Go green this Earth Day with our new eco-friendly pen, perfect for jotting down ideas while saving the planet!
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
Consumers increasingly want to buy from companies that are serious about sustainability, but those efforts need to be sincere and clearly stated. Research shows that end-users are looking to brands to cut back on plastic packaging and clearly label the environmental claims they’re making.
Those expectations are set against a stark backdrop where only a small percentage of products are recycled or reused, and the vast majority still ends up in landfills.
The circular economy, where products are reused or remade rather than trashed at the end of their original lifecycle, is still in its infancy, but these eye-opening statistics share a roadmap of some of the things that need to change to help businesses kickstart circularity.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
“Yulex is the world’s first natural, plant-based replacement for polychloroprene (aka neoprene) foam. Originally created in partnership with Patagonia for their neoprene-free wetsuit. Yulex contains the only FSC-certified pure, plantbased rubber. Sustainably produced from renewable rubber tree forests, this material enables us to create highperforming, environmentally-conscious products.
Our newest collection, Yulex, brings together the latest in planet-first materials with our wide range of shapes, creating a better product for our customer and the planet. Because WHEN WE KNOW BETTER, WE CAN DO BETTER
High-performance gear that is both conflict-free and eco-responsible. Think tough & sustainable. Super-luxe & buttery smooth. Made from plant-based, FSC-certified rubber. Free from harmful allergens and contaminants. 60+ shapes, from laptop sleeves to totes and beyond. Fully customizable, dual sided print.”
Yulex is another resource for those companies focusing on a sustainability theme in their marketing. Yulex is also works for companies and non-profits that are past of the sustainable eco-system.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
Gemline is bringing Slowtide towels to the promotional products market.
“Slowtide’s art inspired towels and blankets provide a canvas for self-expression. Each product is crafted with premium and sustainable materials, making them more functional, absorbent, and quick to dry. Join Slowtide as they help pioneer change through community outreach, education, and donation”.
I am a fan of this line because the wide number of products – yoga, beach, golf, kitchen, camping – and all the color and playful design. Slowtide from Gemline is a great item if you business want to combine wet, with sustainably.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
PCNA is bring out more Organic Cotton items from Tentress for 2023, including the new Tentree Organic Cotton Classic Hoodie. The Tentree Organic Cotton Classic Hoodie is available in five colors – Olive Night Green, Dress Blue, Vintage Blue, Meteorite Black, and Heather Grey – in sizes from small through 2XL.
From the website, “Meet the men’s tentree Organic Cotton Classic Hoodie. Made with 100% Fairtrade organic cotton French terry fleece, it’s the perfect blend of unbelievable comfort and casual style that looks great anywhere. It features a front kangaroo pocket, plus a drawstring hood with embroidered grommets. It also features a rib-knit hem and cuffs for a comfier fit. On top of all that style and comfort, it’s Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold, which means it leaves behind no waste and can go safely back into the earth once you’re finished loving it. Best of all: Every purchase plants 10 trees, and with a trackable tree code on each hangtag, you can see the good you’re doing in real time! And through a partnership with 1% For The Planet, one percent of sales are donated to environmental nonprofits”.
Decoration for the Tentree Organic Cotton Classic Hoodie is being offered in Embroidery, Apparel Transfer, and Digital Direct to Garment (for more detailed, full color, artwork). Decoration can be done front, back, and sleeves, or any combination.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
The GRIND is a new concept mug from Ora. It seems to be a play on the old “This is Not a Cup” ceramic mugs, however this time with recycled content.
“The 470 ml / 16 oz The Grind is a single wall eco-friendly cup made from 50% coffee grounds, 15% cornstarch, and 35% melamine material. It features a light brown color with a textured coffee ground finish and a “RECYCLE RE-USE” all over print. Included is a PU sleeve composed of 58% recycled material. The body is paired with a screw-on threaded lid with a keyhole drinking spout. The wide mouth design makes it ice cube friendly and easy to clean”
We like this idea because it is reusable, and recycled, and also because it has a story that is fun, and can be incorporated into your marketing message. Also, seems to be a no-brainer idea for folks in foods services, food distribution, and coffee industry.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
Toadfish, a retail brand offered in the industry by TD Fischer, donates a portion of each sale to restoring oyster beds – which helps filter out ocean pollutants. – By Theresa Hegel
A can cooler that doesn’t tip over is a novel idea. But a non-tipping can cooler that also helps clean coastal waters is even more noteworthy.
