The human population is increasingly aware of environmental issues such as climate change, plastic pollution and carbon emissions. There are many ways for individuals and businesses to make positive changes to lessen their environmental impact. One of these is considering options when making a purchase. Buying second hand is a great way to shop and has real impact by keeping things out of landfill for longer. Refilling containers rather than buying new ones is another useful change you can make. However, sometimes we do need to buy new and this is often the case for businesses. Especially when it comes to marketing materials, embroidered workwear and promotional products. So what options are out there for businesses to be more eco-friendly?
Recycled branded clothing
There are many environmental issues around clothing and textiles, including how they are disposed of (usually landfill or incineration) and what they are made of in the first place – often plastic-based fibres such as polyester. Clothing brands are beginning to take note and change how their garments are produced, offering more sustainable and environmentally friendly options.
The Honestly Made range by Regatta showcases clothing items that are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles from recycling centres. The fabric is GRS certified and the collection has saved over 2.3 million bottles from landfill to date! When it comes to workwear, these garments are a brilliant eco-friendly alternative. Embroidering or printing with your logo ensures your workforce look professional while saving the planet.
Tote or shopper bags are perfect for printing your logo on a wide area. Capturing the attention of passers-by, these bags are a promotional product staple. Most tote bags are made from cotton, which although is a natural fibre still uses a large amount of water to produce. Cotton production can also incorporate the use of pesticides. Which is why recycled cotton shopper bags are a great solution. Made from 60% recycled cotton t-shirts blended with 40% rPET (recycled polyester from plastic bottles), the Seabrook bag is a low-cost eco-friendly alternative.
Recycled plastic promotional products
When you think of printed promotional products, what comes to mind? A pen, a ruler maybe, perhaps a keyring or a drinks bottle. What are these mostly made of? Plastic is a widely used material across the branded merchandise industry, but more recycled plastic options are becoming available. Whether made from single-use plastic bottles or old CD cases, recycled plastic promotional products are making a difference!
Plastic pens are arguably the most popular promotional item. They are cheap, practical, easy to give away and are used daily. They are produced in mass quantities, so a large amount of new plastic is used in creating these promotional pens. Pens made from recycled plastic are now widely available as more manufacturers are getting on board. And crucially, they are still cheap. So it’s a no-brainer to opt for the recycled plastic option when ordering your branded pens!
Trolley coins make for a really useful promotional product – you always need one handy! Again they are a brilliant low-budget option for businesses, and even better when made from recycled plastic like this one. They show off printed full colour logos well and are a product that people will appreciate and use over and over again.
Recycled paper
When it comes to more traditional marketing materials, consider if it can be done digitally instead – for example producing a digital brochure instead of a physical one. If you do need something tangible, you can print on recycled or sustainably sourced paper. Think about paper products that you buy for the office such as toilet paper and kitchen towel – see if you can buy that recycled too! Printed notebooks are popular promotional items as we all need to take notes; they are perfect for businesses to give to staff and to customers. There are lots of notebook options made from recycled materials with the range ever-growing.
We’ve covered lots of recycled promotional product options here, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Browse our range of recycled products online today. Can’t find the product you’re looking for as a recycled alternative? Contact us and we can source from thousands of options for you! Just call 01604 671671 or email sales@giltedged.co.uk
