods in addition to iPhones. This hazardous chemical has been ended, but new worries now come from the Chinese government.

The government of China went even further to nationalize lots of its rare earth mines as well. A report by Michael Gorman at discovered that the company wants to scale back it’s exports of what are known as rare earths by 10% in the future. These resources are strip mined with the lethal extra materials being dumped into Chinese rivers. This change in Chinese policy implies that lots of of these materials,Reusable Shopping Bags utilised in the assembly of hi tech merchandise, will now cost more.

Plainly, the technology industry does play a vital role within the wellbeing of our globe. Adjustments, environmental specialists say, may have to be made on every level if we want to keep our earth clean & in good health. Lots of products we like may not utilize much energy, but they contain the kind of unsafe metals and chemicals that eco friendly shopping bags in no way do. Each one of us has to Eco Bags make slight alterations & this is only one way to do that. We have to be leaders who show that a hybrid vehicle is great, although even a small step including using is a certain move forward.

Educating individuals around us on the small things, including recycling as well as mulching, that we can do to help is vital today. We’ve got to become able to reach through to individuals & illustrate how 1 change from even 1 pct of the globe’s inhabitants making a single change will be 70 million changes, Reusable Grocery Bags an enormous effect. Picture this with recycled grocery bags & you see that’s literally millions of bags a week saved.

Although the technology industry is undoubtedly a frontrunner in helping us heal the planet, they also have to be wary. We need to make our own changes and not rely on companies to create those changes for us.

The public embraces it, and so the eco progress will continue to increase briskly. Any big corporation that is not continuously researching its processes and methods for eco friendliness will face a possible public relations nightmare over the next decade and beyond. It’s crucial for small business owners and large corporations to solidify their eco conscious reputation too. Corporations must always remember that consumers possess choices. While customers critique sustainability in their own lives, they’ll also be contemplating your business. It will be more important than ever to show these possible customers your corporate steadfastness to green practices.

It is really easy to go green and help the natural environment. A very common means for a business to go green is via starting some kind of company recycling program in the workplace. As a matter of fact, the most recent trend is to remove the necessity to recycle altogether whenever feasible. Easy green methods consist of having your employees and customers go paperless as well as handing out reusable stainless steel water bottles and reusable coffee mugs to help cut down the use of disposables. Another good way is to simply remember to turn the lights and business machines off when going home from the workplace. Individual conditions will differ, however you will likely find that lots of localities do not offer open recycling options for the community, nor do they do a lot to encourage people or businesses to go green as of yet.

If your business finds a way to execute sustainable and recyclable business methods and office culture, despite existing roadblocks, then do not hesitate to blog about it as well as brag about it in a press release, and tell the story of your company’s eco consciousness and commitment to the environment. Be an advocate to your neighborhood, and help take out the barriers to recycling, with the practice of thousands of businesses we could inspire millions of consumers to make shifts of their way of life producing epic and fundamental change. The additional efforts to look after our earth during this period will eventually be recognized, improving your organization’s reputation as an eco leader and pioneer.

You can also benefit by making going green an integral part of your advertising approach. Passing out eco custom bags at trade shows and career fairs is a subtle means to produce a memorable experience and encourage eco consciousness and awareness of world-wide green matters. Trade shows and job fairs are an excellent example of where your company must stand out over the competition, and eco friendly custom bags are an effective way to do just that. Not only do you pass out a reusable item together with your company’s brand and insignia that stays with the prospect for a long time but you happen to be presenting your corporate sense and devotion with the usage of sustainable and recyclable items. In this lackluster economy, your business must be admirable and unforgettable in the eyes of each probable customer, vendor, colleague and even a talented candidate for employment. Generally, a final decision isn’t made on the spot, so you must stand out and forever stay in the prospect’s mind, customized recycled trade show bags made entirely of one use plastic water bottles is a cheap and sociably admirable marketing technique as well as an ideal way to leave a quality long lasting impact on your audience and our Planet’s fragile future.