That mix of functionality and sustainability is what prompted Wisconsin-based supplier TD Fischer (asi/90503) to introduce retail brand Toadfish to the promotional products industry.
“People like buying things with a purpose,” says Luke Armbrust, general manager of TD Fischer. “It’s not the only reason, but it might be enough to push you over the edge.”
Toadfish makes can coolers, tumblers, cup holders and dog bowls with non-tipping technology. The products include a patented suction cup on the bottom, so that they can easily be attached to boats, lawnmowers, golf carts and other vehicles. “It’s a no-tip suction cup; try tipping it over on a flat, smooth surface. It’s really, really, really difficult,” Armbrust says. “The only way you can remove it is to lift straight up. That’s the uniqueness of the item itself.”
Toadfish has also committed to replanting oyster beds for every product it sells. Oysters provide a number of benefits: Oyster reefs are a habitat for a variety of marine species, and their crevices provide shelter for fish and crabs to hide from predators. Oyster cultivation and harvest provide economic value to coastal communities. “Farmed oysters, clams and mussels account for about two-thirds of total U.S. marine aquaculture production,” according to Toadfish.
Plus, oyster beds help to improve water quality. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Oysters act like the ocean’s kidneys, filtering out pollutants and leaving behind clean water,” says Business Insider.
The cleaner, clearer water that comes from healthy oyster beds can help support underwater grasses, creating a habitat for young crabs, scallops and fish. So far, Toadfish says it has planted over 280,000 square feet of oyster beds. That’s enough oysters to filter more than 82 million gallons of water a day, according to the company.
“It’s a staggering number,” Armbrust says.
It’s TD Fischer’s second full year in the promo industry, and so far, Armbrust says interest in Toadfish products has remained strong. “We get a lot of reorders,” he adds. “That’s usually a pretty good sign.”
What Can You Do?
About 80% of ocean pollution comes from the land, much of it the result of runoff. And more than one-third of the shellfish-growing water of the U.S. is harmed by pollution, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Plus, nearly 13 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Consider these steps to help clean up out waterways.
Participate in a beach cleanup. The Surfrider Foundation, for example, has a volunteer network that conducts cleanups along the East and West coasts and the Great Lakes.
Reduce water pollution at home. Minimize impervious surfaces on your property to reduce flooding and stormwater runoff. Don’t flush nondegradable items or dump toxic chemicals down the drain. Simple steps like these can help keep waterways cleaner, according to the NRDC.
Look for products with ocean givebacks. Like Toadfish can coolers help build oyster beds to clean coastal waterways, another for-profit business, 4Ocean, sells products to help fund cleanup operations. The company sells a bracelet made of recovered plastic cord, post-consumer recycled glass beads and recycled stainless steel charms – and each one sold removes one pound of trash from the world’s oceans, according to 4Ocean.
Reduce dependence on single-use plastic. Less than 10% of plastic waste gets recycled each year, with a significant portion ending up in the oceans where it can harm marine life. Switching to tumblers, stainless-steel straws, bamboo utensils and canvas tote bags – all of which are readily available in the promotional products world – can help consumers cut single-use items from their everyday life, thus reducing plastic pollution.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
The Bolingbrook, IL-based promotional products supplier announced that the thin microfiber it uses in many of its best-selling products is now produced from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET).
Going forward, all products made with the thin microfiber will contain rPET material. Items include cleaning cloths for mobile devices and eyewear, screen cleaners and protectors, and smart pouches.
Notably, Toddy Gear is maintaining the same price point on the products. The items will also continue to be manufactured domestically, the firm said.
“We are committed to a more sustainable product culture,” said Toddy Gear President Jason Emery. “This initiative is monumental for our organization and the right thing to do for the earth.”
Benefits of rPET
• Making recycled polyester uses 90% less water than the production of virgin polyester.
• 70% less energy is used to make rPET fiber than virgin fiber.
• Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy, on average, to power a 60-watt light bulb for three hours.
• When 30 water bottles are recycled, they create one pound of rPET fiber.
(Source: Toddy Gear)
Since Toddy Gear began converting to rPET thin microfiber, the firm and its customers have kept nearly 454,600 plastic water bottles out of landfills, according to company data.
