Choosing the "Greenest" Personalized Totes: Three Tips for Retailers

Posted: Aug 21, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 31 | Bookmark and Share

Hundreds of retailers have begun to offer personalized totes in their stores as alternatives to plastic shopping bags.  The intent is to encourage customers to purchase these promotional bags and use them every time they shop in their stores.  Retailers hope to not only save money on plastic shopping bags, but to keep them from going to landfills across North America.

 

The advantages to offering reusable bag alternatives extends even further than saving money and keeping the planet green.  Personalized totes are also an economical means of advertising.  Hundreds of these bags can be purchased for less than two dollars per unit, including printing of the company's name.  Retailers can, in turn, sell the bags to its customers at cost.  This type of advertising often pays for itself, and saves the retailer on the cost of purchasing and giving away plastic shopping bags.

 

It's important, of course, to choose personalized totes which are considered "green" in order to have a truly positive impact on the environment.  When investing in "green" promotional bags, retailers should consider these points:

 

* What the bag is made of. Environmentally-conscious retailers should look for materials that are natural.  Cotton bags are one of the best choices of fabrics.  Cotton is all-natural, washable, sturdy and flexible.  Retailers who prefer a heavier material may want to consider canvas.  Canvas is made from cotton, and its special weave makes it ideal for heavy items and more frequent use.

 

*How the bag is manufactured.  Choose personalized totes that are manufactured using earth-friendly methods.  For instance, natural, un-dyed cotton bags have very low carbon footprints per unit.  Another good rule of thumb for choosing the greenest of promotional bags: less is more.  The fewer adornments and less fancy stitching that a particular bag has, the less of a carbon footprint it leaves.  Bags that are manufactured using harsh methods or strong chemicals should be avoided, since this defeats the purpose of discouraging the use of plastic.

 

*Whether the bag can be recycled.  Let's face it: even re-useable promotional bags wear out eventually.  Most will last for years, many for decades.  However, when the inevitable happens, retailers should be able to tell customers how and where they can recycle the personalized totes that they purchase from you.  Customers will be more likely to invest in one (or more) when they know that the bag will have a second life once it wears out.

 

Some retailers have even taken the bold step of eliminating plastic shopping bags altogether.  They've chosen instead to invest in low-cost customized promotional bags, and sell them at cost or just above cost to their customers.  This change has annoyed a small handful of patrons, retailers say, but most customers are understanding and very supportive of these kinds of moves. 

 

While this kind of a change may be considered radical, many recognize that this may be the norm one day.  In fact, in many countries, particularly in Europe and the U.K., retailers do not routinely offer free plastic shopping bags to their customers.  This is considered acceptable and socially responsible.  Personalized totes are a way of life and part of everyday business for these retailers, and it's highly plausible that North America will one day follow suit.

(ArticlesBase SC #1149345)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/choosing-the-greenest-personalized-totes-three-tips-for-retailers-1149345.html

    Article Tags:

    Promotional Bags

    ,

    plastic shopping bags

    ,

    personalized totes

    Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag Review

    In the latest installment of Gear Daddy, Daddy Brad meets up with Petunia Pickle Bottom CEO Braden Jones at the ABC Kids Expo to discuss their latest line of baby diaper bags, the Scout Collection. These designer bags are great for both moms and dads. This leather bag can be used to carry baby wipes, diapers, and all sorts of baby accessories and comes with a diaper changing pad. When you outgrow the diaper bag, it makes a great shoulder bag for dad. It can hold a laptop computer, magazines .... (02:44)

    How to Make a Candy Bag for Halloween

    Custom bags are simple to make from old T-shirts or thrift-store purses. (03:01)

    How to Fuse Plastic Bags into a Laptop Case

    This week learn how to fuse those unwanted plastic bags into your very own Laptop Case. Do your part and help the Earth Heros fight off the evil Plastic Bag Monster. (06:29)

    How to Make a Fame Duffel Bag

    This week, Corinne shows us how-to make a duffel bag out of old umbrellas. FAME! (05:51)

    How to Make a Hand Bag for Prom - Self Made Girl

    Learn how to make a hand bag for prom - Self Made Girl. Fashion do-it-yourself video with Joyann King. (04:55)

    New Focus in The Bag Market Reusable Fabric Options - No More Plastic Bag Popular Items - Straw Bag, Tote Bag in Green Design Trend or Demand for Future Reusable Bag Industry Alluring Business Potential for Reusable Bags in this Eco-friendly Market Atmosphere

    By: Janey Yang l Business > Business Opportunities l Dec 27, 2007 l Views: 124
    Kim Medeiros

    Custom tote bags are a very useful accessory when out shopping. They are big enough to carry your purse and other items such as an umbrella, a water bottle as well as your shopping items. Instead of carrying them in shopping bags, you can lump all your stuff into one big roomy bag while your hands are free. One of the hottest trends where custom tote bags are concerned is eco-friendly tote bags.

