It’s that time of the year again; businesses are getting ready for their annual company get-togethers. Here are some must-have tips for keeping them green.
1. Buy Bulk. Reduce waste and expenses by eliminating individual cans, bottles, condiments and individually wrapped cutlery. Large coolers and bulk dispensing is the way to go.
2. Stay local. Don’t make people drive long distances to get to the picnic spot. You’ll save gas, time and minimize pollution. If you have to drive far, then carpool. Give incentives to those that ride their bike.
3. Recycle. Seems simple enough but most people don’t want to walk the extra 10 feet to put something in the recycling bin. If you are going to have a lot of aluminum cans and plastic bottles at your picnic make sure you have multiple, noticeable, recycling bins. Even better, set your goal to have a zero-waste event with everything reusable. Frisbees make a great plate and wonderful gift.
4. Use natural and organic food. Bring foods that are locally grown and feed money into your community. It is usually cheaper and better for the environment because no pesticides or additives were used.
5. Clean up. Clean up and make sure that nothing was left behind. Leave your picnic ground the way you found it.
By: Rachel Thomas, Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/eco-friendly-picnics.html
http://humanityy.com/ecology/four-eco-friendly-tips-for-picnics-and-outings/
www.ecopromotionsonline.com
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Earth Hour 2011
One day out of the year people around the world are asked to switch off phones and lights for one hour. Earth hour 2011 will take place on Saturday March 26 at 8:30 p.m. Since 2007 Earth Hour has grown from one city to 128 countries and continues to grow. Join Eco Promotional Products, Inc. and turn your lights and phones off for one hour; see how much one hour can do and find other ways to make an environmentally conscious difference every day.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
High Lead Content in Grocery Totes
In an effort to go green many grocery stores are opting for reusable grocery totes rather than landfill bound plastic bags. The problem with this eco-friendly switch is that the lead content in some of these bags has been found to be high. The group Center for Consumer Freedom tested bags and found that 30 percent of those tested had lead content higher than the norm. “Consumers should not be scared,” the group said but the Federal government needs to extend standards on lead to products other than children’s toys and paint.
A test was done by TEI Analytical, Inc., a laboratory that does chemical testing; found that some bags made with Non-Woven Poly Propylene contained a large amount of lead. The study included bags from national chains such as Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Harris Teeter. CVS Pharmacy was found to be one of the retailers with the most amount lead in their bags. They had up to 500 parts per million (PPM) of toxic heavy materials in their bags, which is 5 times the allowed amount.
The lead on the bags does not easily come off but with the common wear and tear of everyday use, paint flakes can dislodge or threads can fray which then releases the lead. Eco Promotional Products, Inc. recognizes the harmful effects lead can have and only works with suppliers with products that have been test and checked. One of EPP’s suppliers has installed XRF Heavy Metal Detectors to scan,” ‘every batch and every color for lead and other heavy materials.’” The November, 2010 recall of reusable bags only allowed this supplier to market their bags, “they met a higher standard” than what already existed.
Another supplier EPP works closely with purchased the XLT Niton Analyzer Gun “to randomly check products before they get out our doors into your customers hands.” This device allows the supplier to make sure their products are compliant with hazardous substance standards. EPP is making more strides to ensure their products are safe. Lead products go through a third party to certify the lead content; there are also random lead spot-checks of products coming into the U.S. EPP also provides good alternatives to traditional grocery totes, ones made of cloth.
By: Rachel Thomas, Eco Promotional Products Inc.
Sources:
• http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/12/study-shows-reusable-bags-contain-high-levels-of-lead-content/
• http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/consumerwatch-study-finds-high-lead-levels-in-some-reusable-bags/
• http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/11/17/reusable-shopping-bag-ban-proposed-after-lead-discovery
• http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=354&Itemid=259
• www.counselormag.com
A test was done by TEI Analytical, Inc., a laboratory that does chemical testing; found that some bags made with Non-Woven Poly Propylene contained a large amount of lead. The study included bags from national chains such as Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Harris Teeter. CVS Pharmacy was found to be one of the retailers with the most amount lead in their bags. They had up to 500 parts per million (PPM) of toxic heavy materials in their bags, which is 5 times the allowed amount.
The lead on the bags does not easily come off but with the common wear and tear of everyday use, paint flakes can dislodge or threads can fray which then releases the lead. Eco Promotional Products, Inc. recognizes the harmful effects lead can have and only works with suppliers with products that have been test and checked. One of EPP’s suppliers has installed XRF Heavy Metal Detectors to scan,” ‘every batch and every color for lead and other heavy materials.’” The November, 2010 recall of reusable bags only allowed this supplier to market their bags, “they met a higher standard” than what already existed.
