Sustainable Swag

Ugggh....Styrofoam is back in D.C.

2011-03-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

With short-sited domestic leadership like this, we don't need any international terrorists to bring us donw. Sadly... Styrofoam is Back in D.C.

Shop Locally and Buy Organic

2011-02-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

We love working in San Francisco, but we're blessed to live on a small farm in rural West Marin county, surrounded by open space, organic greens, and highly creative people who have pioneered sustainable living and agriculture. Chez Panisse, the original "California Cuisine" restaurant in Berkeley, gets many of its seasonal organic vegetables within a tomatoes throw of our house.

This wonderful natural setting has nothing to do with promotional marketing, but it has everything to do with the way we approach our business and advise our clients.

We designed a logo and label for our neighbor's 10-acre organic family farm operation, Gospel Flat Farms. The design was inspired by an image we've seen repeatedly over the years — patriarch farmer Don Murch driving his tractor through bucolic fields of green. Gospel Flat Farms used to sell most of its organic vegetables and flowers to urban restaurants and farmer's markets. But last year they built a wonderful old-timey farm stand so neighbors can buy direct. It's a great resource for our community and much of the food they produce now stays very local.

Click HERE to see video of celebrity chef, Tyler Florence, on a tour of Gospel Flat Farms led by Don's amazingly talented son, Mickey.

Organic food tastes better and is nicer to the earth. We have our own organic garden, and raise chickens for eggs. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a farmstand across the street, but we can all choose to purchase food items grown or produced within 100 miles us. It's not only fresher and better tasting, but it helps reduce the amount of energy and materials needed for transport and packaging.

You can support small-scale agriculture like that of Gospel Flat Farms by shopping at your friendly neighborhood farmers’ market. Or, escape urban life, take a trip out to the country and buy direct from the farm stand.

Plastic on the Beach... and Still Flooding the Promo Industry

2011-02-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

It's been raining solid here in San Francisco for a few weeks. After Friday's storm I hiked down to one of my favorite secluded beaches in west Marin County. From the mesa high above the ocean I could see huge logs and other debris washed ashore. I scurried down a muddy trail to have a closer look.

What I found, tangled among the driftwood and seaweed, was a lot of plastic.

Unnatural forms washed in from the Pacific -- in every size, shape and color... bottles, bags, toys, containers, packaging, lighters, filters, pens, parts of shoes, building materials, on and on. Within five minutes I found enough plastic trash to fill a large duffle bag. Unfortunately, it's something we see all too often along the otherwise pristine beaches of the Bay Area and beyond.

Plastic is everywhere in our lives. For many of us, it's not a problem. Most of it ends up in landfills, and well... out of site, out of mind. As a branding guy earlier in my career I helped package and market numerous plastic products in plastic packages. As a consumer, I've bought a lot of plastic crap. I don't feel good about that now, because I know there are other alternatives.

I've learned about those big blobs of plastic floating around our oceans. I've been to the landfills to see where the plastic goes and how long it stays. I've learned how inefficient it is to produce many plastic products, and how it can contaminate our ground water with toxic liquids and residue.

Plastic is a particularly big problem with consumer products, packaging, and promotional marketing. The best way to eliminate the negative impacts associated with producing, using and disposing of plastic, is to reduce its use in consumer products and packaging. Thankfully, a growing number of my marketing and design colleagues are forging change in those areas.

The U.S. promotional product industry, however, has a long ways to go. It's aware of this issue and there is a lot of talk about "going green". But from what we've seen much of the talk is superficial. For example, many product suppliers openly complain about California's Prop 65. And despite last year's well documented and shameful scandal of toxic toys from some Chinese suppliers, the head of the major promotional product trade association recently referred to "alleged problems" with toxic plastic from China in his blog, as if it's all just overblown or a misunderstanding.

The good news is that there are certainly less damaging promotional alternatives today and we have vetted hundreds of promotional goods that meet higher standards of sustainability. The bad news is that plastic still dominates the business. Most clients still want things fast and cheap and too few people in this sales-driven industry seem to want to lose a commission over this issue.

I don't pretend to be perfect and we all make compromises from time to time. But the promotions industry needs to do a much better job recognizing its negative impacts and working to reduce the use of plastic from the top down. I hope my colleagues will come to the same conclusion that I did -- sooner rather than later. All they need to do is stroll on any beach. They may be surprised at the branded plastic stuff the tides bring in.

The Problem with Disposable Coffee Cups

2011-01-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know that if you buy just one cup of coffee or tea in a disposable cup every day, you'll create about 23 pounds of waste in one year?

Because so many disposable containers are used throughout the world — and because the resources required to make those cups are considerable — the environmental consequences can be quite staggering.

According to Ideal Bite , eighteen percent of garbage we produce is composed of disposable containers. Beverage cups made of virgin paper or — worse yet — styrofoam, make up a large chunk of that waste.

Americans trash about 25 billion styrofoam cups each year. This nasty material does not biodegrade. So 500 years from now, the polystyrene cup you toss out today will still exist either in a landfill or somewhere in our environment.

NOT ALL CUPS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Most paper cups for hot beverages are laminated with a plastic resin. This process keeps your beverages warm and inhibits leaking — but it also prevents the cups from being recycled. Starbucks now makes its disposable cups with 10% recycled content. They won't use a higher percentage because the recycled cups they've tried in the past leaked or failed and customers complained. There is a new type of biodegradable and compostable paper coffee cup available, but they are a bit more expensive, relatively resource intensive to produce and have not yet been widely adopted across the country.

The fact is, no matter what they’re made of, most disposable beverage cups end up in landfills. But there is something you can do about it. Join the growing movement towards reducing coffee cup waste.

We’ve been working with a great new non-profit, Green Cafe Network , which is greening all aspects of the coffeehouse industry and harnessing café culture for environmental education. More cafes are working to cut energy consumption and expand recycling and composting programs. Many now offer discounts if you bring your own cup.

Our partner company, eco imprints, offers a wide range of stylish, insulated, leak-resistant reusable coffee tumblers you can personalize and tote around. We've done a lot of research on the subject, and vetted out the best suppliers. Our favorites are made of stainless steel, but we carry tumblers made of corn plastic, biodegradable plastic, recycled plastic, and other durable materials.

SUSTAINABILITY STUDY: DISPOSABLE VS. REUSABLE
It's true that manufacturing reusable cups creates a bigger initial environmental impact than paper cups. However, that impact lessens over time as the reusable cup is, uh, reused. Each reusable cup has a “magic number” of uses at which point it becomes more environmentally friendly than a paper cup.

Sustainability Engineer Pablo Påster published a study last year in Treehugger, which found that after 24 uses, a stainless steel tumbler breaks even with a paper cup in terms of environmental impacts.

Considering that most reusable mugs are designed to be used at least 3,000 times, the positive eco impact of a reusable tumbler can be enormous.

To assure you always have a reusable mug when we need your caffeine fix, you can always keep a few extras on hand: one at home, one at the office, one on your bike, in your car or in your bag.

The daily impact of reusable beverage holders may seem small, but it adds up quickly. We're encouraging corporate clients, non-profits, and individuals to switch over to reusable tumblers.

If we can all get more friends, family and responsible organizations involved ...the reusable revolution will grow, and Mother Earth will get a much-needed coffee cup break.

The Secret Code of Plastic Recycling

2011-01-21T22:28:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice that most plastic items are marked somewhere with the number 1-7 inside a recycling arrow symbol?

This mark is part of a system that identifies various types of plastics. It indicates how and where you can recycle different plastic items from your home and office. Unfortunately, the presence of one of these symbols doesn't mean that these materials may be recycled everywhere. You must check with your local municipal waste service. The first two types — PET and HDPE — are the most common forms of plastic, so they are the easiest to recycle. Others, like PVC, contain more nasty chemicals but should be recycled to keep toxins out of the environment.

Here’s a guide to the plastic recycling code, plus some common products you’ll find of each plastic type:

#1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles. PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by remanufacturers.

#2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene): milk bottles, cereal box liners and grocery/trash/retail bags. HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

#3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes.PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

#4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags and squeezable bottles. LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.

#5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps and drinking straws. Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.

#6 PS (Polystyrene): NASTY material used for compact disc jackets, plastic tableware, and worst of all... those horrible packaging styrofoam peanuts! Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products — in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.

#7: A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. Other: three- and five-gallon reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.

If you must use plastic products for your marketing and promotional campaigns, please consider using the recycled and recyclable kind. From wearables, to journal covers, to pens and bags, there are many cool, practical promotional products made of recycled plastic. We can help you find them.

Organic Cotton Vs. Conventional Cotton

2011-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

People often ask us why we recommend organic cotton apparel at our promotional product firm, eco imprints. After all, a conventional cotton shirt looks pretty much the same as an organic cotton shirt. And they're typically cheaper than organic.

Looks can be deceiving.

The processes used to grow conventional cotton are quite destructive to the environment. Conventionally grown cotton consumes 25% of the insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides used in the WORLD today! Conventional farming devours roughly 150 grams of pesticides and fertilizers to produce enough cotton for a SINGLE T-shirt.

Here's a look at cultivation practices that clearly differentiate conventional and organic cotton farming:

SEEDS:
Conventional cotton seeds are typically treated with fungicides or insecticides. Organic cotton uses untreated seeds.

WEEDS:
Conventional cotton farmers apply herbicides to inhibit weeds. Organic cotton farmers physically remove weeds with hand-hoeing and cultivation, rather than through chemical destruction.

PESTS:
Conventional cotton uses insecticides and pesticides heavily. The 9 most common pesticides are highly toxic; five are probable carcinogens. And aerial spraying is frequently used, with potential drift onto workers, communities and wildlife. Organic Cotton farming maintains a balance between pests and other natural predators through healthy soil. It also uses "good" bugs, biological and cultural practices to control pests.

Using certified organic cotton for your corporate apparel programs shows a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Organic garments come from chemical and pesticide-free environments that protect our planet and the health of all creatures that live on it. That comfy organic cotton T-shirt is helping preserve our air, water and land.

A Beautiful Balanced Ecosystem For Your Desk

2011-01-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

As I write this post, about a dozen brine shrimp dart about in a softball-sized globe on my desk. They nibble on green algae coating the rocks inside. I have never fed them, nor cleaned the bowl, nor aerated their water. Their clear glass home is sealed airtight. Nothing goes in or out.

These shrimp are my carefree pets, living in a completely self-sustaining world. The algae produce food and oxygen from room light, the shrimp make carbon dioxide for the plants. Together the organisms support each other with no input from me, other than appreciation. Their globes are little sustainable planets of sorts, a balanced ecosystem that could in theory continue for years. We've had ours for only a few weeks, and we've grown quite fond of it.

These mico-worlds, called Ecospheres, have been around for some time and they come in several shapes and sizes. They are the easiest aquarium you'll ever find — and a lovely reminder of our self-sustaining eco system.

You can find these at stores like Brookstones for about $65, or you can purchase them from eco imprints for even less, including costs to customize with a subtle logo or message. Find out more here.