    By: Kim Medeiros l Advertising l Sep 02, 2009 l Views: 104

    Recycling plastic bags is probably one of the easiest ways we can help our environment stay clean. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle is the contemporary catch phrase used to encourage more people to think about the environment and how they use everyday items.

    By: Graham Williamson l News and Society > Environment l Nov 05, 2009 l Views: 64

    When it comes to personalized corporate gifts, trade show giveaways and other promotion products, green is in. For businesses, taking the green approach can be intimidating, so in this article we’ll explore practical ways to use eco friendly promotional products.

    By: John Gill l Business l Dec 24, 2008 l Views: 135

    The promotional bags find a lot of application in the businesses today. They are widely used as the brand advertisements. Being a highly useful gift for the customers, they always create the desired impact in the brand promotion ventures.

    By: Gareth Parkin l Advertising > Branding l Sep 17, 2008 l Views: 313
    Mindbees

    Whether you own and operate a small business or happen to be a large manufacturing firm you'll find a wide and varied selection of top-of-the line and fully recyclable promotional bags which may be used for all of your public and private events.

    By: Mindbees l Business > Online Business l Mar 20, 2009 l Views: 106

    Custom tote bags are a very useful accessory when out shopping. They are big enough to carry your purse and other items such as an umbrella, a water bottle as well as your shopping items. Instead of carrying them in shopping bags, you can lump all your stuff into one big roomy bag while your hands are free. One of the hottest trends where custom tote bags are concerned is eco-friendly tote bags.

    By: Amin Ramjee l Advertising l Sep 02, 2009 l Views: 56
    christina gruble

    When you start your business, you will see that the most basic thing that is often neglected turns out to be the most important thing. You need to establish a name for your business and you have to make sure that your business name is something that is really available for your use.

    By: christina gruble l Business l Feb 09, 2010

    Minute trade marketing is all nearly determining the needs of your target advertise and in that case given that solutions to endure persons needs.

    By: Margaret Atwood l Business l Feb 09, 2010

    Todd just released a new Special Situation Video for his Private Client Group and is just giving it to you. His private clients pay $997 a month for this information and each video has the potential to pull Hundreds of Pips in Easy Profits.

    By: Rob Trader l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 2

    Turn bridal shows into a good experience with eye catching elements for potential brides to see!

    By: Natalie Bradley l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Brides will listen to other brides. Get your clients to write testimonials and use these as marketing tools!

    By: Natalie Bradley l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Picking out the right client is important, learn to say no and see better results and do better business!

    By: Natalie Bradley l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 1

    Part of being attractive to brides is being seen or known as an expert in the field. Use these tips to be seen as an expert!

    By: Natalie Bradley l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 3

    Choose your investments wisely, and know whats important to stay ahead in today's economy!

    By: Natalie Bradley l Business l Feb 09, 2010 l Views: 2
    Jenny Schweyer

    Infection of the pleura can sometimes lead to an excess of fluid or air build-up in the pleural cavity. A chest tube/drainage kit is used to remove the build up from the body and promote healing.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Diseases and Conditions l Aug 25, 2009 l Views: 21
    Jenny Schweyer

    Promotional keychains are the second most popular promotional product in the world. Businesses invest in them more than most every other kind of promo for a number of reasons. Multifunction keychains which serve dual purposes are even more likely to be used by a receiver, effectively doubling the chance that the receiver will remember you.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Advertising l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 52
    Jenny Schweyer

    Hundreds of retailers have begun to offer personalized totes in their stores as alternatives to plastic shopping bags. The intent is to encourage customers to purchase these promotional bags and use them every time they shop in their stores.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Business l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 31
    Jenny Schweyer

    Proper skin wound care is essential for healing from skin trauma. The market is rife with various skin wound care products, manufactured using varying materials and technologies. Hydrocolloid dressings are one such type of dressing.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Diseases and Conditions l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 315
    Jenny Schweyer

    Today's advanced skin wound care systems include an array of amorphous hydrogel products. Treatment with amorphous hydrogel is gaining wide acceptance in the medical community as an effective wound care treatment for exuding skin wounds.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Diseases and Conditions l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 92
    Jenny Schweyer

    Decades ago, people with diabetes type I (also known as juvenile diabetes) had to rely on regular injections to control blood glucose levels. Today, insulin infusion (also known as insulin pump therapy) has eliminated the need for painful, frequent and invasive injections for tens of thousands of diabetics.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Diseases and Conditions l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 6
    Jenny Schweyer

    The prevalence of the use of aerosol machines (also known as nebulizers) has increased significantly in the last decade. This is due, at least in part, to the rising occurrence of lung diseases and disorders, particularly asthma, and specifically, childhood asthma.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Diseases and Conditions l Aug 21, 2009 l Views: 10
    Jenny Schweyer

    Navigating the world of mastectomy bras and prostheses can be daunting for breast cancer survivors. Breast surgery is a difficult transition to negotiate in and of itself. Trying to shop for a mastectomy bra and mastectomy prosthesis afterward shouldn't and needn't add any further angst.

    By: Jenny Schweyer l Health > Cancer l Aug 11, 2009 l Views: 155

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    0