Surpassed trend or fad phase – green is here to stay. Like black in the fashion-world, green is the must-have color this season for business. Without a doubt, Green is in! Past couple of years we’ve gone from a few do it, to everybody’s doing it. If not, you’ll get left behind – by customers and employees and looked over by potential customers. Opportunity with employees, clients and potential clients, community in general.
Green is right for everyone. Why: It’s simply the right thing to do. We all need to do what we can to make a difference and preserve the earth and its resources. Take small steps Promote recycling practices in office Change your marketing and promotional programs to incorporate green practices and products To sum it up: Green is definitely for you. If you want to grow your business.
Why should you go green? Because it pays. Numerous surveys have shown that consumers prefer to buy from companies that reflect their values. 86% viewed themselves as environmentally friendly 53% said they prefer to buy from companies with a green reputation. Green items are something consumers want for themselves. They expect it from corporations.
If you’re doing something good, make sure people know about it. Make your message consistent – if you employ eco-friendly practices in your workplace, then do it in your marketing efforts too. Don’t go through all the effort to be green in one aspect, and change your message with your marketing. Use eco-friendly products in marketing programs. Putting your logo on green products promotes your organization in a way consistent with your values. Using green promo products demonstrates your care for environment and reduces your impact on it Everyone benefits from positive aspects of green marketing Consumers get what they want, improve your image, show you care and preserve the environment at the same time
Benefits of marketing with green products
There are many different shades of green. Making a change, even to the lightest shade of green, will lessen the impact on the environment. One approach isn't necessarily better than the other - it's a matter of personal preference which shade you choose.
Sustainable Cotton is a renewable resource, making cotton totes a great option to replace paper and plastic bags. Recycled plastic products save 70% of the energy used to create new plastic products. Of special interest are totes and bags made from recycled plastic bottles (denoted by the number 1 or “PET.” Approximately two to three 600 ml. plastic bottles are used to make one average-size tote bag.
If you haven’t totally warmed up to green start slowly with reusable products that replace throwaway items. Practical items that reduce waste through reuse include lunch sacks, coolers, picnic sets and beverage containers. Americans throw away 25 million Styrofoam coffee cups every year – and it takes 500 years for a single cup to dissolve. With that info, who could turn away a reusable coffee mug? Reusable polycarbonate bottles are durable and can be used over and over, reducing waste and landfill. Plastic shopping bags have become a real pain. The average family of four accumulates 1,460 of them a year – and it can take up to 1,000 years for a single bag to break down in the environment. Reusable, recyclable non-woven polypropylene bags are tough, long lasting, can be used repeatedly and are completely recyclable.
Alternative energy sources, like solar power, replaces or extends battery life and reduces waste.
It's easy to be green A few simple steps can make a difference by reducing waste, littering and pollution: Replace your disposable water bottles with a polycarbonate sports bottle and refill over and over. Use reusable organic tote bags to carry groceries, in place of throw-away plastic bags. Have a green picnic using real plates and utensils, instead of disposable, then wash and reuse. Bring your lunch in a reusable lunch sack or cooler, instead of a plastic or paper bag. Switch to 100% post-consumer recycled paper and save a tree. Drink coffee from a recycled travel mug, in place of a Styrofoam cup. Choose a solar-powered calculator or desk clock to extend battery life and reduce waste. Items used to be more expensive and less attractive than traditional counterparts – this is changing. In some cases, eco-friendly items can cost less than ones made from traditional plastics. From the mug you drink from, to the t-shirt you wear and the paper you write on, promotional products made from eco-friendly materials and practices make a difference. As the commitment to sustainability grows, one paper writing pad becomes tens of thousands of pads and hundreds of trees saved in the process. As we move into the holiday gift-giving season, feel good about what you are giving – not only because you are giving a gift, but because the gift you are giving is helping to preserve the environment.