Toddy Gear shared that it has developed relationships with trusted rPET suppliers to make the eco-friendly options a legitimate, cost-effective and planet-friendly reality.
In January 2023, the supplier plans to expand its rPET offerings to include its popular ICE Series of cooling wraps, rally wraps and active bands. The products – nearly a dozen – will be sold at the same pricing as when the items were made from traditional materials, Toddy Gear said.
“By converting such an extensive offering of our best-selling items to the rPET material, we will be part of the global solution to improve our world,” said Emery.
There's a widespread bias that the #promoproducts industry is disposable, schlocky and wasteful. It's more than an image problem; it creates a sales & profit issue. How do we fix that? Industry thought leaders weigh-in. https://t.co/ORgmmfQuug
Compelled by end-buyer demand and a moral imperative to do better for the planet, a growing number of promo products suppliers have been intensifying efforts to offer products made from more sustainable materials and to run operations in a way that has less of an impact on the environment – something industry thought leaders believe will benefit promo and its customers significantly.
Just last week, another supplier, AAA Innovations (asi/30023), announced that it’s in the process of transitioning its product line so that items are made from eco-friendly materials. Like Toddy Gear, the firm is doing so without raising prices.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
PopPromos is launching their line of 100% custom eco-duffel bags. Your chose colors, design, strap sizes, zipper puller, side pockets, everything.
“Our Recycled Canvas Duffel Bag provides a retail-quality gift that is both eco-friendly and fully customizable! With the standard shape of this classic bag, full color placement printing all over, and the choice of 10 colors for the handles and zipper, this duffel bag can take on any design style. Customize further with add-ons for a shoulder strap, side pockets, full color paper packaging, and our popular full color printed lining! The durable RPET canvas, made with up to 30 water bottles’ worth of recycled plastic, means you get to go green with our retail-inspired duffel bag” ~ PopPromo.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
Line Rygaard Christiansen, Marketing Coordinator at Formpipe
“The plantable pencils were a good place to start. We believe that changing small things to more sustainable solutions will make an impact in the long run. Being a sustainable business is a must if you want to be relevant now and in the future.” Line Rygaard Christiansen
We’re sharing another example of how one of our customers uses our plantable pencils.
Line Rygaard Christiansen works as a Marketing Coordinator at Formpipe, a software company that’s listed on the Scandinavian stock exchange.
Formpipe helps over 5,000 clients globally with digitalization and automation of business processes.
We asked Line how Formpipe uses SproutWorld pencils and why sustainability is an important message.
Hi Line – we are curious to know what you use the pencils for?
We mainly use SproutWorld pencils for 3 things…
1. Giveaways for events like a recent conference about the good digital life
2. Giveaways at fairs
3. As part of the Formpipe welcome bag for new colleagues
Why are SproutWorld pencils ideal for giveaways?
We acknowledge that being a sustainable, socially responsible organization is a process and journey as much as it is a goal.
Therefore, we started to change all our merchandize and giveaways into more sustainable solutions – the SproutWorld pencils were a perfect match for us.
It’s both a fun giveaway and a way for us to tell our customers and employees that we’re moving in a more environmental way, and we take responsibility for the things we can influence right now.
It makes sense for us to give away gifts that will last for a long time and keep reminding people of who we are.
What has the feedback been?
Everybody loves the pencils. The idea of giving our customers and new employees something sustainable and unique that they can use and plant afterwards makes so much sense.
We can’t wait to see all the new “forget-me-not”-flowers in our customers’ and employees’ homes and offices.
Do the pencils underline your work with sustainability?
A high priority for us is responsible procurement. We have an impact when purchasing from our suppliers: We maintain a practice for all resources our employees need to use for events, meetings, and fairs.
We want to buy locally produced or organic groceries, environmentally friendly cleaning products and office supplies, and products with recyclable packaging.
If you are interested in these products to promote your own business, or if you wish to see some samples, email info@proformagreen.com for information and pricing.
And as always, if you really want to do something sustainable, do not buy promotional products. All products are consumption at one level or another. So if you must buy, 1) Buy local (i.e. made in USA), 2) Buy useful, long lasting items, 3) Buy sustainable/recycled/recyclable products if possible.
Adventures in Green Marketing 