One of the easiest things any company can do to help reduce waste that is such a big problem today is to recycle. While we all know this, some companies continue to throw away a great deal of paper and cardboard that could quite easily be reused through a local recycling program. In addition, many continue to use paper documents where electronic versions would work just as well, especially given the ability to create redundant failsafe copies in today’s digital environment. Saving documents to the cloud can reduce waste right away and prevent their destruction by fire or other disasters, too.

In addition to waste reduction, conserving energy is another popular way that companies can begin to cut down on their carbon footprint. A recent report on the Bloomberg news wire (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-16/u-s-selects-solar-power-zones-to-streamline-project-approval-process.html) shows that even the United States government is getting heavily involved in the production of energy via solar panels. This is something any company could do, and paired with solutions like more efficient use of water and other resources, a big impact can be made by even a small company over time.

Of course, sometimes paper is a necessary thing because items like thank you cards and business cards really can not be as authentic if only in digital form. That’s why seed paper is such a strong idea. This is a type of paper that Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed_paper) notes is capable of degrading into the soil in such a way that flowers can grow from it once it is discarded. Such seed cards can be used for stationary, business cards and a variety of other uses.

In addition, not all companies want to use styrofoam for their drinking cups at work. Some get custom mugs which can be reused, but others are choosing stainless steel water bottles to get the job done. Employees appreciate durable drinking containers and feel good about not creating so much waste.

The ideas you can use to improve your company’s carbon profile do not stop here. Creativity is proving to be the key to transforming our waste production, pollution and energy inefficiency. This is a brand new era of innovation and all of us can do a little something of our own to take part. Companies, too, can step up and lead the way to a cleaner, more efficient world.

Whilst incinerating waste products causes air pollution, landfilling is renowned for tainting water tables, rivers and seas, using up energy and in addition land space that could be better used for conservatories or housing to name but two alternatives. Then as new items are manufactured, storage issues arise. Furthermore, there is the dreaded greenhouse effect to be considered.

Recycling means less clutter, lower consumption of various useful raw materials and of energy, and a decrease in air impurities and water contamination. Carbon footprints are eliminated too.

Modern day recycling plants reconstitute paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and aluminium products to produce a new supply of exactly the same materials or for the reuse thereof in the manufacturing of other materials. And so enter stainless steel and aluminium liquid wares.

Stainless steel and aluminium products have the edge on plastics in that they very rarely crack or break if they have been made to the highest quality control standards. As such, the risks to people who use them, from viruses, bacteria and fungi are greatly lessened, and, moreover, the interaction of the chemicals found in the raw materials with the refreshments stored in the containers is minimized such that carcinogens are unlikely to be a threat to the well-being of consumers.

If well-sealed when made, the goods should not give cause for concern with regard to leaking and some may even maintain the temperature of the solution they are holding. Commodities on the market come in various sizes and shapes, factors which also play a role in determining how practical they are.

From an aesthetic point of view, the bottles have such a tough constitution that they don’t dent easily. Cold and gray are not necessarily the look of such goods either. Product designers more often than not deliver a package that is colorful and unique. Some companies cleverly advertise their brands and/or logos on the canisters they sell. Creatively, some individual buyers decide to custom-order the items they purchase to show their names, favorite hobbies and interests, thoughts and emotions, and liking of trendy brands on the outside of their reusable water bottles and stainless steel water bottles as a personal demonstration to the rest of the world. Consumers and businesses do the same with other eco friendly products such as eco friendly reusable bags.

If consumers are concerned about the fragile and delicate ecological balance of the Earth and wish to do their part in sustaining its long-term survival, reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, repair and regift, seems a fair, reasonable and sensible strategy to follow. Along with that, come the health benefits thereof that contribute to making a longer also better quality of life possibly available for each person on the planet. And it doesn’t hurt to make one’s life easier and simpler and more attractive at the same time by sporting the latest accessories.