Another supplier EPP works closely with purchased the XLT Niton Analyzer Gun “to randomly check products before they get out our doors into your customers hands.” This device allows the supplier to make sure their products are compliant with hazardous substance standards. EPP is making more strides to ensure their products are safe. Lead products go through a third party to certify the lead content; there are also random lead spot-checks of products coming into the U.S. EPP also provides good alternatives to traditional grocery totes, ones made of cloth.
By: Rachel Thomas, Eco Promotional Products Inc.
Sources:
• http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/12/study-shows-reusable-bags-contain-high-levels-of-lead-content/
• http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/consumerwatch-study-finds-high-lead-levels-in-some-reusable-bags/
• http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/11/17/reusable-shopping-bag-ban-proposed-after-lead-discovery
• http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=354&Itemid=259
• www.counselormag.com
Monday, December 13, 2010
Greening Our Government
The first-ever GreenGov Supply Chain Summit, hosting 150 different companies from all over the county was held in Chicago on November 16, 2010. The summit was held to announce a voluntary collaboration between the Federal Government and vendors and suppliers to create a greener and cleaner supply chain. Michelle Sheldon, President of Eco Promotional Products, Inc. was invited and gladly attended the the sumit. Certainly, the opportunity to contribute towards a greener and cleaner supply chain has been a long standing goal of Sheldon’s company. And there is a clear opportunity to participate in sales to the Federal Government, a purchaser of some 500 billion in goods and services annually.
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley participates in the GreenGov Supply Chain Summit
Section 13 of Executive Order 13514 Made by President Obama on October 8, 2007 requires the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and others to provide the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy with recommendations on the possibilities of tracking and ultimately lessening greenhouse gas emissions from the Federal supply chain and improving sustainability of suppliers. Essentially the government is trying to control and ultimately lessen the greenhouse gases emitted from its supplier community. This is the government’s attempt at managing supplier and supply chain sustainability.
Some recommendations taken right out of the order are:1. Requiring vendors and contractors to register with a voluntary registry or organization for reporting greenhouse gas emissions
2. Requiring contractors, as part of a new revised registration under the Central Contractor Registration or other tracking system, to develop and make available its greenhouse gas inventory and description of efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
3. Using Federal Government purchasing preferences or other incentives for products manufactured using processes that minimize greenhouse gas emissions
4. Other options for encouraging sustainable practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The government along with the GSA and other agencies are trying to stop greenhouse gases by tracking how much their suppliers are emitting. If businesses all did this and became aware of how much they were endangering the environment, improved eco friendly practices such as paperless companies would grow and become the norm.
http://image.exct.net/lib/fefd167774640c/m/1/Executive+Order+7.13.2010.pdf
http://www.wileyrein.com/resources/documents/GSA%20Recommendations.pdf
http://www.wileyrein.com/publications.cfm?sp=articles&id=6242
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/11/18/greening-supply-chain
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley participates in the GreenGov Supply Chain Summit
Section 13 of Executive Order 13514 Made by President Obama on October 8, 2007 requires the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, and others to provide the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy with recommendations on the possibilities of tracking and ultimately lessening greenhouse gas emissions from the Federal supply chain and improving sustainability of suppliers. Essentially the government is trying to control and ultimately lessen the greenhouse gases emitted from its supplier community. This is the government’s attempt at managing supplier and supply chain sustainability.
Some recommendations taken right out of the order are:1. Requiring vendors and contractors to register with a voluntary registry or organization for reporting greenhouse gas emissions
2. Requiring contractors, as part of a new revised registration under the Central Contractor Registration or other tracking system, to develop and make available its greenhouse gas inventory and description of efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
3. Using Federal Government purchasing preferences or other incentives for products manufactured using processes that minimize greenhouse gas emissions
4. Other options for encouraging sustainable practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The government along with the GSA and other agencies are trying to stop greenhouse gases by tracking how much their suppliers are emitting. If businesses all did this and became aware of how much they were endangering the environment, improved eco friendly practices such as paperless companies would grow and become the norm.
http://image.exct.net/lib/fefd167774640c/m/1/Executive+Order+7.13.2010.pdf
http://www.wileyrein.com/resources/documents/GSA%20Recommendations.pdf
http://www.wileyrein.com/publications.cfm?sp=articles&id=6242
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/11/18/greening-supply-chain
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Younger Generation of "Green"
The 2nd annual Cantigny Green Festival in Wheaton, IL was held Saturday, September 25, 2010. The fair, co-produced by Cantigny and School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting (SCARCE), celebrated, “what’s working in our local community—for people, business and the environment.” Promoting a green and safe environment the fair had activities for families, a fashion show, and booths set up to buy and sample green products.
