American citizens are becoming more worried with the environment. The growth in this number is evident in the 1.4 million members and supporters of the most popular and oldest non-profit green organization, Sierra Club. With greater number of people making their residences more energy efficient, driving cars which are consume less fuel, recycling waste materials and purchasing environment friendly products, this trend has led to a substantial increase in the number of self-sufficient companies on Main Street selling to green consumers.

Small businesses selling green products have become a growing business community. At the same time businesses dealing in general products are increasing the percentage of green products they are offering.

Robert Piller, President of Eco Marketing Solutions, says his company, which produces custom printed eco-friendly products for retail, has seen a record number of retailers increasing their product mix to include green products. He states, “Last year, we had many retailers, both small and independent accounts, as well as major national chains, begin to increase the number of recycled and biodegradable items in their product mix and planograms. From recycled tote bags to biodegradable and reusable drinkware—insulated tumblers, stainless steel bottles and ceramic mugs, we saw a 36% increase in same store sales to these accounts.”

The following information is designed to enable local companies to recognize green opportunities and to better market to the green consumer.

How to Identify the Green Consumer?

While the truth remains that all green consumers are not the same, knowledge of a few of traits they have in common will enable businesses to make a more careful study of the market for eco-friendly products and services.
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Sofia Ribeiro, Founder and co-owner of Kiwano Marketing, mentions that in order to be a sustainable business, an organization needs to integrate its beliefs in three main areas:  planet, people, profits.  She says that “in order to own a truly sustainable brand, businesses must integrate environmental, social and economic sustainability across the 3 brand elements:

Products/Services, Business Standards and Company Style.

Products/Services: Self explanatory, but only one leg of this tripod of ideas.

Business Standards: These would include strategies, implementation, hiring practices, and mission.

  Company Style:This would include communications, image, logo and branding, etc.

 
 She goes on to note that in order to own a sustainable brand, businesses must also practice these 5 principles:

1.    Have a policy in place, documenting all the values and standards the business stands for and acts on.

2.     Incorporate the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability into each of the business decisions.
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It looks like California may be the first state to ban plastic bags. Many cities already have similar ordinances and the trend is pointing toward more states banning plastic bags in order to reduce landfill waste.

These bans are designed to encourage reusable bags at grocery stores, convenience stores, discount and hardware stores and other retail locations. If an individual does not have their own reusable tote, a paper sack will be offered at a nominal fee, like a nickel per bag. It is estimated that Californians use nearly 19 billion plastic bags every year, which end up in landfills.

These laws can create a tremendous opportunity for companies to get their message in front of customers and prospects, and to promote themselves as eco-friendly.

If you are a retailer, you should immediately begin to offer recycled or reusable tote bags to your clients. Many stores offer bags with their logo and imprint for $1-$3, or FREE with a purchase of $25 or more. Come to view these reusable tote bags as a walking billboard for your business, where thousands of bags are being carried around and your logo and message being viewed by thousands of people.
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Gardening has fast become one of the biggest forms of recreation for Americans, especially since First Lady Michelle Obama has been speaking out and encouraging more people to plant more gardens. As the economy has cooled over the past few years, interest in gardening has soared.

According to 2009 Edibles Gardening Trends Research Report, conducted by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, in November more than 41 million U.S. households grew a vegetable garden in 2009; over 19.5 million grew an herb garden and 16.5 million households grew fruits.

Help your customers get back to the basics with imprinted gardening gifts with your brand and logo. You can have your imprint on a variety of custom garden kits, including imprinted seed packets and imprinted GroKits, metal buckets and even a garden that grows from within its own pouch. These Gardens in a Pouch can even be mailed without any additional packaging material (talk about zero waste). Read more…

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I was at an environmental trade show today and was surprised at the number of “non-green” giveaways that were being handed out at the booths. Plastic light up yoyos, imprinted plastic pens and key chains, synthetic tote bags and plastic sports bottles with logos, etc. This gives promotional products the poor stereotype of “trinkets and trash”, instead of them being used as effective trade show or marketing items, which is how they can and should be viewed.

In fact, I have spent the past decade weaning my clients from promotional products that usually end up in a landfill to items that are biodegradable or made from recycled material. You can view about 5,000 green products at my website, www.EcoMarketingSolutions.com in order to get an idea of the types of green-friendly branded and logo items for trade shows that are available.