Keep in mind a system this small is sensitive to room conditions, and it can be easy to kill off the inhabitants before you find the optimal place in a room — which is warm but not brightly lit. The question many Ecosphere owners want to know is, how long will they live and can the shrimp reproduce? While an individual shrimp can live for up to 5 years, unlike most marine invertebrates, the endemic Hawaiian red brine shrimp reproduce very sparingly. There are reports of Ecospheres hatching shrimp fry, but they are rare enough to offer little hope yours will. However, even if the shrimp die, the algae will continue to live for decades or longer — an additional ecological lesson.

These little orbs of self-sustaining life are great instructional aids. If you like living things nearby but don't like the slavery of upkeep, they're perfect pet/gardens, ideal office mates, and they make wonderful sustainability-themed gifts.

Succulents Make a Great Green Corporate Gift

2011-01-04T23:24:00.000-08:00

Not far from our home in West Marin, on a windy mesa just above the Pacific Ocean, is a world renowned botanical garden specializing in succulents.

The strange and beautiful plant forms we encountered while touring this magical 14-acre site last year inspired us to begin sourcing sustainably produced succulents as corporate gifts. We offer several types of small, pesticide-free succulents grown here in Northern California.

Succulents are a wonderful green promotion and a sensible alternative to cut floral designs. They are beautiful, drought tolerant, flourish with minimal care, and can be sustainably resourced.

Succulents have the ability to store water in their stems, leaves, or roots, or a combination of the above. They can be giant trees or tiny two-leaved miniatures. They come in an endless array of shapes, textures, colors and forms. Therefore, they are of great interest to collectors who appreciate their often other-worldy appearance.

More than many other plants, succulents are threatened by man's encroachment on habitat. So they are especially worthy of cultivation as either house plants or garden plants. We have a nice collection of potted succulents on our roof deck at eco imprints, and many mature specimens around our home in Marin. They take far less maintenance than their non-succulent counterparts, and they produce some amazing, long-lasting blooms — especially this time of year.

Even if you have a not-so-green thumb, you’ll do well with these hearty beauties!

Try Some Hemp

2011-01-03T23:19:00.000-08:00

Apparel is an effective way to grow your brand and get your message out. Clothing sales account for roughly 40% of the entire promotional marketing industry.

Among fabric alternatives, comfy, affordable cotton is the corporate merchandising king. But in a hopeful sign of environmental consciousness, more corporate clients are purchasing organic cotton or recycled soda bottle apparel with non-toxic screen printing. Bay Area-based computer networking giant Cisco Systems just ordered a planeload of hemp-organic cotton blended shirts for its staff. Sweet!

What most people don't realize is that traditional cotton is not as "natural" as it feels. A typical cotton t-shirt requires 1/3-pound of chemical pesticides and 1740 gallons of water to grow the fabric used in production. (source: Panna / World Wildlife Federation) That’s enough water for you or I to drink for 9.5 years. And even more chemicals are used to process and dye.

Truly natural or organic cotton, on the other hand, does not require the use of pesticides for its cultivation. That's why we recommend organic cotton apparel and bags with natural dyes as the more responsible promotional choice.

An even better — but, in the U.S., harder to find alternative — is hemp. We're not talking marijuana, hemp's psychoactive brother.

Industrial hemp is an amazing product that grows easily without harmful chemicals. Hemp requires only rainfall to flourish, is four times stronger than cotton, is naturally anti-microbial, and naturally UVA protectant. Yet the U.S. government bans its cultivation and considers it no different than smokable marijuana. Much of this has more to do with fear-mongering politics and powerful corporate lobbyists than with common sense or health concerns.

Interestingly, industrial hemp was widely grown in the United States during colonial times. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp for making paper, rope, canvas, and textiles. It’s identified as one of the four main crops in early American history.

In fabric form, hemp is totally legal to import here. At Eco Imprints we offer several fashionable styles of soft blended hemp-organic cotton T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and polos. Hemp typically costs more than cotton, but it's worth it.

It'll take a lot of change before hemp becomes mainstream, but more eco-minded individuals are discovering its unique value and qualities. So next time someone offers you some hemp, give it a try!

Disposable Batteries — Good for Convenience, Bad For The Environment

2010-12-22T22:44:00.000-08:00

Most of us don't give it a second thought, but we're surrounded by batteries. They power our computers, digital music players, phones, mobile devices, radios, wrist watches, smoke detectors, flashlights, toys... the list goes on.

A staggering 15 billion disposable batteries are manufactured each year. The kind we use most are household alkaline batteries. Today's batteries are far less harmful than their predecessors, which contained high levels of mercury and cadmium, yet they still contain nasty chemicals that can harm the environment.

Batteries should always be properly recycled at the end of their life, but they often get tossed in the trash (or just tossed) where they eventually breakdown and leach toxics into the ground. When not disposed of properly, discarded batteries can harm wildlife, pollute groundwater, and foul the soil.

We like to end our posts on a happy note, and we'll bet you saw this one coming: there are many high quality hand-cranked and solar powered tools to replace conventional battery-powered items. They work great and cut out the need to buy replacement batteries. We can get you the cool kind you can slap your logo on!

The flashlight pictured above provides five minutes of light for one minute of cranking. It can also recharge your cell phone. It'll last for years, but costs no more than a box of six disposable D cell batteries. Human-powered and solar swag make for wonderful gifts and incentives to promote sustainability or renewable energy initiatives. Find out more here.

Seasons GREENings ...Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards

2010-10-26T23:36:00.000-07:00

Watch out ... the holidays are coming. For those of you who like to plan ahead, we've sourced a great line of recycled greeting cards featuring post-consumer recycled content, FSC-certified paper and greener printing processes. You can customize them with your own message and branding. We can also supply cool cards made of seeded paper that will grow your cheer long after holidays. You can choose many stock designs, greetings, fonts and colors — or send us your customized design to be printed directly on the wildflower seed paper.

Get your green cards here or here.

Give Trees!

2010-10-19T23:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a promotion that helps fight global warming and keeps useless plastic giveaways out of landfills. Seed-the-Future is a great new gift or incentive card concept from eco imprints. It gives brands an opportunity to show green values and lets consumers do something good for the planet. Each card, branded with the logo of your organization, allows the holder to have one or more trees planted in their name in a re-forestation project. The cards can be made of recycled materials or seeded paper. Use them to reward consumers for loyalty or conservation or to honor employees for reducing their impact on the environment.

Non-Toxic Promo Flash Drives with 100% Recycled Casing

2010-10-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

We've recently added a number of stylish new usb drives to our growing mix of practical and eco friendlier promotional gadgets. This ergonomic shaped design is made of a 100% recycled ABS plastic exterior casing. Manufactured under stringent RoHS standards to keep toxics out of the environment. It's both PC and Mac compatible, and comes in recycled cardboard box. We can load it up for internet streaming or incorporate your branding, advertisement, brochure or website on screen every time the flash drive is used. Get more info here.

Sustainable Swag That Won't Break The Bank

2010-10-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

We're often challenged by clients on tight deadlines who are in desperate need of fast-turn customized promotional products that are environmentally friendly and inexpensive.

We're big fans of the ecosmart line of recycled office products and desktop accessories from eco imprints. The small sampling of eco items pictured above include a pen caddie, mousepad, pen, business card holder, picture frame, and notebook.

All are made of 100% recycled kraft paper. In most cases, your logo or message can be beautifully blind debossed along with a recycled symbol, so the environmental theme is underscored and there is no need for chemical inks on your imprint. Many items can be mailed flat. Best of all, almost everything in the line is available for less than $3!

Contact eco imprints for more information on the ecosmart line and ideas on how to affordably green your next promotion.

The Promise and Problems of Corn Plastic

2010-10-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

Those of you who follow us know that we’ve been on an anti-petroleum-based-plastic crusade of sorts.

Because we’re trying to change an industry notorious for pimping tons of plastic swag that ends up languishing in landfills, we tend encourage the use of biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastic materials whenever possible. We also advocate eliminating plastic use altogether when it’s not really needed.

We‘ve sourced a fairly wide selection of promotional product alternatives made in the USA from a promising biodegradable polymer called PLA, better known as corn plastic. PLA can also be made from other renewable plants, including soy, peanuts, and potatoes.

PLA is an alternative to plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the petroleum-based material used in many consumer goods and product packages.

You may have seen PLA packaging recently at Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Target and Wild Oats Stores. The material was used to package the DVD of Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. And from pens and heavy-duty coffee mugs (see photo above) to trade show badges, you can now put your logo on many practical corn plastic goods that might otherwise be made of conventional plastic.

Innovation is seldom without controversy. And there is a serious controversy in sustainability circles about whether or not corn-based plastic is really better for the environment. We recently attended an Eco Tuesday function in San Francisco, where several of us lingered after the event to carry on a spirited discussion about the pros and cons of corn-based plastics.

What follows are some points made on both sides of that discussion, and also our nuanced take on the issue:

BENEFITS:

• PLA biodegrades into harmless natural compounds in the right conditions. It is made in the USA from a renewable resource and can be composted into fertilizer. (On the flip side: conventional plastic is made from oil, contains toxins, and takes between 100 to 1000 years to break down.)

• PLA is recyclable as well as biodegradable – if you have the right facilities to do those things.

• PLA is part of a broader solution to keep petrol-plastic out of our environment and could take pressure off our bulging landfills and our environment (plastics already take up 25 percent of dumps by volume, and scientists recently reported a toxic vortex of plastic debris twice the size of Texas swirling around the Pacific Ocean).

• Producing PLA uses 65 percent less energy than producing regular plastics, according to independent analysis (funded by its maker). It also generates 68 percent fewer greenhouse gases, and contains no toxins.

• PLA is an affordable alternative to conventional plastic, so it’s reasonable for industry to adopt it.

NEGATIVES:

• Yes, it’s fully biodegradable within a few months, but you can’t just throw it in your backyard’s compost pile. To decompose, PLA requires a temperature of close to 200 degrees and a special type of composting facility.

• There are currently few facilities nationwide that accept PLA, and most municipalities don’t now have the capacity to sort it or accept it for compost or recycling. As such, under current systems, most PLA could end up in landfills, where it may not break down any faster or more thoroughly than other forms of plastic

• Corn is proving to be a less-than-ideal solution for fuels (Google: "corn ethanol problems") and some question its use for products and packaging at a time of growing global food shortages.

• Corn production is relatively energy and water intensive, uses pesticides and fertilizers to grow, and some genetically modified corn has reportedly been used in PLA. Corn production is also heavily subsidized by the U.S. government.

• Corn plastic products aren’t stable at high temperature, so it isn’t a good plastic alternative in all applications. PLA tends to melt at temperatures above 115 degrees. So your lightweight compostable corn plastic soda cup could morph into a pancake if you leave it in your car on a hot day.

OUR OPINION:

We acknowledge that there are many legitimate concerns with corn plastic, but we believe it should be further adopted and improved.

Our hope is that the use of alternatives to petroleum-based goods will encourage further innovation and perhaps even a revolution in composting. PLA is a relatively new technology in terms of mainstream usage and it has a great deal of promise if more people got behind it.

It’s wise to be wary of PLA’s limitations, but we should not dismiss it outright because the technology or systems to sort and compost it have not yet been perfected.

When I was a kid, very few people recycled, but today nearly every municipality has convenient recycling systems in place. While we’ve made real progress on that front, petrol-plastic usage and disposal is still not perfect. Some plastics can’t be easily recycled today, even here in San Francisco.