First, recycling really is important. Don’t just recycle the plastic, paper, and glass that you use in your home, though. You should also have a compost pile for your garden and lawn, and you should be recycling all of those plastic bags that the bagger stuffs your groceries into at the market. Most of those markets have containers to put those bags in, so just return them to the store (and the container) the next time you go shopping. You’ll be doing your part of the recycling before you know it, and it’s really not that difficult. It also doesn’t take up much time, so don’t worry about that. Also remember to use green bags and eco friendly shopping bags when shopping. This can make a huge difference and eliminate the need to recycle so much in the first place

There are a lot of cleaners and household products today that are specifically designed to protect the environment from harm. You won’t need to worry about what kinds of chemicals your family and your pets are ingesting, and you won’t have to be afraid that you’re getting chemicals into the drinking water when you rinse them down the drain.

By using safe cleaning alternatives, you can do your part to protect the environment and you’ll still be keeping a nice, clean house for your friends and family to enjoy. It won’t change the world, but it won’t do it any harm, either.

While you’re recycling and creating a compost pile, you can use that compost for a garden. Growing your own food really isn’t that difficult. You just need to find out what grows well in your part of the country and determine when you need to plant it so you can get a great harvest. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re protecting your garden with some type of fencing so that rabbits and other small animals don’t get in and eat everything. You don’t have to use pesticides that can hurt the environment and the produce, either, because there are plenty of natural alternatives to keep your garden healthy so you can enjoy its bounty.

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.

Recycling is a great reclamation for our planet and for the environment.  But can recycling alone solve our waste problems in America?  The answer is a simple “no”.  There are many reasons why recycling alone will not be able to resolve all our waste problems.  If producers and manufacturers are not working cooperatively with consumers and partnering with waste management facilities to ensure there is a reasonable and accessible method for consumers to recycle the products sold to them, then it significantly reduces the chances that the products will be properly recycled at all.   We have to tackle waste problems at their source and so it is the corporations that produce the products that must play the biggest role in reducing the waste problems in our country and our world.

The Texas Campaign For The Environment (TCE), a non-profit, has recently brought this issue to center stage.   TCE basically says that manufacturers have to take responsibility for the full life cycle of their products.   They emphasize our current system of  “produce it, consume it, toss it out” must be redesigned to reduce and eliminate waste at its source.   If you think about it, it makes so much sense.  It is almost as if manufacturers get a “free pass” in our current system, leaving the responsibility for recycling largely in the hands of consumers.  Now of course, you would think consumers will always be ultimately responsible for recycling, since producers cannot force someone to recycle their products.  However, TCE points out that there are many “Zero Waste’ proponents who are pushing environmental laws for landfills which will create “producer take-back” programs.  This would force manufacturers to work with waste management companies and government agencies to recover and recycle their products. When it comes to long-term progress in reducing the harmful effects of landfills on the environment, this approach may make the most sense.

In the absence of  “producer take-back” laws, TCE is doing everything they can to be a great tool for consumers.  TexasTakeBack.org (funded by TCE), is a great guide to recycle just about anything from glass, styrofoam, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals and so much more.   Considering TCE (a non-profit organization), is making such a valiant effort to resolve our country’s waste management issues, it is time for the “for-profit” corporations to step up.

What is your company or organization doing to ensure your products are recycled after consumption?   In this time of great change in our world, and from a public relations stand point, it is imperative that your company clearly stands out as a green ambassador.  You can’t wait until you’re in the midst of an environmental controversy to begin your path as a green company (see BP).  It just doesn’t’ work that way.  You can’t run away from this issue. Your company must start now to do everything in its power to ensure you’re going green in all phases.

This is especially true with your products, which often have your company’s brand name on them, and which will be easily identified when wasted.   To begin with, ask yourself if your consumers will easily be able to recycle your product.  Ask for feedback from your customers, blog about it and show the world you are actively working towards a solution to making sure all your products are recycled.

Another great method to show the world your commitment to go green is through giving out eco promotional products like eco friendly pens, eco lanyards, custom promotional bags and wholesale recycled bags with your brand name on them.  These kinds of products are truly eco friendly and will not harm the environment if wasted.   Create a reoccurring community service event with your employees and plant some trees or pick up trash around town for a few hours on a monthly basis.