There are eco-friendly alternatives to nearly every promotional items, including pens, frisbees, yo-yos and water bottles that are produced with an additive that enables them to break down in a landfill. There are tote bags available that are made of natural cotton, Read more…

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Instead of celebrating Earth Day once a year, let’s try to make it a daily event.

Here are some ideas that anyone can use to make this a greener planet:

• Think of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint-both as an individual and also at work. Strive to cut your energy consumption by 10% each year. Baby steps lead to long reaching permanent changes.
• Support organizations and businesses that are going green, as they have made a conscious decision to help better the planet and would appreciate your patronage.
• Vote with your pocket book as well as at the ballot box. Avoid companies that are still using wasteful packaging or are not going green.
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Earth Day is April 22

What type of custom imprinted items can you provide to these organizations that can help to promote ecology and “going green” for Earth Day when you have a tight budget?

Below are five inexpensive items for Earth Day—all for under 25 cents. Read more…

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Every year, about 300 million tires are disposed of in this country, with nearly ten percent ending up in landfills. Thirty-five states have tire fees that aid in recycling efforts and in public awareness efforts, which has greatly increased the number of tires being recycled each year. Even the Tire Industry Association has a campaign to educate tire dealers on the importance of tire recycling.

But how are recycled tires used?

According to the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association, there are three main uses for scrap tires: tire-derived fuel (TDF), civil engineering and ground rubber.

1) Tire-Derived Fuel

TDF utilizes granulated tires in the place of traditional fuels in cement kilns, pulp and paper factories, electric utilities and various boilers. Although. TDF is not considered to be genuine recycling, nearly 52 percent of all scrap tires are used in this manner. This waste-to-energy process harnesses energy that would have otherwise been lost to a landfill.

2. Civil Engineering

Recycled scrap tires play a meaningful role in civil engineering processes, consuming 16 percent of the scrap tire available in 2005.
Tire shreds are cost-effective substitutes for traditional materials when they are used to stabilize weak soil, such as constructing road embankments or as a subgrade (below the ground level of a project) fill. Additionally, tire shreds provide effective subgrade insulation for roads, walls and bridge abutments.

Recycled scrap tires are also used in such products as:
• Erosion control
• Wetlands or marsh establishment
• Crash barriers around racetracks
• Boat bumpers in marinas
• Planters for home gardens
• Tire swings

3. Ground Rubber

Ground rubber, or “crumb” rubber, is being used to a greater extent in many states in rubberized asphalt applications and is the largest single use of recycled rubber. Its benefits include noise reduction, shorter breaking distances, reduced road maintenance and more cost-effective, durable road surfaces.

Ground rubber also serves a number of sports and recreational purposes. Used in shock-absorbing running tracks and ground cover under playgrounds, the springy and responsive nature of rubber decreases the impact of running or falling. Also added to soil under playing fields, crumb rubber improves drainage and root structure of grass. Ground rubber applications accounted for 12 percent of scrap tire use in 2005.

Recycled Tires in Promotional Products

In my role as a leader in green promotional products, I also utilize recycled tires in a number of imprinted advertising specialties., such as key tags, jar openers, mouse pads, golf balls, tote bags, floor mats, messenger bags, shaving kits, padfolios and journals, coasters and more (click here to see promotional products made from recycled tires).

These promo products all can feature a company’s logo, message and imprint, as a lasting reminder. We have used these recycled tire promotional products for hundreds of campaigns, as we do our part in practicing what we preach.

When looking for promotional products for trade shows, employee gifts or outreach campaigns, look first to recycled products. There is no better way to keep tires, plastics and other materials out of landfills than reuse.

Here’s to a greener tomorrow…today.

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Robert Piller, experienced in green marketing campaigns and environmentally-friendly promotional products. His web site includes a comprehensive eco-friendly advertising specialty search, featuring over 250,000 eco promotional items in all price ranges, for any company interested in going green. The site’s handy search tool helps you easily find recyclable, biodegradable, organic or recycled imprinted promotional items in your price range and time frame. View the Go Green website at EcoMarketingSolutions.com and comment on his blog postings at GreenSpotBlog.com.

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