I recently read an article on Mother Nature Network (MMN)'s Web site that got me thinking.  The post pointed out the fact that as more stores pass out reusable bags, the more we as consumers accumulate.  Pretty soon, we're all going to have a collection of recyclable bags that go unused.

What happens to all those extra bags? According to MMN, these customized totes end up creating a big environmental problem of their own.  The truth of the matter is that the reusable totes are not currently being reused enough to have a significant impact.  "A nonwoven polypropylene bag, for example, would have to be used ... 11 times to make up for the negative effects of a plastic bag used one time," reports MMN. But people aren't using their free bags that much.

So how can we prevent reusable bags from becoming another form of waste?  MMN offers the following tips:

1.  If you've got enough totes, don't accept any more.  "Just like we politely decline the free paper or plastic bags at checkout, we need to start politely declining a free reusable bag that we know we’ll never use again," advises MMN.

2.  Only give out high quality promotional tote bags that will actually be used.  Motivators offers the best reusable totes, ensuring recipients will want to (and be able to) use them again and again.

3.  Encourage your representative to place a ban on disposable bags, such as paper and plastic bags, so that consumers begin to use their reusable bags instead.  This will help decrease the use of and dependency on plastic bags.

What will you do to help prevent a reusable bag surplus?

I have a friend of mine who commutes once every week to Washington DC to work in another office. When you find yourself traveling this much, carrying a normal bag won't cut it.

To manage her time in a more efficient manner and breeze through security checkpoints, she chooses a weekend bag that opens very easily while holding everything one would need for a weekend away from it all.

From her advice and her travel tribulations, I have picked out a weekend bag myself - perfect for everything from a night at a friends' house or a weekend trip on the railway. This promotional eco-friendly bag is called the custom imprinted Recycled Weekender Duffel Bag. There is a large main compartment for clothes, books or anything big you'll need to bring. There are also two smaller compartments that are great for keeping delicates protected or for holding other things. The bag is 30% Denier Polyester while the remaining 70% is made of recycled water bottles. Speaking of, this bottle has a perfect place for that promotional water bottle and straps that are perfect for holding by hand or over the shoulder. The bag is available in two vibrant colors: black or royal.

No matter what color you choose, you'll know that the imprinted logo will look phenomenal and will do the job. 

By now we all know that plastic bags are awful for our environment.  From the huge threat they pose to our dying oceans to their omnipresence in our soil, plastic bags are bad news.  Can our society learn to abandon the cheap, light-weight pouches in time to save the earth's ecosystems?

According to the Times Colonist, currently in the North Pacific gyre, "ocean currents collect marine debris in an area estimated to be twice the size of Texas."  To know that so much plastic and rubbish has collected in the past century is appalling.  And, as reported by the Times Colonist, we should also be frightened for our health-- "plastic disintegrates down to the molecular level where it is ingested by marine organisms and thus enters the food chain, eventually ending up in humans."

One of the biggest contributors to this continent-sized pile of plastic is the plastic bag.  Indeed, since its inception in the mid-1900s, the plastic bag "has become a story of innovation gone wrong," according to Steward Bags, an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability. And while promotional reusable grocery bags are widely available, plastic bags are still commonly used in grocery stores and markets. 

That's why cities throughout the world, including California's Los Angeles, are considering placing a ban on paper and plastic bags.  According to the Los Angeles Times, "the huge number of bags circulating throughout the city ... contribute to the litter problem." How will Councilman Paul Koretz and his supporters eliminate plastic bags from the streets of California? As reported by the Los Angeles Times, stores that continue to use large plastic bags will face a fine.

But will the proposed ban on plastic bags die in the Legislature like it did last year in California?  At the time, the suggested ban was shot down by the American Chemistry Council, "the lobbying group that represents the plastic bag industry," reports the Los Angeles Times.  We're hoping that environmental lobbyists up the ante this time around, and that the ban on plastic bags not only succeeds in California, but also worldwide!

When it comes to environmentally-friendly promotional products, we're all familiar with the usual suspects:  bamboo kitchen utensils, recycled pens and pencils, biodegradable plastic bags, etc.  But there are also plenty of eco-friendly products that would surprise you.  Let's take a look at some promotional products that'll have you saying, "Eco-friendly what?"