These are just a few small examples of the kinds of efforts companies and organizations can make in order to help ensure the continuity and success of the green movement.  When it comes to going green, consumer consciousness is at an all time high in our country and in the world, especially after the recent Gulf Oil Disaster.  Stay ahead of the tide, and take some advice from TCE by making sure you and your company are going green now.

APP has recently been linked to being a major contributor to deforestation. Deforestation, the human-caused disappearance of naturally occurring forests by logging or burning, is a huge problem in today’s world.   It is estimated that around 50% or more of the world’s plants and animal species live in the 7% of the world where rainforests currently exist.  For example, the most famous of rainforests, the Amazon, a majestic 1.4 billion acre (5.5 million square kilometers) rainforest located in South America covering sections of 9 different countries, has only 82.3% of the moist broadleaf forest cover it had in 1970.   It is also estimated that between 1991 and 2000, the total loss of Amazon rainforest increased from 415,000 square kilometers to almost 600,000.  The data above is according to Wikipedia.com.

Another lesser known but equally struggling rain forest, the Indonesian rainforest, has made recent headlines after a report from Greenpeace.  In the report, Greenpeace accuses Asia Paper and Pulp of “relentlessly trashing rainforests, driving species extinction and, if left unchecked, will threaten Indonesia’s efforts to address climate change.”  APP is a division of the mega conglomerate, Sinar Mas, and calls itself one of the world’s leading pulp and paper companies.  According to CNN.com, Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest culprits of emitting greenhouse emissions largely because of the clear-cutting and burning of rainforests for logging and other purposes.   Indonesia has long been a recipient of criticism for its environmental practices mainly because of disregard for international and even their own laws. APP is currently going through a public relations nightmare due to the Greenpeace report, and of course is claiming Greenpeace’s claims are exaggerated.  Yet things recently took a turn for the worse for Sinar Mas when in July, 2010 Wal-Mart, already becoming a major advocate for transitioning its customer base to the use of sustainable green bags)announced it has “taken steps to stop” buying their paper, as a result of this and other controversies surrounding APP.  Sounds like APP’s denial of the problem is making things worse and now costing them major business.  The loss of Wal-Mart’s business over the next year will significantly impact their bottom line.

This brings us to a great question: In today’s difficult world-wide economy, how can business’s ensure they are adopting environmentally-friendly and energy efficient business practices and not on the wrong side of a PR controversy?   Business.Gov, the official business link to the US Government, has an 11-step guide to help companies ensure they are energy efficient, compliant with environmental regulations, and recognized as a “green business”.

Here are the steps (Click here to visit their site):

1 – Comply with Environmental Regulations

2 – Develop an Environmental Management Plan

3 – Build Green

4 – Buy Green Products

5 – Adopt Energy Efficient Practices

6 – Reduce, Reuse

7 – Recycle Wastes

8 – Conserve Water

9 – Prevent Pollution

10 – Create a Green Marketing Strategy

11 – Join Industry Partnership and Stewardship Programs.

Step 4 “Buy Green Products”, is a great suggestion that many companies fail to consider.   A unique way to raise awareness about deforestation while promoting your brand is through eco friendly promotional products like seed paper, which is made of actual seeds and can still germinate and sprout into a flower when planted.  Something as simple as seed cards such as a seed business card or a seeded thank you card can create a truly memorable interaction with a client or industry colleague.  You could also include a statement about deforestation on the stationary, making it absolutely clear about where your company stands on environmental issues.  Another one that stands out on this list is step 6, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Wastes”. Remembering to reduce and reuse is the best way to eliminate the need to recycle in the first place.

Now is the time to take action to stop deforestation as well as ensuring your company is recognized as a “green business”, thus solidifying your green reputation.  The 11 steps above are a great guide for any business owner or CEO to implement green practices in your business.   Embrace the challenge of perpetually improving your organization’s environmental footprint.  Your company’s leadership and example will help stop the devastating effects of deforestation and the investment will be well worth it.