Are you looking for a way to make small changes that lessen the impact your company has on the environment while leaving your consumer with a favorable impression of your brand?  Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to have a major impact on your wallet, even small changes can have a big impact over time.  Check out these swag swaps that make it easy to be green. 

Plastic Bag Alternatives 

According to The Center for Biological Diversity, “Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture.”  Waste Management adds that “only 1 percent of plastic bags are returned for recycling.”  

Thankfully, there are now so many alternatives to using single-use bags that it is now easier than ever to make the switch to a more sustainable option.  Paper bags, the most common alternative, offer styles that are recycled, recyclable, and compostable. For an added bonus, use a washable kraft paper bag that can be washed and reused over and over again.  Jute totes are another great option because jute is bio-degradable and compostable, easy to grow, keeps the soil fertile, and has a low water footprint.  Other great options include bags made from recycled cotton and recycled plastic bottles. There are even reusable mesh options to replace flimsy plastic produce bags! 

Small Changes at Lunch Time

Bringing your lunch is a great way to eliminate single-use plastics and styrofoam containers!  A great insulated tote can keep your lunch cool and fresh until you are ready to eat.  Reusable zipper bags, food wraps, sandwich containers, and other food containers can take the place of disposable baggies, cling wrap, and foil.  

According to the Plastic Pollution Coalition, 100,000 plastic utensils are used by Americans each day! So even if you are craving takeout or need to pick a meal up on the road, bringing your own utensils instead of using disposable ones can have an impact on the amount of waste you create. Luckily, we have a bunch of options that come with a carrying case so that you can tuck them away without making a mess and wash them when you get home.  

Apparel and Accessories

For your next custom t-shirt or corporate apparel project, consider switching to more environmentally friendly options.  Tees made from renewable resources like bamboo or from recycled materials like plastic bottles are great swag swaps.  These items are now produced to be softer and more luxurious feeling than ever before while still maintaining a price point that makes sense.

There are also a ton of alternatives for accessories like socks, masks, bags, backpacks, briefcases, and totes.  Giving your customers or employees eco-friendly apparel and accessories doesn’t just turn them into walking billboards for your brand it reminds them that your brand is synonymous with environmental consciousness every time they wear it. 

Ditch the Disposable Drinkware

Over 50 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown out in the US every year! (Plastic EDU) This doesn’t even account for the cups we use for other beverages like sodas and smoothies.  Drinkware is one of the most popular categories of promotional products, so there is no shortage of items to choose from. 

Not only does reusable drinkware help cut down on the amount of garbage produced, but it also decreases the carbon emissions created by their production.  As an added bonus to the reduced environmental impact, reusable drinkware can also keep your cold drinks colder and your hot drinks warmer!  There are even options made from environmentally conscious materials! Even swapping the plastic straw for a more durable and conscious option can have an impact! 

Give us a call today so we can help you brainstorm how to transform your current program into one that lets your audience know that your company is environmentally conscious.