Corn plastic is not the “green bullet” some hype it to be. The technology needs improvement and it will take time to expand composting alternatives and create a convenient collection system that includes biodegradable plastics. What we really need to mainstream biodegradable plastic and other alternatives is a collective push for change. And change is what our environment needs right now.

Recycled Promotional Bird Feeder Kit

2010-06-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a simple, inexpensive promotional giveaway that not only helps sustain wild bird populations but also promotes the concept of reusing plastic materials that might otherwise end up in the landfill.

The Eco Imprints wild bird feeder kit transforms any used 2-liter plastic soda bottle into a custom-branded dining perch for fine feathered friends. Simply fill the bottle with seed, twist on your imprinted feeder dish, insert handle ends, and hang it where you want to attract birds. We can do a one-color logo or message imprint opposite the perch. These custom kits are made in the USA, and cost only a few bucks each. Feed birds and reuse at the same time. Splendid sustainable swag!

Find it here.

PVCs in Faux Leather. How Green Is Your Padfolio?

2010-03-13T23:04:00.001-08:00

One of the most popular promotional products in the corporate world is padfolios. While there are many stylish options for recycled, recyclable and biodegradable writing pads, folders, and binders out there — some folks insist on a dark, heavy-grained casing to house their writing pads and business essentials.

The problem with most padfolios is that they are made of either PVC or leather. PVC is a highly toxic, dioxin-releasing vinyl. It contains chloride, does not biodegrade, and has been linked to many types of cancer and environmental concerns. And while it's a “natural” material, the production of leather is a very chemical-laden process that uses heavy metals, pollutes our waters, and is unkind to animals.

For Padfolios that have that fancy leather feel, we suggest similar alternatives that are greener than PVC (vinyl) and leather.

While not as green as recycled board, Polyurethane faux leather is naturally soft and flexible and does not require the solvents used for softening PVC and leather. We have found manufacturers that are conscientious about the need to minimize the use of solvents and reduce energy consumption in the manufacturing process.

Among our favorite faux leather padfolios is the 13” x 10” DuraHyde Writing Pad. It looks great, wears well, accommodates an 8.5” x 11” writing pad, has a zippered closure and pockets for all your essentials, and isn’t too pricey. If you want to imprint a logo on it, consider a nice subtle deboss effect that doesn’t use any inks.

Check out this Greenpeace link to learn more about the safer alternatives to PVCs.

Why We Love Recycled Cardboard Products

2010-01-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

We offer a lot of practical recycled cardboard and paper products through our promotional marketing firm, eco imprints. They don't blink, or buzz, or glow in the dark but everyone has a use for these items and they're good to associate with any responsible brand.

Here's a few reasons why recycled cardboard and paper products can make a real difference for the environment:

•Paper and cardboard account for 41% of all municipal solid waste.

•Recycling 1 Ton of Cardboard saves 682 Gallons of oil

•Recycling 1 Ton of Cardboard saves 7,000 Gallons of water

•Recycling 1 Ton of Cardboard saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space

•Recycling 1 Ton of Cardboard save about 17 trees

•Recycled cardboard requires 645 less energy than make cardboard from virgin wood pulp

Cakevertising by Amnesty International

2009-03-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friends at TrendHunter Magazine for turning us on to this tasteful and poignant ad campaign celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International. The series features a cool new promotional concept: "Cakevertising".

Amnesty and its agency, DDB Budapest, created ads featuring a series of cakes with symbolic photographic images of people in danger. On each cake, a slice is being removed from the rest of the cake, visually separating a person from an unacceptable, unsafe situation.

The tagline reads, “You can do more than celebrate. 60 years of the universal declaration of human rights.”

Not all Cakevertising is so serious. Cakes and cookies with detailed logos and photos can be a fun and tasty way to get your message across. We have a great source here in San Francisco that makes beautifully detailed edible swag for product launches, anniversaries, and special events. They may not last a long time, but people enjoy them, remember them, and they're one giveaway that won't end up in a landfill.

How You Eco

2009-03-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to turn you on to How You Eco. It’s one of our favorite new websites covering the green movement – and they featured an interview about me founding eco imprints in today’s edition.

How You Eco is a community of innovative green-minded folks and a great resource for new ideas and more sustainable approaches to work, home, and play. It launched just a few months ago, but is growing virally and could soon become the Facebook of green social media. Check it out.

Free Foldable Furniture

2009-03-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

We have a current fascination with furniture made out of cardboard.

We're designing our own booth for an upcoming green conference and of course we want it to be as sustainable as possible. Among other things, we plan to create some DIY modular cardboard shelving units. These pieces should not only look cool — but they need to be sturdy enough to hold some weighty sustainable swag product samples.

As part of our research we discovered the wonderful work of Nicola Enrico Staubli. This contemporary Swiss architect has designed a line of furniture based on folding cardboard. His work is very inspiring, and we believe there could be some relevant applications in green meetings, events, promotions and outreach.

What we find most interesting and endearing about Staubli's approach is that he is not selling the furniture; in fact he is not actually selling anything. His free designs are meant to be constructed by the masses (yes, that means YOU).

Printable templates are downloadable from his Foldschool website. He has several sweet designs for kids pieces. Staubli says the thinking behind foldschool is "To restore design to one of its original missions: to provide a product at an affordable price through a smart manufacturing process." Presumably, by smart manufacturing in this case he means elbow grease. Bravo!

USB Rechargeable Batteries

2009-03-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Put your logo on usb batteries that save money, reduce toxic waste and can be used re-used hundreds of times.

The USB batteries from eco imprints are the ultimate inexpensive clean energy promotional item to power small devices at work, home, or on the go.

Eco Imprints enables you to add a small imprint on each battery, and at only about $5 per battery, they're a great deal compared to conventional disposables. They work like a conventional battery and recharge by pulling off the cap and inserting into an open USB port on your laptop, PC, games console, other appropriate electronic device.

Each year, 15 billion batteries are disposed of globally — the equivalent to line of batteries to the moon and back! Normal alkaline batteries are mostly disposed of in landfills, which create significant environmental issues and long-term healt concerns. As the casing corrudes toxic waste such as mercury, cadmium and lead are released into the eco-system, harming our soil and water and exposing these chemicals to future generations.

These USB batteries are tested for up to 500 charge cycles to guarantee optimum reusable performance for everyday devices and needs.

Connect The Dots Benefit Party This Friday!

2009-03-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

With a battered economy, a diving stock market and the epic struggles of prominent businesses and financial institutions, philanthropic spending is down and non-profits are feeling the pinch.

But Connect the Dots, an inspiring non-profit that’s working to green other non-profits, refuses to let the precarious economy get them down. They’re throwing a party.

This Friday in San Francisco’s Mission District, you can experience good music, good people and good times for a good cause at the benefit concert for our friends at Connect the Dots. See details here.

Connect the Dots conducts outreach and works with the nonprofit community to reduce their environmental footprint so they can focus on their social missions. Their programs help non-profits deal with waste management, energy and utilities, and purchasing policies so they can function more sustainably.

If you’re looking to green your non-profit, or have some extra cash to support a wonderful program that’s helping an underserved community in tough times, Sustainable Swag urges you to make the connection with Connect the Dots.

Tips to Save Water During California's Drought

2009-03-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

Despite recent rains, the Govenor of California just declared a statewide water emergency. Our fine state is in the midst of a three-year drought.

Sustainable Swag is feeling the drought personally. Early last month, every household in our town was put on immediate mandatory water restrictions. For our family of four, that means we can consumer no more than 100 gallons of water per day.

The small coastal community where we live is off the main water grid. We have our own humble system of reservoirs and water tanks to serve about 2,000 residents, but they are almost bone dry. The picture above shows the bottom of our main local resovior before we got some wet weather a few weeks ago.

Each day in households around the country and across the globe, we allow a lot of water to flow down the drain. Many experts are predicting that water shortages will be a critical longer-term problem in the coming years. The restrictions our household is dealing with will be faced by many others in the near future.

What are some ways you can incorporate water conservation into your daily lives? Here are some quick water facts to give you an idea about how much water you can save if you make minor adjustments:

•Reduce your shower time from 10 minutes to 5 minutes and you will save 25 gallons. (we only shower every other day now).

•Switch to showers instead of a bath and you will save another 25 gallons of water. We save all our shower water and use it to flush the toilets.

•Make sure you turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. For a family like ours we can save up to 20 gallons at 5 gallons each. If you brush your teeth twice a day, that’s 40 gallons of water a day!

•Instead of using a hose to water your garden, put out buckets when it rains and reuse the rain water. Lose the lawn and consider landscaping your yard with beautiful drought-tolerant plants.

•Fill a pitcher with water and keep it in the refrigerator so you are not waiting at the sink for the water to get cold.

•Always make sure to fix leaky faucets, toilets, and underground pipes. Up to 20 gallons can be lost by a event a small faucet drip.

•Hand wash your dishes, but use a dish pan and don't keep the tap running. If you must use a dishwasher, use a low-flow model.

•Cut back on laundry use, or use a water-saving front load machine. A conventional washer can use up to 50 gallons on a SINGLE LOAD!

Just making small adjustments to your daily habits can add up quickly and make you feel good about helping solve our water challenges.

'Beam In' Your Next Keynote: Green Event Technology!

2009-02-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Much to the surprise of many attendees, during last week's 2009 Greening Hospitality Industry Conference in Pittsburgh, keynote speaker L. Hunter Lovins was presented via live interactive video technology, rather than live and "in person".

The virtual keynote of this acclaimed author, educator and sustainability consultant saved conference planners travel costs and lowered the event's carbon footprint. It also nicely reflected the mission of the event — how to green conferences.

We've also seen this live video technology successfully deployed during a roundtable discussion that "beamed in" European business leaders at last year's Sustainable Brands Conference in Monterey.

The technology has improved a lot in just the last few years ago. We believe live interactive video feeds will be a more viable and smart event greening solution as tighter budgets and lowered carbon impact goals continue to challenge event planners.

Read more about Hunter Lovins' virtual keynote here.

‘Visionary’ humanitarian promotion by U.S. Government

2009-02-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

America may be scoring some global points through an outreach and aid program that provides inexpensive adjustable eyeglasses to some of the world’s most impoverished nations.

Joshua Silver, an atomic physicist who taught optics at Oxford, has invented an amazing pair of inexpensive “adaptive eyeglasses” which allow the wearer to set their own site correction by pumping a clear silicon liquid oil into a thin sac in the lense until the focus is right. No doctor visit or testing is required and the glasses correct vision impairment almost instantly. Silver is pictured above wearing his invention.

The glasses aren’t exactly stylish — think early Woody Allen or a 1960’s math geek — but they could help improve quality of life for millions of poor people whose options are limited by impaired site.

In the U.S. and other wealthy nations, 60-70 percent of people wear corrective lenses. But in many developing countries, only 5 percent have glasses due to high costs and limited access to professional eye care.

The glasses cost about $19 to make, but the inventor hopes to cut that by a few dollars as production ramps up. His grand “vision” is to eventually provide eyeglasses to a billion poor people worldwide.

