As we work towards environmentally sustainable business world, papers and plastic products are being phased out. Retailers and grocery stores have begun the transition to non-woven, re-useable bags. Many grocery stores even take money off your bill for using non-woven totes. Packaging is important, but not necessarily good for the environment. Many suppliers in the promotional products industry now have eco-alternatives to traditional paper and plastic products.
Paper:
Instead of regular paper products made from new material, try to use post consumer items. Post-consumer paper has been to the end-user, recycled, and then brought back to the paper mill to re-made into paper again. Most people (including myself) usually cannot tell the difference between brand new paper products and post consumer product until they see the recycled symbol or ‘made from post consumer material.’
A lesser known alternative is using paper made out of pre-consumer items. This type of paper is made out of the scraps from the process of making brand new paper. Although this is not considered recycled, if the scraps from the paper making process are not used then they will become waste. Organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are certifying certain pre and post consumer paper products as environmentally sustainable.
Plastic:
When it comes to plastic products, there are a variety of options. One of them is Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is a type of polyester used for synthetic fibers and bottles, among other things. Thirty percent of the world’s demand for PET is for bottles. PET is durable, clear, and easily recyclable which is what makes it a good choice for bottles. A new type of “green” plastic is oxo-biodegradable plastic. The materials in the oxo-biodegradables break down into organic compounds when introduced to UV radiation. This allows the plastic to degrade in less time and into natural products that won’t harm the environment.
We work with a variety of vendors who make post consumer packaging, drinkware, and paper products and are more than happy to work with clients looking for eco-friendly alternatives.
By Jessica Matase
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How many times have you seen your shirts go into the dryer in the size you bought them in and come out as a toddler’s size 2? I don’t know about you but I hate to ruin my clothing, especially when I care for it in the wrong way. Not all shirts can just be tossed into the washer and dryer, sometimes specific instructions need to be followed. Although care directions are usually listed on the tag- not everyone reads them. This is a great guide to share with employees who wear uniforms or if you are considering giving shirts away at a conference, event, or employee picnic it may be a great idea to include a small piece of paper with care instructions-especially if it’s a fabric not many people wear yet-like organics.
Below is a simple guide on caring for your clothing:
100% Cotton
Jersey, ribbed, or sheer
-Machine wash cold
-Tumble dry low
Synthetics
Polyester, Nylon, or Mesh
-Machine wash cold
-Hang Dry
Cotton Blends
Thermal, Cotton Spandex, Fleece, or Tri-Blend
-Machine wash cold
-Tumble dry
Organics
Organic Jersey, Organic Rib, or Organic Fleece
-Machine wash cold.
-Hang dry
We always want to look our best so it’s important that we know how to care for what we are wearing. Just following care instructions will make your clothes last longer and look better.
By Jessica Matase
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Let’s face it - airport security isn’t always a walk in the park, especially with bags that are inconvenient to open. Make life easier for frequent travelers by giving “checkpoint friendly” bags.
Some of the hottest and most functional bags on the market right now are Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved laptop bags. These bags are perfect for executives, sales people, or anyone on-the-go. Checkpoint friendly bags allow travelers to pass through security check points without removing their laptop from its case. Instead, the computer passes through x-ray machines in its own case. This helps make traveling easier and increases the pace of security lines.
The TSA has released guidelines to define what constitutes a ”checkpoint friendly” bag. Only bags that comply with these guidelines can be sent through x-ray machines with laptops inside:
- The bag has a designated laptop-only section that you can lay flat on the X-ray belt;
- There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop section;
- There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section; and
- There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop.
We love the Big Ben with Security Fast Pass line from Victorinox, which is available as a traditional briefcase style bag, as well as a backpack. Not only are these bags checkpoint friendly, but they are large enough to carry your computer and other personal belongings. Put your brand on it and travelers everywhere will gaze longingly at the bag that passes through scanners, laptop inside, in such a hassle free manner!
By Jessica Matase
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Believe it or not, it’s getting to be that time of year again —back to school! College students are one of the largest markets for promotional products. For at least four years, they are walking, talking, FREE advertisements for their alma mater. It’s easy for outside companies to get in on the free promotion by sponsoring events or being present at career fairs.
We recently sat down with Quintain Marketing’s summer intern, Melissa, who is a University of Delaware student to talk about what is hot in the collegiate market. She shared some key tips for getting college students to use promotional products, and we’re going to share them with you! According to Melissa, college students will either completely embrace or completely ignore certain products-there is typically no middle ground. They also love products that are free and accommodate their needs.
Below are a few suggestions from Melissa that should be considered when selling to the collegiate market:
- School Spirit: College students are generally excited to be a member of their school’s student body and therefore have a lot of school spirit. They love to wear branded apparel around campus and to sporting events, so make sure your promotion is focused on the school name, mascot, sport, or club. For example, if you are sponsoring an event and giving away t-shirts, the school’s name should be front and center and your brand should be on the back. Use the school’s colors rather than your own to make an item more appealing.
- Student ID: Student IDs are essential to college life. They grant access to housing and food, and are often used as debit cards. Students are constantly looking for simple and convenient ways to carry their IDs. Lanyards and badge clips are most popular. Branded environmentally friendly lanyards would be a great giveaway that would also appeal to students’ environmental conscience. Badge clips that leave the ID exposed (for swiping) are also popular - we like the block badge clip from Leed’s.
- Weather: On a college campus, there is no avoiding the rain on a nasty day. Students have to walk from one class to another and often don’t have another option. For this reason, compact umbrellas are a great promotional product for students. Easy storage is also important in order to avoid wet books and assignments. We love the high quality, yet relatively inexpensive umbrellas from Peerless, Toppers, and Via! For Travel.
To ensure that your back-to-school promotions are successful, give college students something they need AND want. And remember, with the right promotional product college students become walking advertisements for your brand!
By Jessica Matase
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As we work towards environmentally sustainable business world, papers and plastic products are being phased out. Retailers and grocery stores have begun the transition to non-woven, re-useable bags. Many grocery stores even take money off your bill for using non-woven totes. Packaging is important, but not necessarily good for the environment. Many suppliers in the promotional products industry now have eco-alternatives to traditional paper and plastic products.
