| North Americans are becoming increasingly conscious | | | | at a small fee, or use them as a means for raising |
| of their individual carbon footprints. Many are taking | | | | funds for a cause or charity. Everyone benefits: the |
| steps to reduce their own negative impact on the | | | | customer, the retailer, and the charity in the case of |
| environment. From conserving water to recycling | | | | a fundraiser. |
| paper and plastics, earth lovers are doing their | | | | A number of excellent, earth-friendly options are |
| respective parts to keep the planet green. | | | | available when it comes to promotional tote bags. |
| Many retailers have responded in kind, recognizing | | | | Some of these include: |
| that businesses can use their influence to help inspire | | | | * Canvas: Canvas is one of the most versatile |
| people to care for the earth. One method that | | | | materials on earth. It's made from cotton, and the |
| numerous retailers have adopted is creating "green" | | | | method that is used for weaving canvas results in a |
| promotional tote bags. Retailers are encouraging | | | | fabric that has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. |
| customers to use and reuse these shopping bags | | | | Canvas is a particularly wise choice for grocery bags. |
| instead of filling up landfills with plastic bags. | | | | A canvas bag is tough enough to be filled to the brim |
| Creating customized promotional tote bags | | | | with groceries without breaking or tearing. It's easy |
| accomplishes two objectives: | | | | care too: canvas promotional tote bags are machine |
| 1) Reduces the need for plastic shopping bags: Plastic | | | | washable. |
| shopping bags have become a scourge in many of | | | | * Nylon: Nylon is a synthetic fiber that is flexible as |
| North America's landfills, prompting some communities | | | | well as strong. Nylon holds dye well, which may be an |
| and municipalities to ban them from landfills altogether. | | | | important consideration if you plan to have your |
| They take up space, albeit a small space. The major | | | | business logo screened onto your promotional tote |
| problem lies, though, within their inability to break | | | | bag. Like canvas, nylon also has an excellent |
| down. Many plastic shopping bags cannot be recycled. | | | | strength-to-weight ratio. It's highly elastic, making it |
| When they are sent to the landfill, they add to | | | | perfect for bags meant to carry bulky items like |
| methane gas emissions, a major contributor to global | | | | books. Once the bag is emptied, it will spring back |
| warming. Retail establishments (grocery stores, | | | | easily to its original shape. |
| clothing and goods retailers, etc.) are the world's | | | | * Cotton: This natural fiber is one of the least |
| leading purveyors of plastic shopping bags. By | | | | expensive materials to make promotional tote bags |
| offering reusable alternatives to plastic shopping bags, | | | | from. This makes cotton shopping bags affordable |
| retailers are helping to reduce the number of plastic | | | | even for the small retailer. Cotton is easy-care and |
| shopping bags being sent to landfills, perhaps by as | | | | machine-washable. Cotton shopping bags are perfect |
| much as fifty percent. | | | | for lighter-weight items like produce or clothing. |
| 2) Creates an economical vehicle for advertising and | | | | Many retailers both large and small estimate that by |
| promotion: Promotional items like tote bags are a | | | | providing reusable shopping bags as alternatives to |
| very inexpensive way to advertise a business, | | | | plastic for their customers they've kept hundreds and |
| especially when compared to other methods of | | | | even thousands of plastic bags out of local landfills. |
| advertising (billboards, radio/television ads, newspaper | | | | These retailers are leading the way in the industry |
| ads, etc.) Many promotional tote bags can be | | | | and proving that businesses can set a public example |
| purchased and screened with a business logo for less | | | | of caring for the environment without jeopardizing |
| than two dollars per bag. Retailers can then choose | | | | profits. |
| to offer these shopping bags for sale to customers | | | | |