The U.S. Department of Defense has already purchases 20,000 pairs to give away in impoverished parts of Africa and Eastern Europe. Those glasses have an American flag and the words “from the people of the United States” engraved in small print on the side of the frames.

This is an imprinted giveaway at its best — providing something truly useful and underscoring a brand's value. In this case, the "brand" is the United States of America. And in an era where our country's reputation abroad has been tarnished by questionable policies and politics, an outreach program like this may help others see the United States in a positive new light.

Reusable organic cotton produce sacks

2009-02-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a great item that replaces those thin plastic twist-tie bags we're all forced to use in grocery stores to transport our produce, dried fruit, and nuts.

Forget those flimsy disposable plastic bags that end up in the landfill and try these wonderful reusable organic cotton produce sacks.

They help organize the food in your heavier reusable shopping bags. They store veggies and fruit in your fridge. If they start to get a bit nappy with veggie stains and juice -- just pop them in the washing machine and they're good as new. We can put your graphics on them. We've been sourcing these for one of our clients who sells them at the local farmer's market.

82% of Consumers Buying Green, Despite Economy

2009-02-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

Four out of five people say they are still buying green products and services today — which sometimes cost more than conventional goods — even in the midst of a brutal U.S. recession, according to a recently released study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing.

Half of the 1,000 people surveyed buy just as many green products now as before the economic downturn, while 19 percent say they are buying more green products. Fourteen percent say they are buying fewer environmentally green products.

Just 9 percent of respondents say green advertising is their primary influencer. Twenty-one percent of consumers say a product´s reputation is the biggest factor they weigh when making purchasing decisions followed by word of mouth (19%) and brand loyalty (15%).

About one in three consumers say they don´t know how to tell if green product claims are true. One in 10 consumers blindly trusts green product claims.

Consumers are verifying green claims by reading the packaging (24%) and turning to research (going online, reading studies; 17%).

At eco imprints, we've found buyers are as conscious as ever — many requiring documentation on manufacturing processes, materials content, production methods, and country of orgin. Overall, organizations are buying less and going for value, but there is a parallel trend toward purchasing higher quality reusable goods that have a longer shelf life and less impact on the environment.

It's comforting to know that people continue to buy green when the economy is giving so many of us the blues.

TED Conference 2009 Swag Bag

2009-02-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

This year the annual TED Conference celebrated its 25th Anniversary, and it featured one of the coolest and greenest swag bags of 2009.

An acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design — TED is an annual conference attended by many of the world's leading scientists, academics and business leaders. The agenda is a series of talks, during which big thinkers discuss big ideas. They also have an outstanding website: TED.com.

TED attracts the "It" crowd of Silicon Valley, as well as Nobel Laureats, politicians, design gurus, writers and rock stars. What these heavy hitters receive when they arrive is a killer conference swag bag filled with goodies. We're not talking about a tote to house logo'd frisbees, hats, or blinking plastic stuff. TED's giveaways includes items like cutting edge tech gear, thoughtful books and DVDs, valuable coupons, and high end messenger bags. TED's swag bag is a way for companies to get their goods and services in the hands of some of the most influential and socially responsible power brokers in the world.

This year's TED Bags (see above) were designed just up the street by our friends at San Francisco's Rickshaw Bagworks. Rickshaw made 1600 bags in 800 color combinations for this year's event. The bags were made of a recycled soda bottle textile. Inside each bag were the following gifts:

•Skype headset
•Long sleeve black organic T-shirt, outdoor jacket, luxury eco towel
•Stuffed Panda Bear
•Various thoughtful earth-themed books and DVDs
•High end notepads and padfolios
•Stainless water bottle with carrying case
•Exclusive TED Gift Guide filled with valuable coupons
•Coupon for a Steelcase chair
•Gift certificate for eco-friendly Shoes
•Organic soap
•Pens, breath mints, and other assorted goodies

Especially in today's economic climate TED's giveaway bag may be a bit over-the-top for most conference planners, but if you're looking to put together a cool, memorable and responsible swag bag for your next conference, we humbly suggest you contact the sustainable swag experts at eco imprints.

Sign of the Times

2008-11-05T19:51:00.000-08:00

The results are in, and here in San Francisco there was literally dancing on the streets. Barack Obama will soon be the 44th president of the United States!

It will take time to grasp the full meaning of this moment that historic on so many levels. Despite all the doom and gloom and the daunting challenges our nation faces, we strongly believe Obama’s presidency will be a transformative one in the areas of climate and energy policy.

After nearly a decade of government policies that cater to industry and put America's health and natural resources at risk, it seems we have, at last, turned the page, and entered a new era in our nation’s history. Barack gets it. And that is a good thing for the planet and for our burgeoning green economy.

In the end, the election of Barack Obama is a powerful and much-needed sign of hope for our country. Now the hard work begins.

Put the Whole World In Your Hands with Recycled Glass

2008-10-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Every month, Americans toss out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper. All of these jars are recyclable. The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than when a new bottle is made from raw materials.

A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill. Mining and transporting raw materials for glass produces about 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted for half of the raw materials, the waste is cut by more than 80%.

You don't need to use virgin glass for your promotions. Among our favorites is a wonderful line of recycled glass globes produced here in Northern California. These beautiful promotional gifts let you put the whole world in your hand. Made entirely from recycled glass, with geographically accurate natural earth colored continents, you can put a small logo or message on them. They range in from marble size to small desktop sphere - or about 1/300 millionth scale models of earth. Small things can teach big lessons.

Bling Bling ... Affordable Solar Swag!

2008-10-11T23:52:00.000-07:00

Looking to promote your organization's renewable energy initiatives but don't have the budget to give away a $250 solar backpack? Consider this: An inexpensive key fob using cutting edge solar technology. Talk about bling, your logo or graphic will print up to 4-color on the front and you can do a more subtle 1-color imprint on the back. The piece will blink continuously and it never needs batteries. At eco imprints we're currently offering this cool sustainable swag item on special for $1.25 plus set up, while product is in stock, minimum 500 units for this price.

We're very enthusiastic about the possibilities of using solar swag to help mainstream solar technologies. We've been busy sourcing some fresh renewable product concepts from Europe, Asia and the United States. Stay tuned here or contact us at info@ecoimprints.com if you want to learn how to leverage the power of the sun to fuel your marketing programs.

Solar Powered Desktop Wind Turbine

2008-10-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

It's a breeze to promote renewable energy with these imprinted desktop solar powered wind turbines. No plugs or batteries required. Powered by solar cell mounted on base. Just add direct sunlight and watch the blades spin. Each wind turbine is imprinted with a logo in two locations — on the base and the back of the propeller area. These won't exactly lower your carbon footprint, but you can stay a little cooler and bring the green movement to any office with this fun environmental desk accessory.

Coastal Clean Up Day 2008

2008-09-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

My kids and I had a fun adventure today. We climbed down a steep bluff overlooking a secluded patch of Marin coastline to participate in the 23rd Annual Coastal Clean Up Day.

We joined an estimated 55,000-plus volunteers statewide who collected 742,154 pounds of debris, according to early reports. Of that, organizers say 106,500 pounds were recyclable.

Weston, Sofia and I found lots of interesting stuff — mostly plastic, but some metal objects, wood debris, and even clothing. We filled several bags with junk. Lots of cigarette butts, plastic water bottles, plastic bags, bottle caps, disposable lighters, and food wrappers.

In terms of UNSUSTAINABLE SWAG, we found several custom branded disposable cigarette lighters, 2 weathered baseball caps, and several pens with logos on them. The oddest thing we found was a pair of men's briefs. Must be a story there. My kids found them very amusing.

Sadly, over the course of several hours of combing the beach, we counted 24 dead birds in various states of decay. This may or may not have to do with the way we're treating their habitat and our environment, but it was troubling to see.

Above is a photo our young crew next to one of the cool posters used to promote the event. Also backside of the T-shirts given to volunteers. Too bad they weren't organic. Next year we need to hook up the organizers up with eco imprints.

100 Million Reasons Not To Use Junk Mail!

2008-09-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Direct mail can be an effective form of advertising and promotion, but as marketers it's time we consider not only how annoying unwanted mail solicitations can be — but the impact this practice has on our planet.

According to a recent report by ForestEthics — the nonprofit whose mission is to protect endangered forests — more than 100 BILLION pieces of junk mail are delivered in the U.S. each year. This creates more than 51 million metric tons of greenhouse gases — the emissions equivalent of over nine million cars!

The report notes that 100 million trees are cut each year to generate junk mail.

That's 100 million reasons to rethink your direct marketing campaign.

Along with the junk mail report the ForestEthics group stressed the importance of their campaign and petition for a Do Not Mail Registry “to give Americans the choice to stop receiving junk mail.”

At our partner firm, eco imprints, we work with clients to create promotional strategies that don't involve junk mail or excessive use of materials that are wasteful. All of our own marketing is done digitally, through SPAM-free email blasts to responsible organizations who want our information. When mailing needs to be done, we make sure it's going to people who want it, and we use high content recycled materials.

Rethink direct mail marketing. The planet will thank you and your brand's reputation will benefit.

'Cool' Global Warming Promotion Hits San Francisco

2008-08-19T00:33:00.000-07:00

Cool Globes is public art with a purpose — and buzz-building promotional communications at its best.

The creation of Chicago-based environmental activist/mom/marketing guru Wendy Abrams, this nationwide project uses the power of art to raise awareness about global warming and the little things we can all do about it.

Abrams conceived of these six-foot-tall plaster art pieces (see "sad earth" piece above) as a way to deliver a message about our need to “cool” the planet. The globes are designed and decorated by a diverse group of people — including actors, musicians, artists, elected officials, athletes, and others — who are promoting different solutions to the global warming crisis. Each globe presents one step people can take in the grander scheme of combating the heat and bringing on the cool.

Here in San Francisco, 35 of these dramatic showpieces can now be seen on the Promenade of Crissy Field, near the Golden Gate Bridge. They traveled here from Chicago and Washington D.C. You can see them here through October 12. They'll move on to London next.

Browse the photo gallery of Cool Globes at the website, and see a list of things you can do to help bring the carbon cycle back into balance. The San Francisco Chronicle published a video of local artist Lauren Davies creating her piece for the local installation, called: "The Butterfly & the Tsunami".

Web Tool Gauges Environmental Impacts of Your Events

2008-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

There's not doubt about it. Conventions, meetings and events can exact a heavy toll on our planet. The $107 billion meeting industry serves 136.5 million people attending 1.2 million events annually, according to a recent report.

Now, your company can measure the environmental impact of its events through an online service called the MeetGreen Calculator.

This subscription-based web tool allows anyone to measure their meeting practices against green best practices. MeetGreen Calculator will give the user help in meeting these green standards. Examples include enabling attendees walk or use mass transit, buying food locally and donating left-overs to local food banks, using reusable cups and large-capacity water pitchers rather than individual water bottles.

The results can lead to cost reduction, waste reduction, benefits to local communities and the environment — and good vibes for your organization. The MeetGreen Calculator was recently used at the World Urban Forum. Ginny Stratton of Globe Foundation of Canada said: “We're ecstatic to know that the practices we employed resulted in the highest possible MeetGreen rating and we hope the results will create a legacy for future organizers of the World Urban Forum.”