1.  Hats

If you're like most people, you had no idea that a cap could be made in an eco-friendly way.  But if you don't leave the house without something on your head, you're totally going to fall in love with these custom eco friendly caps and hats.  These high-quality hats are eco-friendly because of their organic materials.  For example, the super-attractive promotional Dri-Duck wildlife organic hat is made from 100% organic cotton chino twill.  Not only does this fine material allow the cap to be extremely comfortable, but it also means it was made with limited impact to the environment. 

2.  Electronics

Although we've all used a solar-powered calculator at one point or another, few people know the extent to which electronics can be eco-friendly.  But there are actually many different promotional energy-friendly products!  One great example of an electronic item that'll make you say, "That's eco-friendly?" is the promo water powered alarm clock.  This amazing item uses just a splash of water to keep you up-to-date on the time.  Users simply fill with water to activate.  There are also energy-friendly flashlights, eco-smart dynamo cell phone chargers, and more. 

3.  Messenger bags

While we absolutely love recycled tote bags and biodegradable plastic bags, many people don't realize that fancy bags can be eco-friendly, too.  Take the logo natural recycled cotton messenger bag, for example.  The fact that this bag is environmentally friendly is going to blow them all out of the water!  Made from 85% recycled cotton, this product can be used for everything, from commuting to work to carrying books to and from class.  Everyone's going to be thrilled to know such a trendy-looking bag is also safe for the environment! 

The next time you choose to go green for your promotional campaign, remember that you're not as limited as you think!  In fact, there are pages and pages of environmentally friendly promotional products through which you can browse.  We love recycled pens and biodegradable bags, but sometimes it's fun to think outside the box.  Plus, you're just going to love hearing people say "Eco-friendly what?"

When the weather's this beautiful, the grass doesn't have to be the only thing going green. Next time you're planning to take advantage of the gorgeous summer temperatures by having a picnic, go the extra mile and make it an eco-friendly picnic.

The first way to make sure your picnic is environmentally friendly is to pack your foods and snacks inside of a reusable bag. One such bag, featured in an article on Newsweek.com, is ideal for your next picnic excursion. Check out this fancy wagon-style picnic basket that will make your next outdoor event both eco-friendly and stylish:

If that's out of your price range, don't worry-- there are plenty of less expensive ways to host an environmentally responsible picnic. An article by Carolyn Sperry for TimesReporter.com outlines the many ways in which you can go green at your next outdoor dining event.

First, Sperry suggests investing in reusables. "For picnics, camping, tailgate parties or concerts in the park, try colorful, reusable picnic-ware. It looks better than disposable and easily pays for itself over time," wrote Sperry. One can even take it to the next level by purchasing reusable tableware made from recycled materials.

Second, if you must use some disposable items, consider bringing along biodegradable ones, urged Sperry. According to Sperry's article biodegradable items are "plasticware made form so-called 'bioplastics,' which is renewable plant sources, anything from algae to soybeans." These items will break down more easily than other plastics and papers.

You can invest in these types of items to make your picnic eco-friendly and memorable. To really make an impression, pick up some of these biodegradable custom imprinted galactic balloons (standard 9 inch). They'll grab the attention of all passers-by, and help you to spread your environmentally friendly message! 

There are literally thousands of eco-friendly promotional products to choose from. Nowadays, companies are encouraged to utilize these products for the simple fact that they provide a wonderful "green branding" opportunity. When preparing for an upcoming promotional campaign, businesses will tend to look for the products that provide the most amount of exposure and provide people with the most useful function. So why are eco-friendly bags so special? Because they are the perfect match to fulfill these criteria.

Everyone needs some type of backpack or carrier bag to take along with them throughout the day. If you're a student, you need a knapsack to carry your books and writing utensils. If you commute to work, you have plenty of important papers and personal items which you must take with you from home. There is a pretty universal need for a bag, so the fact that these eco-friendly bags are made from recycled materials is quite an added bonus.

As far as exposure goes, there is nothing more public than a promotional bag. By their very nature, people use bags outside to get their items from one place to another. This means that no matter where the recipient goes, everyone that comes into contact with them is going to see. So, if you are trying to establish your brand as one that is eco-friendly, why not take advantage of this positive attention with eco-friendly bags?

Now when searching for the right type of bag, it pretty much will all depend on the specific purpose that you want the bag to serve. There are all types of bags including everything from shopping bags to totes, and they all exist for the purpose of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.

