The last decade has started to see a real push towards more ethically produced goods. Whether it’s food, clothing or corporate gifts, commerce has been more driven to produce items that are organic, Fairtrade and environmentally friendly.
Unfortunately these goods still come at a premium, with extra costs needed to adhere to ethical and environmentally sound working practices. With the economy still reeling from one of the biggest recessions in history, cost has become more important to consumers and as a result, sales of organic food in 2010 are down by 12.9% when compared to last year.
With consumers priorities seemingly changing, can we put the recent eco-craze down to a fad, or is there more to it than that? And just how eco-friendly are many of the products that are advertised in such a way? Given the disposable nature of many corporate gifts, can there ever be such a thing as an eco-friendly corporate gift?
Many have argued that the craze for all things environmentally friendly was indeed a craze, with many choosing to paint themselves as eco friendly as a fashion statement. The recession has certainly had a hit on the revenue of such products, but to write the ethical movement off would be a mistake. Sooner or later, all companies are going to have to look at the way they produce their products and although the sales of organic produce are down, there is no doubt that the movement left a big impression on the conscience of the world.
So just how accurate are a company’s green credentials? Although many products can be marketed as being eco friendly, do they fulfil these criteria in the real world?
This question is especially important when we talk about corporate gifts and promotional products. By their very nature, corporate gifts and promotional products are disposable items. Promotional pens only have a limited shelf life due to the fact that they will inevitably run out, promotional clothing will outlive it’s use when the specific promotion is over, and many corporate gifts may well be simply tossed in the trash. So although these promotional products may have been produced ethically, is there an argument that they are just destined to clog up disposal sites, polluting the planet even more?
This problem is not exclusive to corporate gifts and promotional products. Many items that people use every day and are important for businesses are disposable in nature, and as a result bring their green credentials into question. So what’s the answer?
As with many things, it is a matter of common sense. If green credentials are important to a company, they should encourage staff to buy corporate gifts and promotional products that are made in an ethical way, but also be sensible with the quantity ordered and ensure they are buying the most appropriate product for the occasion. In the case of promotional products, order size should reflect the size of the event and the relevance of the item to the promotion. When promotional items are personalised in this way, they are more relevant to the people who will receive them, meaning there is less chance of them being tossed into the bin.
It is the same with corporate gifts. Make sure you buy a corporate gift that is ethically sourced and make sure it is right for the recipient. A personalised corporate gift will make sure it is relevant to the recipient and will make for a well received gift. Generic corporate gifts that are bought on mass and with no personalisation stand a much better chance of being thrown straight in the bin, meaning a waste of money for the company, a wasted promotion and a real dent in the green credentials of a company.
In many cases financial constraints will govern this anyway, but it is important to consider the environmental effect of your promotional products even after they have left the factory.
The theme of the green movement is to avoid waste, be it products or energy and the same is true with eco corporate gifts and promotional products. Only order what you need and make the products are relevant to the recipient. In this way you will avoid waste and improve the success of your promotion.
The Corporate Gifts Company have a range of eco corporate gifts that will add to the green credentials of your company. You can also use our sister site The Promotional Gifts Company for their range of eco promotional gifts.