Some high-profile organizations that have used the MeetGreen Calculator include the Sierra Club, US Green Building Council, Globe Foundation of Canada and the Business for Social Responsibility.

If you produce or manage events and are looking for ways to green them, this MeetGreen Calculator could be a good place to start.

We're Featured on Eco Fabulous!

2008-07-19T02:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our wonderful, talented and inspiring friend, Zem Joaquin, for featuring eco imprints and sustainable swag on Eco Fabulous this week.

We're very honored to be called "eco fabulous" by Zem and her green style-setting crew. Please read article here.

'Green Your Swag': Triple Pundit article on eco imprints

2008-07-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it last week, writer and sustainable business consultant Paul Smith and the good folks at Triple Pundit wrote a very nice feature on eco imprints, our green promotional marketing firm. It does a good job of explaining what we’re doing and why we're doing it...and also has a few kind words to say about this humble blog.

Please check out the article, 'How to Green Your Swag' and let us know what you think.

Going Old School to Find the Best Green TV Ad Ever...

2008-07-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

When I was a little kid growing up in the suburbs east of San Francisco, Keep America Beautiful partnered with the Ad Council to create a TV ad that had a powerful effect on me — and made a huge contribution to the early green movement in this country.

The public service spot aired for the first time on Earth Day, 1971, and featured a stoic actor named Chief Iron Eyes Cody. It dramatized how litter and other forms of pollution were hurting the environment, and how every individual has the responsibility to help protect it.

The ad ended with the famous tagline: "People Start Pollution. People can stop it." Cody, who was actually a Sicilian American, became synonymous with environmental concern and achieved lasting fame as, "The Crying Native American."

The PSA won two Clio awards and was named one of the top 100 advertising campaigns of the 20th Century by Ad Age Magazine. In 1982, Cody, whose film repertoire included three Westerns with President Ronald Reagan, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.

During the height of the campaign, Keep America Beautiful reported receiving more than 2,000 letters a month from people wanting to join their local team. By the end of the campaign, local teams had helped to reduce litter by as much as 88% in 300 communities, 38 states, and several countries. The success of this anti-litter campaign led to hundreds of other environmental messages through the years, from many different sources.

During a period when most Americans were clueless about our destructive consumption patterns, the Keep America Beautiful PSA campaign was probably the greatest ever in terms of creating awareness and changing negative attitudes and behaviors that lead to pollution.

When you watch the ad today, it still resonates.

Join us in Promoting the Year of the Frog!

2008-07-02T00:22:00.000-07:00

Like many six year olds, my son Weston is crazy about frogs (see above).

Unfortunately, their populations across the globe are disappearing at an alarming rate. To call attention to the amphibian extinction crisis during this “leap year”, global conservation organizations have designated 2008 as Year of the Frog.

While the circumstances surrounding it are troubling, 'Year of the Frog' is no doubt the coolest green communication outreach promotion we’ve heard of in some time!

Scientists estimate that from one-third to one-half of the 6,000 amphibian species are in danger of extinction. Frogs live most of their lives in water, making them very sensitive to waterborne chemicals, which are absorbed through their permeable skin. For this reason, they often give the first warning of toxic pollutants in the environment and are important indicators of how our ecosystems are faring.

Some pollutants that have affected amphibians, such as DDT and PCBs, have long been recognized as dangerous. But recently, synthetic hormones or hormone-like substances have started to alarm some scientists and environmentalists. Other reasons frogs are disappearing so rapidly are habitat loss, climate change, and a fungus type disease called chytrid.

So during this Year of the Frog, we should all thank these environmental sentinels for helping us understand what’s going on in the environment around us. You may even want to give one a kiss!

Earth Friendly Calendars

2008-07-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Give the people aligned with your organization a daily reminder that you place a high value on the environment and sustainability. Our "Goingreen™" calendar is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks and features beautiful nature photography and 12 green living tips. It's a well designed and sensible marketing tool for any business or organization promoting environmentally friendly practices and living. And at less than $2.50 a pop with your own custom branding, they're an excellent bang for your buck. You can order your 2009 calendars now at eco imprints.

Recycled Journals and Notepads

2008-07-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

As much as our world has gone digital, custom branded writing pads and journals remain a popular and practical item to promote your organization and events.

We recently gave away 500 of them at our booth at the Sustainable Brands Conference in Monterey — they literally flew off the shelf! Whether used a gift to welcome a new employee or thank a colleague, or as a giveaway in an event goodie packet, journals keep folks organized an are a great item for meeting notes, project management, sales calls, everyday scribbles, and creative brainstorms.

The pads above are made of 51% post consumer recycled material. They also includes a 100% post consumer recycled 8 ½" x 11" lined paper pad. Price is as low as $10.50, depending on quantity, and there is a good selection of lower price point versions available. We can produce them with nice matching pens made of biodegradable plant-based plastic or recycled paper.

Feature your branding on one of these socially responsible products and the people important to your organization will surely take notice. For more stylish environmentally conscious promotional product ideas check out ecoimprints.com or contact us at 415-558-8839.

Google Store Goes Green

2008-06-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Google is not just the most popular web service on the planet. The company also has a strong environmental and social ethic which now extends to its corporate merchandising program.

While many brands continue to put their logos on toxic merchandise that eventually ends up languishing in landfills, Google's merch store has gone green. You can shop there for everything from stylish flash drives made of recycled plastic to a hemp travel organizer to the organic cotton Blogger beanie pictured above. To make your geek paraphernalia shopping even more guilt-free, Google currently offers free shipping throughout most of the U.S.!

Google's visionary business strategies and success is well documented, and the company has been recognized multiple times by Fortune Magazine as America's #1 place to work. The Google Store is a wonderful example of aligning your corporate values with your corporate merchandising program and using quality sustainable merchandise to build positive brand equity. We can help you get there. Contact us through eco imprints if you'd like to create your own custom-branded line of sustainable swag.

U.S. Mayors Shut The Tap on Bottled Water

2008-06-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Meeting in Miami this week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, banned bottled water for city workers. Citing environmental concerns and the excellent quality of municipal water, the cities will no longer use municipal funds to purchase water bottles.

Our own Mayor Gavin Newsom, who phased out the purchase of bottled water in San Francisco last June, proposed the resolution along with 17 other big-city mayors. "Cities are sending the wrong message about the quality of public water when we spend taxpayer dollars on water in disposable containers from a private corporation," he said.

Last year Americans spent an estimated $15 billion on bottled water and this pact only impacts municipal purchases, but a trend is developing. Sixty American mayors have already canceled their hydration contracts, and some places in Canada have also banned the bottle. Rejecting plastic water bottles is more environmentally and financially sustainable. Millions of bottles a day do not get recycled, and the plastic takes at least 1,000 years to biodegrade.

Not surprisingly, the American Beverage Association is not pleased with this development. In a statement, the association stated that private water companies have come to the rescue during emergencies that compromise public water systems. The statement also notes that plastic bottles are 100 percent recyclable (but didn't mention lower-than-desired recycling rates and the additional energy required to recycle).

While some see banning plastic bags and water bottles as a hassle, our oceans and landfills are choked with plastic and need a break. We applaud this bold move and the attention it focuses on unnecessary disposable products. The good news is there are some great alternatives to the plastic water bottle.

Seeded Paper Cup Holders

2008-06-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

Far too many disposable beverage cups end up in the trash bin. We've banned disposable cups in our office and we're huge proponents of reusable beverage containers. But the fact is coffee mugs, glassware and heavy duty beverage tumblers are not always a viable alternative for food service organizations.

If you run a socially responsible restaurant, a fair trade organic coffee shop, or if you're just organizing a green event where caffeine-laced beverages on-the-go are a requirement, we've got a sweet new sustainable solution for you: Seeded Paper Cup Holders. Not only are these biodegradable and made of recycled materials, they're full of seeds that actually grow. As a bonus, they look and feel earthy and come in a range of beautiful colors. Not a bad spend if you need to grow your brand. Find out more here.

Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch Video

2008-05-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a sobering NBC News story about 7 million tons of plastic debris floating in the Pacific Ocean, creating a garbage patch twice the size of Texas. We've read other reports of a toxic soup of plastics below the surface of the Pacific twice the size of the entire continental United States.

We generally try to avoid environmental sensationalism and unsubstantiated eco warnings, but it's clear that our current consumption patterns and many of our industrial (and promotional) practices are doing serious harm to our planet. Past posts here have documented plastics we've found washed up on the beaches of Northern California. This mainstream media report is well researched and visually powerful.

Not only does plastic trash pose serious risks to marine life and sea birds but our filth-filled waters threaten human health as well. The good news is more people are waking up to these facts, and there are a growing number of more responsible alternatives to plastics, excess packaging and cheap disposable goods.

Crash Course on California Prop 65

2008-05-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

In 1986, California voters approved the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, known as Proposition 65. The purpose of Prop 65 is to ensure that people are informed about exposure to chemicals that have been determined by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or other reproductive harm.

Any product shipping into California which contain these chemicals is required to carry a Prop 65 warning label. Some of the most popular promotional products — including many mugs, plastic goods, and electronics — require such warnings. Even some "green" products, such as those made with high recycled content, are subject to Prop 65 warnings because they may contain trace chemicals from their former life.

As a result, the promotional industry has been abuzz with complaints about Prop 65.

We recently met the owner of a large promotional products supplier from the midwest who complained bitterly that Prop 65 was total overkill and required labeling in California was beginning to harm his business. What he neglected to consider, I guess, is that the potentially dangerous chemicals in his products could harm the individuals who use them. Chemicals from all sorts of products are leaching into our water system (and our bodies) at alarming rates, and cancer incidents continue to rise.

Information is better than ignorance, and everyone has the right to know if the goods they are using or giving away may have a risk, however minimal. Laws like Prop 65 may be a pain to some, but they force manufacturers to rethink the way they do things and they ultimately create change that is good for people and the planet.

We support responsible manufacturers and distributors who investigate safer ways to produce products using alternative materials and processes that don't require a warning label. We advocate full disclosure on chemicals, even though it's often difficult to get this information from manufacturers.

If you're looking for promotional goods that won't go out with a scary label, the good news is that there are many greener, more sustainable and safer alternatives. You can have them sourced through our partner site, eco imprints.

If you want a little more info on Prop 65, here's a simple Q & A that we hope you'll find useful.

1. What is California Prop 65?

Answer: Prop 65 is a law that went into effect in 1986 in California that prohibits the distribution of products into the State of California where that product contains one or more of approximately 750 commonly occurring substances determined by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm unless the company that distributes the product into California places a properly worded warning on it.

2. What products does Prop 65 apply to?

Answer: All products distributed into the State of California. Prop 65 does not apply to products that are not distributed into the State of California. However, to minimize legal liability, some manufacturers now place Prop 65 notices on products that deliver to states outside of California.

3. What chemicals are cited by the State of California as causing cancer or reproductive harm?

Answer: The State of California maintains a list of those chemicals. From time to time the list is changed to add chemicals and, less frequently, to delete chemicals. Currently there are approximately 750 chemicals on that list. Additional chemicals have been proposed for addition to this list.