The fair showcased the “Going Green” phenomenon that has been taken up by celebrities and large corporations. The question that arises is who is really being affected? Is this recent “fad”, celebrities and CEO’s have jumped on, really changing the view of future generations?
Richa Bhargava of Naperville, IL is one example of a member of the younger generation not getting lost in the “fad” and is actually learning what it means to be environmentally smart. “I think my generation is really the one affected by “going green,” Bhargava said. Bhargava, who attends Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, heard about the Green Fair from her school’s environmental club but was prompted to go by her AP Environmental teacher for extra credit.
The Green Festival showed Bhargava a number of organizations and companies going green. Bhargava said that corporations advertised a great deal about “going green” but with little results. She was comforted with the fact that other companies, along with Eco Promotional Products, Inc. were doing more. “Seeing recycled t- shirts, purses, jewelry and an electric car really emphasizes how we can actually change and truly go green,” Bhargava said.
The younger generations are catching on quicker than people think and really want to do what is right by the environment. The Cantigny Green Festival in Wheaton promotes awareness and fun for all generations. Bhargava feels the same, “It’s good to know that someone is taking the first step to change.”
Written by: Rachel Thomas from Eco Promotional Products, Inc.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Impact of Choosing Made in USA Products
In tough economic times, Americans consumers are presented with a paradox – to seek out made in USA products to support our national economy or to purchase items manufactured overseas at a discounted price. There are few made in USA products currently on the market that are less expensive than imported goods. However, price is not always the most important factor to consider when making a purchase.
Consumers must support the national economy, or made in USA products will continue to decline and possibly disappear. Conversely, if consumers use their buying power to indicate that they are willing to pay a slight premium for American made items, domestic manufacturing will thrive and expand. The more USA made products American consumers purchase, from made in USA water bottles to organic apparel, the more products will become available.
Supporting the national economy goes beyond patriotism – buying made in USA products is the “green” choice as well. When consumers purchase items imported from other countries, they rarely take into consideration the carbon footprint of that item, i.e. how it was manufactured. For example, if you purchase made in USA clothes you are guaranteed they came from somewhere in the 50 states. Depending on where you live, there is a good chance your clothing item was manufactured and shipped to the end consumer less than 3,000 miles away. If you purchase an article of clothing made overseas, it’s possible that the fabric came from one country in the south Pacific and the item was assembled in an entirely different country then shipped to the United States. When all is said and done, one article of imported clothing has most likely travelled tens of thousands of miles before it ends up at your door. And even if the clothing is organic apparel, the environmental footprint may be quite large.
Additionally, there’s a reason that it is cheaper to manufacture items overseas. Many other countries have less stringent policies regarding labor laws and manufacturing best practices. So the less expensive items that are exported into the United States come at a price – generally at the expense of foreign laborers and increased pollution in developing nations.
In the current economic climate, it may be a challenge to find made in USA products, particularly organic apparel, grocery totes, stainless steel water bottles and electronics. However, if consumers begin to question where items are manufactured and choose to buy made in USA products when available, the impact could be staggering. The end result will be increased availability of made in USA products which support both the national economy and the environment.
Consumers must support the national economy, or made in USA products will continue to decline and possibly disappear. Conversely, if consumers use their buying power to indicate that they are willing to pay a slight premium for American made items, domestic manufacturing will thrive and expand. The more USA made products American consumers purchase, from made in USA water bottles to organic apparel, the more products will become available.
Supporting the national economy goes beyond patriotism – buying made in USA products is the “green” choice as well. When consumers purchase items imported from other countries, they rarely take into consideration the carbon footprint of that item, i.e. how it was manufactured. For example, if you purchase made in USA clothes you are guaranteed they came from somewhere in the 50 states. Depending on where you live, there is a good chance your clothing item was manufactured and shipped to the end consumer less than 3,000 miles away. If you purchase an article of clothing made overseas, it’s possible that the fabric came from one country in the south Pacific and the item was assembled in an entirely different country then shipped to the United States. When all is said and done, one article of imported clothing has most likely travelled tens of thousands of miles before it ends up at your door. And even if the clothing is organic apparel, the environmental footprint may be quite large.
Additionally, there’s a reason that it is cheaper to manufacture items overseas. Many other countries have less stringent policies regarding labor laws and manufacturing best practices. So the less expensive items that are exported into the United States come at a price – generally at the expense of foreign laborers and increased pollution in developing nations.
In the current economic climate, it may be a challenge to find made in USA products, particularly organic apparel, grocery totes, stainless steel water bottles and electronics. However, if consumers begin to question where items are manufactured and choose to buy made in USA products when available, the impact could be staggering. The end result will be increased availability of made in USA products which support both the national economy and the environment.
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