Using eco-friendly green promotional products and renewable energy sources reduces greenhouse emissions that have a negative impact on our planet.

GREEN FACTS:

According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans used 4 billion pounds of plastic in the form of bottles in 2002. The main culprit is "use once & toss" water and beverage bottles. It takes a plastic water bottle 700 years before it starts to decompose. Why not "Go Green"… use a reusable Polycarbonate Sport Bottle instead.

The average American family of four tosses out approx. 1,500 plastic bags a year. Each one can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Most of these bags are not biodegrading; the plastic slowly breaks down into smaller components until it leaches into the soil or water. Paper bags are biodegradable, but the energy, chemicals, trees and water consumed to recycle them is a drain on the environment. Why not "Go Green"… use reusable non-woven bags, organic cotton bags, and natural jute bags for everyday use such as when you grocery shop.

Annually, nearly 3 Billion batteries are used and then thrown away by American households. Using biodegradable products reduces landfill build up. Using solar, water, and shake powered products such as Solar Flashlights helps keep batteries out of our landfills.

There are lots of ways to be Eco Responsible and use "Green Products," but it can be confusing to sort out what is what in the world of "green." Here is a little guide to help you find your way…

Recycled  materials destined for disposal are reclaimed and converted into new products such as Recycled PET transforms traditional polyesters and plastics into environmentally correct choices with such products as Polycarbonate Water Bottles. Recycled materials are also used in nonwoven bags, duffel bags, padfolios, and many other eco products.

Sustainable or Renewable  material is from sources that cause little or no damage to the environment, abundantly available and renewable. Examples of this are products made from bamboo, a green fabric option, and products made from corn plastic, used in everything from pens to mugs.

Organic  materials grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic materials are wonderful for shirts and other clothing products.

Alternative energy  uses natural sources of energy such as solar and water, and is great for use in products such as flashlights, calculators, clocks.

Reusable  what products were created with intent to be used in place of a disposable item.

Many corporations are taking up the "green" call by requesting eco-friendly products and giving them away as marketing tools when it comes to promoting there company. Integrating "green marketing" with the corporate brand is not only demonstrating social responsibility and good corporate citizenship, but also can affect the bottom line as it influences customer relationships!

Eco Apparel Terminology

With new "Crops" of eco-friendly textiles entering the apparel marketplace, this little guide will be helpful when considering your "green" options.

• Organic Fabrics use no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides during the growing cycle
• Soy Silk uses liquefied proteins (a by-product of making tofu) forced into fibers which are then spun
• Ingeo Corn Fiber is created by extracting starch and then sugars from corn, and processing them into a form which can be spun into a yarn or woven into fabric.
• Fortrel Ecospun polyester is made out of recycled plastic bottles and is frequently used for fleece.
• Biodegradable Fabric has the ability to naturally break down and return to raw material or to be absorbed by the earth. The Federal Trade Commission guidelines say only products that contain material which "break down and decompose into elements found in nature within a reasonably short amount of time when they are exposed to air, moisture and bacteria or other organisms" should be labeled biodegradable.
• Natural Bleaching means that hydrogen peroxide was used to whiten fibers, rather than a chemical such as chlorine.
• Bamboo Fabric is made from the cellulose fibers of the plant. It is naturally antibacterial and 100% biodegradable and sustainable.       

Souce:  www.advantagesmag.com