4. How much of a chemical needs to be present before a company must provide a warning?

Answer: Prop 65 requires a warning if one of the following NRSL or NOEL thresholds is met:

A) When a person is exposed to a chemical at more than the “No Significant Risk Level” (NRSL). If a person is exposed to a chemical at the NRSL for 70 years that person would have no more than a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing cancer as a result of that exposure.

B) When a person is exposed to a chemical at more than 1/1,000 of the “No Observable Effect Level” (NOEL). The NOEL is the level determined by the State of California to pose no reproductive harm to humans or lab animals.

5. Has the State of California established a NRSL or NOEL threshold for all of the chemicals they list?

Answer: No, no all of the listed chemicals have NRSL or NOEL thresholds.

6. How are warnings given?

Answer: Warnings may be given in a variety of ways such as by labeling the product or its package, placing a warning slip in the packaging for the product, or printing on the packaging in some other fashion. The placement of the warning depends upon the nature of the product and its packaging.

7. What must the warning state?

Answer: A proper warning must state in clear, reasonable and legible language that the product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Warnings that only state that the product contains a chemical that “may” cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm have been found to be insufficient.

8. Where can I get more information about Prop 65?

Answer: The State of California has a website that you can check out here — or you can call (916) 445-6900 for more details.

Save Gas with Custom Branded Tire Gauges

2008-05-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

Here in California, our culture has been highly influenced by automobiles for a long time. While we're seeing a lot more hybrids on the road these days, most adults continue to drive an average of at least 11,500 miles a year.

The recent rise in gas prices has caused many to rethink their dependency on vehicles. Shifting to a more fuel efficient lifestyle is not only good for your pocket book, it's also good for your planet. Among other things, it saves energy, slows climate change, protects water and wildlife, prevents heart disease, strengthens national security, and allows us all to, well... breathe easier.

When you must use a car, one very simple but often overlooked way to enhance your fuel efficiency (and thus reduce your carbon footprint) is to keep your tires at proper pressure. By doing so, you'll improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent.

Custom tire gauges with your branding or message can be a useful, practical and eco-friendly promotional item — especially in this time of high gas prices and climate change. From heavy duty pen styles to high tech digital versions, you can find a wide assortment of customizable tire gauges by searching products here.

Plastic Shopping Bags Must Go! (But Not To The Landfill)

2008-05-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

One of the most powerful symbols of our wasteful lifestyle is the plastic shopping bag. It's made from non-renewable fossil fuels, is non-biodegradable, and is typically produced to be used once ... then tossed out.

The vast majority of our country's 6 billion plastic bags end up in landfills — or worse yet, littering streets, clogging natural ecosystems, spreading chemicals and posing a threat to the health of humans and wildlife.

Last year, thanks to legislation sponsored by progressive supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, our hometown of San Francisco became the first major city in the country to ban grocery stores from using plastic bags. The landmark law requires all retailers with revenue over $2 million to provide only compostable or reusable bags. 28 Cities in the U.S. have proposed laws restricting the use of plastic bags, and many more around the world have already done so. The City's ban will extend to chain drug stores next week, but it does not extend to events and promotions.

Inexpensive custom-branded plastic bags have been a convention business staple for decades and are ubiquitous in the promotional marketing industry. But now many more responsible and reusable promotional bag choices are available — including recycled paper, cloth, biodegradable plastic, and recycled eco-spun PET bags. (Today we delivered 4,500 beautiful recycled cotton and soda bottle fabric tote bags to promote a city recycling program here in the Bay Area.)

Public opinion has been somewhat mixed on San Francisco's bag ban. Neighboring Oakland put a similar ban on hold last month to further study the issue. Opponents say plastic bags can be reused for things like trash bin liners, or to pick up pet poop — but most municipalities don't allow you to recycle them and ultimately, to the landfill they go.

Having done extensive research on the negative impacts of plastics, we support the ban. Plastic has many wonderful uses, but throw-away bags aren't one of them. It's not just the problem of plastic accumulating in our landfills and our ecosystems, but how plastic and related chemicals are accumulating in our own bodies.

In addition to bans, we like creative ideas such as small discounts or credits offered to people who reuse bags at retail, or "taxes" on people who don't. Our local coffee shop discounts our coffee 30 cents because we bring in our own mug. The same incentives can work for bags. In 2002, for example, Ireland implemented a 15 cent plastic bag tax which has been credited with reducing the use of plastic bags by a staggering 90 percent.

To learn more about plastics, and how our oceans are becoming the world's biggest "landfill" check this out from How Stuff Works.

Euro-style Non-Toxic Promotional Flash Drives

2008-05-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

One of the key environmental concerns related to electronic products is the chemicals and materials used to make them — and what happens to those chemicals when the product's useful days are over. If you're into tech gear and gadgets, there are plenty of promotional solutions that are not as harmful as traditional electronics.

Flash drives have many promotional applications and they save trees. Choose from drives made of eco-materials like bamboo, recycled plastic, and reclaimed wood — or items manufactured without the most harmful toxins found in typical electronics. We offer drives made to stricter European environmental standards — without Lead, Mercury, Cadium, and other toxic substances. Lots of eco styles and configurations available, and price points are comparable to standard versions. Our eco flash drives have been particularly popular for replacing printed brochures at trade shows.

Sustainable Swag Recycled Compost Bucket

2008-05-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

People are always looking for green promotional items that cost a few bucks or less. Here's one that isn't exactly beautiful, but we love its practicality.

This 87 oz. recycled bucket works perfectly for holding and transporting food and paper scraps to the composting bin. Not only is the bucket fully recycled, but composting reduces landfill waste and promotes sustainable living.

The bucket has a full wrap imprint area so you have plenty of room for branding or composting tips. Other uses: watering plants, toting vegetables from the garden, building sand castles. The recycling process produces a variety of colors, from black to gray, dull to shiny. No two are exactly the same. You can find it here.

Sustainable Brands '08 Conference in Monterey

2008-04-25T15:18:00.001-07:00

We just got back from lunch with our friends at Sustainable Life Media. We're very excited about our involvement with their Sustainable Brands 2008 conference, to be held this June just up the Coast in beautiful Monterey.

Eco Imprints is a proud sustainable swag consultant and corporate sponsor for the event. We'll also have a booth.

This second annual event has been getting great buzz, and speakers include more than 75 influential thinkers on the corporate environmental front, including top business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, government representatives, researchers, designers, and experts on operations and communications.

If you're serious about getting your company on the path to sustainability and building brand value at the same time, you don't want to miss this event. Hope to see you there!

Consumers May Be Growing Tired of 'Green' Label

2008-04-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Green products can mean different things to different people and it's liberally applied now in marketing. We use the term to describe a product that is designed in an environmentally sensitive manner — goods that place an emphasis on the use of sustainable and non-toxic materials, conservation of resources, and respect for human rights and the natural world.

Studies show Americans increasingly seek out and reward companies that offer environmentally and socially responsible products and services, but be careful about using the word "green" to label consumers.

According to a survey from branding firm BBMG, U.S. consumers say the word that helped galvanize the environmental movement may not cut it anymore — to describe either them or the products they're likely to buy.

BBMG's just-released Conscious Consumer Report found that only 18% of Americans self-identify as "green," while 39% prefer "socially responsible," followed by "conscious consumer" (37%) and "environmentally friendly" (34%).

Read more on this study from Sustainable Life Media's Sustainable Brands Weekly Report here.

Earth Day at FORTUNE Brainstorm GREEN

2008-04-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

We're spending a very inspiring Earth Day 2008 at FORTUNE Brainstorm GREEN, a high level corporate sustainability conference in Pasadena.

This first-of-its-kind event features about 400 select business leaders, technologists, venture capitalists, academics, and leading thinkers and activists from every angle of the green movement — all gathering to discuss how to solve the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

We were honored to advise FORTUNE staff on ways to green the conference, and they graciously invited us to attend the event.

The agenda has been packed with lively interviews and discussions featuring leaders like Dell Computer CEO, Michael Dell (unveiling bamboo encased eco computer, photo above); Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farm; acclaimed green architect, William McDonough; feisty former California Govenor, Jerry Brown; John Passacantando, head of Greenpeace USA; noted Venture Capitalist, Vinod Khosla; Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council; and the CEOs of PG&E, Duke Energy, Waste Management, Edison International, Xerox Corp., NRG Energy, Monsanto, and SAM's Club, to name just a few.

Through two days of on-stage interviews, round table discussions, and networking, we've met some extremely smart people and heard and seen some incredible sustainable product ideas, strategies and innovations. (Our highlight was test-driving a sweet European-designed all-electric, carbon-free vehicle that can hit speeds of 70 MPH. We predict this zippy little number will be a mega hit when it's launched in California next year. More on the THINK electric vehicle later).

Our take-away from Brainstorm GREEN is cautious optimism. The conference underscored that we are in a redefining moment in history. The challenges ahead are daunting and some of the environmental statistics sited at the FORTUNE event are downright scary. Yet there is incredible opportunity for progress on the environmental front, the momentum is picking up, and it's exciting to consider how change may impact the future of our planet.

When you hear the CEOs of the world's largest corporations speak emphatically about the critical importance of sustainability initiatives, you know the times are a changin'. It's not just about crafting a greener image through clever advertising and promotions. The discussion here covered how specific sustainability strategies are being integrated into the core of business models, into the soul of brands, and into the DNA of corporate cultures.

In addition, it appears that corporate America and green activists are aligning more often and working more collaboratively to solve issues like climate change. This is a more effective approach than denial and antagonism. The tides are changing and the thinking of influential corporate leadership appears to be on the right track.

Happy Earth Day!

Report Raises Concerns About Chemicals Found in Nalgene Water Bottles and Many Other Products

2008-04-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Nalgene water bottles were among the most popular promotional products in the category. These durable, lightweight, trendy bottles were affordable giveaways touted for their health and hydration benefits and for saving landfills from disposable water containers. From outdoor enthusiasts, to athletes, to students, Nalgene bottles and similar knock-offs were pitched as the perfect choice for health-conscious promotions.

A new report suggests that it may be time to replace those plastic water bottles with safer aluminum or stainless steel versions.

Yesterday, a U.S. federal health panel for the first time acknowledged concerns that a chemical found in these water bottles — as well as many types of promotional merchandise and everyday household products — may cause cancer, dangerous hormonal imbalances in children and other serious disorders.

Read more about report here.

The chemical, bisphenol-a, or BPA, makes a sturdy hard plastic and has been used in production since the 1950s. Sometimes indicated by the number 7 on products, BPA is found mostly in strong plastic goods such as non-disposable water bottles, food storage containers, baby bottles, compact discs, cell phones, computers, and many types of plastic promotional giveaways.

The draft report released yesterday by the National Toxicology Program, an office of the National Institutes of Health, signaled a turning point in the government's position on BPA. Last year another expert panel using outside scientists minimized the health risks of BPA, but those findngs were widely assailed after a congressional investigation found that a firm hired to perform scientific analysis was also working for the chemical industry.

Public health advocates have raised concerns that when used in food and drink containers in particular, the chemicals can more easily leach out into our bodies. The City of San Francisco href=http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=2138565&page=1l>banned the use of BPA in toys and certain food and drink containers last year. Environmental health activists now argue that the new report should spur the government to ban the use of BPA nationwide, at least in baby products.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly Lead "The Green Team"

2008-04-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a brilliant parody of the environmentalist stigma, starring Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. Dig their sweet green swag! Lowball humor and not for everybody, but we think these guys are hilarious. Especially love the edgy improv and low-end mockumentary look. "The Green Team" captures the cynicism many have about the environmental movement and organizations that wrap themselves in green for inauthentic purposes. It underscores how critical it is to keep it real. And have a little fun.

