Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

“Going Green” (or goingreen, in my case), is a hot-button topic for many people. And I think that if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that there’s no single definition for being green.

There are not yet written rules, but for some, the term “green” indicates a lifestyle. Green is a mindset to live in a way that is less destructive to our environment. Being green includes what we buy, how we use things, and how we discard items.
When it comes to promo products and apparel, there are several characteristics that determine eco-friendliness. It’s my goal here to point out some of the different shades of green available in the promotional products industry.

Recyclable. Probably the lightest shade of green. These days, very little is NOT recyclable.

Recycled. Items made from recycled materials. Two categories:

• Pre-consumer: Cutting and other scraps from the manufacturing process.
• Post-consumer: Items already used by the end-user. Newspaper is a good example.

Reusable. Much of our drinkware falls into this category. Reusable items prevent their disposable counterparts from finding their way into a landfill.

Organic or natural. Mostly apparel, grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Sustainable. Products made of materials that grow back, or grow back quickly. Bamboo is a good example. Many hard goods, as well as apparel and other textiles have bamboo in them.

Compostable. Some plastics are now being made in such a way that, disposed of properly, they will break down in a matter of months.