The bottom line is that no other eco-friendly product is going to give you the perfect balance between exposure and function. Yes, eco-friendly apparel is ideal for getting people to see your brand. And of course, something like promotional eco-friendly mugs have great function, but limited exposure. Just watch how successful these environmentally friendly bags can be for your company.

One of the most important things to have when traveling is a toiletry bag. It's the best place to keep essentials like shampoo and body wash safe from spilling onto your clothes. You can house all your necessities, from toothopaste to deodorant and be organized while traveling. There's no doubt that a toitry bag is an absolute must. So why not use this knowledge to brand you business in an eco-friendly manner?

The Leeds Eco 100% Recycled Owl Utility Kit is a great item to give to clients and employees. It's personal enough to be considered a gift, but its not too personal to make the wrong impression. It's made of 100% post consumer recycled material so you can take pride in the fact that your giveaway will not be harming the environment. Recipients will most definitely appreciate this well designed item, too. It's large main pocket boasts a mesh pocket and a velcro strap for hanging. For extra organization purposes, it has a front pocket as well as two side pockets for extra storage. Users will be able to easily organize their items without fear of not being able to find them.

The best part of this item, after its functionality and eco-friendly nature is its imprint area. With a 4" x 3" imprint area available on its front pocket, your message will be seen clearly and by everyone who sees this bag.

Take a deep breath of that old country goodness and saddle up for the 2010 Minnesota Organic Conference. Mary Hanks, one of the conference organizers said, "It will be an outstanding educational opportunity for organic farmers and others interested in learning more about organic food and agriculture."
            
This trade show is to offer a look into the wonderful world of living organic. The two day conference will include guest speakers and open up for discussion with round table get-togethers. It takes place in the heartland of family run farms offering products like meat, cheese, eggs, milk and more. They use organic practices to raise crops and animals, making for healthier products and a reduced carbon footprint. What a perfect occasion to browse agricultural giveaways.

This will be an important trade show for businesses moving towards organic initiatives. With farms across the United States offering their services of organic agriculture, they may also want to offer some organic giveaways. By using fun green items to grab the attention of trade show attendees, they'll be likely to remember you.
                                   
While all giveaways will help brand your name, it's important to stick with eco-friendly trade show giveaways. Your business instills itself in sustainable practices and should therefore give the gift of sustainability. For the organic trade show, any of our organic promotions will come in handy. Now, after displaying your dedication to going organic, business opportunities can bloom and we can work towards a green future.

Listen up multi-million dollar sponsors of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Are you training to snag the gold medal? You don't have to watch the carbs or pump iron anymore. Just choose environmentally friendly products and you could be the business standing at the top of the awards podium.
            
Sherri Lennarson, PPAI board chair, said, "Apparel and souvenirs with the iconic rings, host city logos and designs from participating countries help create the sense of team spirit and unity associated with the Olympic Games." Imagine the great exposure you'll gain when your logo is imprinted next to the infamous 5 rings for an audience that covers each of the continents. Lennardson added, "Some of the world’s leading corporations invest millions of dollars in Olympic sponsorships for the widespread brand exposure and association with such a historic event."
  
PPAI is excited for the promotional product opportunities the Olympics bring and are especially thrilled to inform us that many sponsoring companies will be using environmentally friendly promotional items to gain notability at the upcoming events. What better way to promote sustainability then when given the stage in front of every nation in the world.

Leaders from many nations, included United States president, Barak Obama, will be meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark this week to discuss climate change goals. The United States and China are responsible for half of the world's emissions and are therefore a major focus of this week’s international summit. While negotiations are made and new ideas generated, it's important to stay proactive.
                               
While eco-friendly promotional items will give every country and various companies’ great exposure, they will be especially important for China and the United States. Let's make a bold statement of change and sustainability by arming our best athletes in eco-friendly apparel.

If winning gold for your environmentally friendly efforts at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics isn't enough, consider another gold medal opportunity. Many people take pride in collecting promotional items from the Olympics because of their huge value. “Mascots, pins and stamps have become highly-sought after items, allowing spectators to have ownership of a part of history,” said PPAI board chair, Lennarson. “An Olympic pin from the 1960 Olympic Games can sell for nearly $300 today," Lennardson added.
                  
Now with eco-friendly promotional giveaways you can get notability and become a part of history. Let's gear up in our eco-friendly outerwear, cling to the fun eco-friendly giveaways and go for the gold at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.