Why Saving Trees and Live Tree Promotions Make Sense

2008-04-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

We just got turned on to an amazing site filled with information on — and images of — the worlds most spectacular trees. Check out 10 Most Magnificent Trees in the World. Then go hug a tree or read the rest of this post, which was inspired by the site.

Trees have always been a powerful symbol of nature and life. Marketers have used trees as visual metaphors for countless products, brands and campaigns.

In this era of growing green consciousness, tree planting programs, tree giveaways, and recycled paper products are becoming increasingly popular. Tree promotions are great way to bring people together, build community, and help our planet.

Despite their obvious benefits, many people take trees for granted. Some don’t understand why we encourage the use of recycled papers, or why we might recommend trees as a strategic brand-building device. Indeed, recycled paper can cost more than virgin material and its promotional benefits may be hard to measure. Tree promotions aren’t right for every program, and a 16-inch seedling will not change the world. However, in most cases tying your brand to a tree is a good thing.

At Eco Imprints, we offer hundreds of recycled paper products across multiple promotional product categories — as well as evergreen seedlings and other high quality living plant promotions for brands that literally want to go green.

Here a few reasons why trees and tree-saving programs make sense in the promotional mix:

•Trees are not synthetic throw-aways that end up in landfills. They are living things, works of art beautifully made by nature, and talk about ROI ...they can last hundreds of years. Truly the most sustainable of swag.

•Recycled paper products save trees. They show a consciousness about the environment, and promote the larger concept of reusing and limiting waste.

•Trees make the world a better place. They give us beauty and inspiration, protect us against extreme weather, provide raw materials for making things, habitat for wildlife, and some even create food for humans, birds and other living creatures.

•Trees absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so they help to keep the planet cool, especially when clustered in tropical rainforests.

•Trees conserve energy. For example, strategically placed trees can provide shade that cuts energy use and demand from power plants.

•Trees clean the air. They absorb odors and pollutant gases and naturally filter particulates out of the air.

•Trees provide oxygen. In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people.

•Trees reduce soil erosion, save water, and help prevent water pollution. They reduce runoff, collect water, increase atmospheric moisture, and can act as a sponge that filters water and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies.

•Trees heal and provide hope. Studies have shown that patients with views of trees outside of their windows heal faster and with fewer complications. When Anne Frank and her family were hiding from the Nazis in World War II, she took great solace from an old horse-chestnut tree that could be viewed from her window and she wrote of it frequently in her diaries.

•Trees bring unity. We all depend on trees and we all benefit from them.

Don't Oversell Your Green Efforts, Ad Experts Warn

2008-04-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Companies can benefit greatly from promoting a green, socially responsible image - but there is a real risk of backlash if they over-hype sustainability programs. Speaking at the recent International Advertising Association's World Congress in Washington, ad execs cautioned that consumers are increasingly cynical and can spot overstated or contradictory claims a mile away, according to a report in Advertising Age.

"Consumers expect companies to give back as much as they take," according to David Jones, global CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide. Jones cited surveys showing that 86% of consumers think companies should balance profitability with social responsibility and 80% would avoid companies that don't contribute.

According to Jones, the key is to avoid the temptation to oversell your company's sustainability efforts. General Motors, for example, recently took it on the chin when it postponed the release of its much-hyped Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. A few years ago Chevron Oil Company was widely criticized for its "People Do" campaign, which many felt overstated its role as a champion of endangered species and a protector of the environment.

Marketers can reap rewards not just from environmental claims, but also other activities viewed as benefiting the world. But consistency is critical. For example, Unilever earned props for its Dove campaign celebrating diverse female body types, but lost support after ads for its Axe brand of men's deodorant featured scantily clad women models.

Eric Biel, managing director-corporate responsibility for Burson-Marsteller, said that to appeal to skeptical consumers "it is absolutely critical to show a trace of humility" in green- and cause-marketing efforts.

Water Powered Promotional Devices

2008-04-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Water-powered promotional devices are fun, practical, and a wonderful way to promote consciousness about our world's most precious resource.

We've sourced and tested a number of interesting new water-powered advertising specialty products. This green water calculator is a useful item that everyone needs, with prominent imprint area across the top. A converter extracts energy from the water molecules to provide a stead stream of power and a long shelf life. I've been using one for the last few weeks. Set it up in a few minutes with a few drops of tap water. It works great, runs clean and never needs batteries. Find our more about water-powered promotions and other cutting edge sustainable swag items at Eco Imprints.

Our Website Redesign for SFpower.org

2008-04-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

In addition to sourcing and creating sustainable swag, we also dabble in branding, graphic design and digital marketing. Digital communications and promotions are great because they are immediate and save resources and energy used to produce and deliver printed content.

We recently finished revamping the website for San Francisco Community Power, a local green non-profit that works to improve the environmental, health and economic future of the Bay Area communities it serves.

Since 2001 we've worked closely with SF Power and its executive director, Steven Moss, to strategically build its brand and promote various consumer and business programs. After seven years SF Power has accomplished a lot and won acclaim for its work in the community on the sustainability front.

Our goal was to create an down to earth site that reflects SF Power's spirit, community involvement and the debth of its programs. Check out SFpower.org here and support this great San Francisco organization.

Temporary Tattoos Help Turn Aussie Wine Label Into Hit with Hipsters

2008-04-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

When used as a thoughtless giveaway, promo merchandise can be a complete waste of money. However, when integrated into a broader strategic marketing communications plan, swag can can be extremely effective.

The Yellow Tail wine brand is a great example. This Australian label became a best-seller here in the United States within a few years of its launch. Their marketing team used good design and provocative ads to evoke an edgy youthful image. And they tied a cool, inexpensive, low-eco-impact promo to get attention and build the brand: Temporary Tattoos.

Yellow Tail placed promotional temporary tattoos in their New Yorker ads. The tattoo wasn't just a blow-up of their logo. Rather, it was a sweetly detailed design that hipsters would actually wear . This helped position them as a cool brand in a category that many in their target demographic view as stuffy and snobby.

Temporary tattoos are being used increasingly to build or update brand images. They're a fun and affordable promotion for any message.

We offer temporary tattoos made with safe, non-toxic, non-allergenic, inks. Temporary tattoos can have a great impact not only on sales volume but also on brand perception and recognition.

Huddler Green Home's Recycled Messenger Bag Promo

2008-04-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

Huddler Green Home is a cool new website that aims to be among the most comprehensive sustainable product research sites online. Currently in beta, Huddler lets users connect with like-minded people who are passionate about sustainable living. You can post or read product reviews, ask questions of the community, join discussions on green trends, or contribute to green-centric wikis.

Eco Imprints is proud to be a co-sponsor of Huddler's launch contest, supplying the deluxe eco messenger bags for their "Win A Bag With Cool Green Stuff" Promotion. Huddler will give away 10 bags made of 100% recycled materials and filled with tons of cool green products. To become eligible to win, simple join the Huddler Green Home community between now and Earth Day, and write a few product reviews or wiki articles.

To check out Huddler and learn more about the promotion, check this link.

San Francisco Join's Earth Hour — WWF's Global Energy Saving Promotion

2008-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

When we leave our offices after a long day of greening the promotional world, we shut down our computers and turn out the lights. The evening ritual is really pretty easy, and it makes our monthly energy bills a little more bearable.

Many of our neighbors downtown have opted to maintain a tradition of leaving their offices illuminated at night. San Francisco's glowing skyline makes for a romantic view, but it's largely unnecessary and the power plants that keep those pretty lights shining produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

This weekend San Francisco was among 35 major cities worldwide to participate in Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund to highlight the threat of climate change. This great grassroots program encouraged individual households, corporations and government offices to go dark for at least an hour. According to WWF officials, up to 10 million people participated. Lights were dimmed from the Golden Gate Bridge (see inset), to the Sydney Opera House, to Rome's Colosseum, to Buddhist Temples in Thailand.

During the event here in San Francisco, more than 6,000 free compact flourescent lightbulbs were given away to promote the importance of energy efficiency. Nice little swag tie-in. Eco-conscious Bay Area based search engine, Google, found a way to promte Earth Hour to millions of visitors worldwide. All day long, Google users encountered reverse type against a black background and these words: "We've turned the lights out. Now it's your turn."

Some were skeptical about the effectiveness of an event encouraging people to turn out their lights for an hour. Indeed, the energy savings is a drop in the bucket. But the event is a wonderful way to get people involved and raise awareness about the links of excess energy usage to producing greenhouse gases. Besides, sometmes it's fun to be in the dark. We applaud the WWF and all participants for a world class sustainable promotion that created a great vibe, generated buzz, and didn't require any cheap plastic giveaways.

Recycled Circuit Board Products

2008-03-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

Hidden inside our computers are components of brilliantly colored shapes and intricate patterns. Saved from the landfill and given a second life, these pieces reveal a beauty that would otherwise go unnoticed. Here's the work of a local artist that creates wonderful circuit board jewelry and keychains from a variety of computer components. We've also sourced dozens of cool and useful recycled circuit board items including business card holders, coasters, luggage tags, mousepads, clip boards, journal covers, and more.

Despite progress made over the last few years, computer related waste remains a global and local problem. Turning that waste into useful products is one way to solve the challenge. To find more recycled circuit board products, check here. To learn more about the broader issue of trashing your PC in an eco-friendly way, go here.

Reebok Fined $1 Million For Toxic Promotional Bracelet that Resulted in Child's Death

2008-03-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

Despite high-profile recalls and more and more alarmingly toxic products making their way into the consumer marketplace, some promotional marketers still choose to avoid scrutinizing the sometimes dangerous materials used in producing custom branded merchandise.

In an altogether avoidable tragedy, athletic shoe and apparel giant Reebok agreed last week to pay a $1 million fine for distributing a promotional charm bracelet which resulted in the death of a four-year-old boy from Minneapolis. The fine is the largest ever paid for a violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. It sheds light on the dangers of the many cheaply produced promotional products distributed in the United States without proper testing or consideration of the damage they can cause humans and the environment. The charm bracelet (pictured above), was distributed as a free gift with the purchase of Reebok children's footwear. It included a heart-shaped pendent containing toxic levels of lead which was swallowed by the boy. The death resulted in a recall of 510,000 of the Chinese-made pendants that were distributed worldwide beginning in May 2004. Reebok denied violating federal law when it signed the agreement last week.

Elite Athletes Creating a "Green Power" Movement

2008-03-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Sustainability movement has been growing among elite athletes who desire a clean, non-toxic environment in which to compete — and stay healthy. Look for a cool sustainable schwag campaign to make a statement about climate change at the notoriously polluted site of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Tonight our friends at GreenLaces.org threw a fun, festive and super green St. Paddy's Day extravaganza to advance their mission of building global environmental consciousness through sports at the Beijing Olympics and beyond. Founded by an amazing group of world class athletes and headed by former Stanford soccer star, Natalie Spilger, GreenLaces is non-profit working to establish a unified international presence for sustainability through its website and a growing lineup of supporters. Their plan is to use the iconic power and spirit of great athletes and international competition to promote the importance of a united global fight against climate change.

Exactly 40 years ago the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos created an international stir when they raised their gloved fists in a black power salute during their medal ceremony for the 200 meter dash. For the 2008 Olympics, we may see another gesture from athletes uniting around another critical social issue -- global warming.

GreenLaces will be distributing thousands of specially-designed shoe laces made of recycled plastic soda bottles. Athletes and patrons will wear them as a show of support. At the Greenlaces Party at Temple NightClub in San Francisco's SOMA, the most popular way to wear green laces was on the wrist. World class athletes are being recruited to incorporate GreenLaces on their footwear. While perhaps not quite as dramatic as the black power salute, the fashion and promotional possibilities are endless.

We are proud to support and help the Greenlaces cause, and urge you to check our Greenlaces.org to learn more and join the movement. Whether you're an stellar athlete or a certified couch potato, it's time we all unite and promote Green Power to the people!

Walmart CEO: "We Are Not Green"

2008-03-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

It's clear that Walmart has made significant green strides over the past several years. However, during this week's ECO:nomics Conference in Santa Barbara, California, CEO Lee Scott Jr. discussed his company's greening efforts. During his address, Scott covered how the retail giant is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, but he also noted that Walmart has more work to do on the issue. Scott also made it clear that the waste reducing, energy conserving steps taken by Wal-Mart are business decisions.

“We are not green,” he told conference attendees.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Scott spoke about Wal-Mart’s efforts to reduce, cardboard, packaging and the amount of plastic in bottled water. However…

The impetus for the company in doing all this isn’t just to please environmentalists, he said, but more to save money.“ It really is about how you take cost out, which is waste,” he said. The savings by taking out wasted material helps keep prices low for Wal-Mart’s customers, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. Indeed, Mr. Scott – in remarks to reporters after his talk – said the current economic slump is prodding Wal-Mart even more to undertake its waste-reduction program. “When is a better time?,” he said.

- WSJ

Happy Birthday, Peace Symbol

2008-02-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

Few graphic icons are as recognizable as the peace symbol. This week is the 50th birthday of the classic mark, which was originally created by an English commercial artist and anti-nuclear activist named Gerald Holtom. There’s also a cool website to commemorate it. Lots of artists have submitted their personal takes on the peace sign. You can find the custom-brandable, biodegradable, 100% organic bamboo compressed mini towels bearing the peace symbol here. Happy birthday, peace!

Eco Umbrellas

2008-02-18T08:58:00.000-08:00

The five-day forecast predicts more rain here in San Francisco and climate change seems to keep us all guessing when it's gonna stop. Good time to break out the new Eco Umbrella we just sourced. It's a stylish 48" model with a bamboo shaft and handle and a water-repellent fabric made of 100% recycled PET fabric. The handle has a nice natural feel to it, its lightweight, and has sturdy fiberglass ribs. Good imprint area and affordable. We also have earth friendlier mini umbrellas and golf umbrellas available in black or green, but without the bamboo. And we've sourced some colorful and earthy imported shade umbrellas for summertime.

For info on this product contact us at: Eco Imprints

Words of Wisdom from Louis Armstrong...

2008-02-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

I found this poignant clip of the great Louie Armstrong towards the end of his life introducing -- and then singing -- one of the most beautiful songs ever. It's interesting to get his wisdom on the lyrics of What a Wonderful World, and what they meant to him. Few works of art have better communicated the importance of green leaves and blue skies to humankind. Louis Armstrong was as pure and joyful and authentic as the come. And he sure knew what he was talking about. Enjoy.

The Greening of Events & Trade Shows...

2008-02-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

Great article by Ilana DeBare in today's San Francisco Chronicle about the waste generated from the convention, meeting and event industry. According to the piece, this $107 billion market serves 136.5 million people attending 1.2 million events annually. While there's no clear data on the environmental toll taken from these gatherings, there's no doubt that the millions of plastic name badges, disposable water bottles, bags, styrofoam and plastic food containers and utensils, and promotional giveaways are producing serious negative impacts on our planet.

Our San Francisco firm, Eco Imprints, was established to provide alternative ways to promote events and brand marketing initiatives without inflicting so much environmental damage . We've been involved with dozens of large and small conferences throughout North America in the last few years -- and toured San Francisco's waste management facilities to document the tons of event materials and cheap plastic giveaways headed to landfills. Statistics are one thing, but it's really quite staggering when you see the waste right before your eyes.

Beyond the grievous environmental impact events and their aftermath can have, as brand communications professionals it goes without saying that the garbage dump is not the place you want to see your logo.

Since last year, we've noticed increasing interest from corporate clients and event planners looking to green their events. Clearly the time has come to re-think promotional and event marketing, and we're pleased that this trend is getting more attention.

Check out this comprehensive article, which includes useful tips on greening your events:

Cleaning Up Conventions Article by Ilana DeBare

Grow Your Love on Valentine's Day

2008-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe cupid is back again. Happy Valentines Day, people! In addition to acknowledging our romantic partners, it's nice to use this occasion to spread a little love to extended family, friends, colleagues, and clients. Custom seeded cards are a nice way to do just that. We have them for many occasions, and can produce them in special sizes and shapes with custom diecuts. When the holiday is over, just plant the card. It biodegrades and blooms wildflowers in the spring. Good for your relationships. Good for the earth.

Info on this product:

The Price of Plastic Bags

2008-01-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

San Francisco was among the first major cities to ban the use of plastic bags. And last year, Ikea became the first major retailer to address the plastic bag problem in our country. Ikea now charges its customers 5 cents to use plastic bags. It also sells reusable bags for 59 cents as an alternative to plastic bags.

All proceeds from the bag program are donated to American Forests, a non-profit whose goal is to plant 33,100 trees each year to offset carbon emissions produced by, uh, shoppers driving to and from Ikea stores.

From eco shopping bags, to event totes, to hipster messenger slings, there are now many stylish and affordable options for recycled, reusable, organic, and sustainable bags. We've experienced growing interest in non-plastic bags from the corporate branding leaders, and it's a welcome trend. In fact, they've become so popular some of our suppliers are selling out.

These may seem like small steps, but anything we can do to reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources is certainly worth the effort. If we each do our small part, collectively, we can make a major difference.

To read learn a few more reasons why plastic is worse than you think, check this out: Sea Turtles Don't Shop!

The Future of Promotional Products

2008-01-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

We started ecoimprints.com and the sustainable swag blog to bring a fresh perspective to promotional products and marketing. Our mission is to open minds, to provide news on alternative promotional products, and to offer a greener approach that helps inspire positive change. We see a very different future ahead for the promotional marketing space. The sooner it comes, the better.

We've been involved in the promotional industry on some level for more than 15 years. It's a mature, crowded and largely old school niche that is driven by commissioned sales. There is no doubt that promotional merchandise has helped companies effectively build brands for generations, and there are many good and dedicated people involved in the business. However, the practice has clearly had a detrimental effect on the environment. It's contributed to our throw-away culture and populated the planet with lots of cheap petroleum-based stuff that we don't really need.

There are rumblings within the industry about "going green." While there is still some reluctance to stray from the old ways of doing things, we believe the negative impacts of this form of marketing will eventually be turned around to help mainstream greener products, attitudes and consumption patterns.

Here are a few predictions for positive change ahead:

•Traditional promotional sellers who peddle products on price and through printed catalogs will become increasingly irrelevant. The internet and younger web-savvy buyers will continue to change the game, making the industry more efficient and competitive.

•Some large parts of the industry will actually shrink. There will be less virgin plastic stuff sold across the board, and wasteful giveaways will become a thing of the past. The focus will be on practical and useful goods that leave a relatively light environmental imprint.

•The global sustainability movement and pressure from consumers, employees and investors will force more positive change. Economic self-interest will also play a role. Businesses will be required to operate more responsibly and efficiently. Promotional waste will not be tolerated.

•The "'cradle to cradle" lifecycle of a product will be more scrutinized. There will be more emphasis on the total environmental impact and carbon footprint a promotional product has -- from its materials and design, the way it's manufactured, the distance it must be shipped, the length of its usefulness, and the way it is disposed.

•The scandal of toxic toys and consumer goods imported from China and California's Prop 65 are just the beginning. The alarming effects of the chemicals we're exposed to on a daily basis will be better known and publicized. More domestic and global standards will be created to assure that products are made safer and with less negative impact on the environment and on humans.

The future of promotional products will look a lot less plastic, and a lot more green.

One of the Best Environmental Books Ever (And An Easy Read)

2007-12-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

With two little kiddies at home who treasure our nightly bedtime story ritual, I recently rediscovered The Lorax, a powerful environmental fable first published by Dr. Seuss in 1971. First of all, Dr. Suess rocks. The Lorax has more of an edge than, say, Green Eggs and Ham, but it's become my all-time favorite. With whimsical illustrations and that amazing Seussian rhythm of words, the Lorax has inspired generations of kids and grown ups to consider the impact our culture of consumption has had on the planet and the living things that inhabit it. Check it out. A great gift. You don't need to be a five year old to dig it.

Toyota's Eco-themed Promotional Campaign

2007-12-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

We work in San Francisco and live in beautiful Marin, where the Toyota Prius -- with great fuel efficiency, modern style and smart branding -- is the top selling car of all. The Prius is perceived by progressive-minded locals as waaaaay cooler than a Mercedes or an SUV. Thank gawd.

Toyota Europe's most recent promotional campaign shows how well this brand "gets it". Forsaking the typical sex appeal or automotive hard sell, they instead use metaphor to underscore their difference and remind us of the challenges our planet faces in the coming year and beyond.

In a beautiful TV spot developed by Saatch & Saatchi, a spare kraft gift box marked "FRAGILE" is opened to reveal a delicate Christmas tree ornament that looks just like the planet earth. The ornament is carefully hung on a tree...followed by the words: "The world is in your hands. Treat it well."

Toyota may be an automotive giant that's part of a broader petroleum dependency problem, but more than its peers it has made a concerted effort to reduce the impact its vehicles have on the planet. This initiative has not only helped the brand, but it's helped consumers rethink what they want in a vehicle. They are using the power of good marketing and promotion to change the tired old auto industry -- and ultimately this effort is helping the planet. Beyond its promotional campaigns, we applaud Toyota of America's corporate team for successfully completing a 5-year Environmental Action Plan throughout its U.S. operations, and for immediately launching a new and more comprehensive eco initiative for the next five years.

To paraphrase Marty Neumeier in his excellent book, The Brand Gap: A brand is not a logo, a business card, or a product. A brand is a gut feeling we all have about a product, service, or company. Judging by all the Toyotas I see buzzing around Northern California, many smart progressive people feel good about the Toyota brand and its commitment to the environment.

About Sustainable Swag

2007-12-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Swag provides fresh news on green marketing and the latest eco-friendly promotional products. We also post on the environment, corporate social responsibility, branding, and pop culture. Our mission is to encourage mainstream adoption of more sustainable products and consumption patterns. This blog is written by John Borg and hosted by Eco Imprints in San Francisco. Please join the dialogue or email us at: info@ecoimprints.com.