Every organization needs Promotional Products to create a unified, professional look for the workplace and to use as Corporate Gifts. Uniforms and office items are a must, but when choosing Promotional Items to give away, what message should they convey? As climate change concerns skyrocket, there is one easy way to show that your business is committed to the solution and that through environmentally-conscience Promotional Gifts. Using environmentally friendly promotional products will help you and your business do your part to save the world.

‘Eco-friendly’ or ‘Environmentally friendly’ means that their products pose no harmful effects on the environment or its inhabitants. This includes the methods being used to produce merchandise. Unlike petroleum-based (traditional) plastics, biodegradable plastic does not produce greenhouse gases as it is formed because it is made from plant fibers. Since the aim to have as little affect on the earth as possible, these companies ensure that all products are made in a way that avoids clear-cutting forests, wasting water, using insecticides, burning fossil fuels, etc. They support the use of eco friendly products and encourage others to pave the way for a brighter, cleaner future.

Did you know that a plastic beverage bottle takes roughly 450 years to decompose? Take a look at the numbers found by the U.S. National Park Service:

Time it takes for garbage to decompose in the environment

Glass Bottle —————————1 million years
Monofilament Fishing Lines——–600 years
Plastic Beverage Bottle————–450 years
Disposable Diaper——————–450 years
Aluminum Can———————–80-200 years
Foamed Plastic Buoy—————-80 years
Foamed Plastic Cups—————-50 years
Rubber-Boot Sole——————–50-80 years
Tin Cans——————————-50 years
Leather———————————50 years
Nylon Fabric————————–30-40 years
Plastic Film Container—————20-30 years
Plastic Bag—————————-10-20 years
Cigarette Butt————————-1-5 years
Wool Sock—————————-1-5 years
Plywood——————————-1-3 years
Waxed Milk Carton——————3 months
Apple Core—————————-2 months
Newspaper—————————–6 weeks
Orange or Banana Peel—————2-5 weeks
Paper Towel—————————2-4 weeks

Information Source: U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL.

Across the globe, businesses are taking the initiative to become more environmentally conscious in almost every aspect of their operation. To help reduce negative impacts on the environment, businesses are now turning to eco-friendly promotional products as a wholesome marketing solution. Choosing these products is not as difficult as it sounds. You don’t need to make-over your staff with organic hemp clothing or spend a fortune on hybrid delivery trucks, it can start with simple choices.

Many online promotional product distributors offer a selection of environmentally friendly products. For example, InkHead.com recently adds recycled and Earth Friendly EcoSmart product line. Here are some great Promotional Products that will show your company’s commitment to the environment, without breaking the bank:

Re-usable Water Bottles: Have your logo added to Nalgene-type bottles and hand them out to employees and customers. Encourage everyone to refill their bottles instead of purchasing new water bottles every time.

Insulated Coffee Mugs: Using re-usable coffee mugs as promotional products is a great way to ensure your marketing message and logo travels everywhere your employees and customers do. Not only will you gain exposure, you’ll also get recognition as a company who is concerned about the future of the earth. Adding an inspirational message about “going green” in addition to your logo is also a great idea.

Tote Bags: There has recently been a lot of media-hype around the flood of plastic grocery bags in city landfills. Considering the lengthy time (20 years) it takes for bags to break down, Tote Bags are a healthy solution for the earth. Offer them to customers with purchases or sell them as your own brand. Your bags will be used for years, if not decades to come. You can turn any shopper into your own billboard, by having your logo and personal message added.

There are many great ways to reduce negative effect of modern industries on the earth. As environmental concern rises, cater to your conscience customers by showing you are dedicated to positive solutions, one step at a time.

Our earth is everyone’s responsibility. We all want to have a healthy environment to pass on to our children, but it can often seem like eco-friendly behavior is difficult to attain. Environmentally conscious consumers will be happy to hear that more and more earth friendly product lines are being developed to make healthy living simple and convenient.

Living an earth loving life is not just good for the environment in the long run, it is also good for your health immediately. The chemical products that have become so ubiquitous in our society’s day to day life are making people very sick. Research is now linking chemicals found in everyday household products to a prevalence of allergic reactions, occurrences of asthmatic attacks, and even the rise of cancer. An earth friendly product provides a healthy alternative that will work great and not make people sick.

There are many harmful aspects of our homes that we have little control over. It is unfortunate, but many of us live in homes that were built in ways that are not ecologically friendly. Although many people are not aware of it, their homes are filled with pollutants in the form of paint, fabrics, and the very building materials that hold up the roof. These products emit fumes and gases that actually cause the air inside a house to be more polluted than the air outside.

Although homeowners tend to start in an environmental deficit, this does not mean that they cannot make their houses healthy over time. Natural home products have been developed for all aspects of life, including home building materials, chemical free cleaning products, organic foods, natural beauty products, and environmentally friendly fabrics. By always selecting an earth friendly product, consumers can ensure that everything new entering the house will contribute to the overall good of the family’s health and the environment’s future.

There is now no excuse for using chemical based products. First, it is easy to find retailers that carry natural products. Shoppers no longer have to go to specialty stores because the earth friendly product they desire is likely stocked on their local store’s shelf and can even be found online. Second, as the products gain strong fan bases, clear favorites are starting to stand out. Next time you are out shopping, look to see which products most people are reaching for. Finally, unlike before, natural products are very competitively priced, making them affordable for all budgets.

For a very long time, we have relied on fossil fuels. It provides heat to our homes, gas for our cars and electricity. Since we are now using it more than ever, there is a consequence. We are depleting our resources and slowly killing our planet. Fortunately, we can change our ways and then shift our attention to green energy sources.

But why green energy sources? Well because there are advantages to using them which we will never be able to get if we don’t change our ways. This is also even if some will argue that the problem with green energy is that it is sometimes difficult to generate the power we need. While that may be true, that is why there are other green energy sources available and we just to know which ones are viable given the geographic location.

The various green energy sources such as solar, wind, wave, hydropower and geothermal do not produce anything harmful which may have a negative effect on the environment. This is the exact opposite of what you get when you continue to operate a coal or nuclear power plant.

Coal you have to remember releases carbon dioxide into the air. On its own, it may not cause that much damage but there are currently 50,000 coal plants around the world and that number is expected to grow.

Nuclear plants may not release anything harmful into the air. The issue is how we dispose of the spend rods and if another nuclear accident should occur. We remember Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. We have probably learned better ways to prevent another incident from happening. Through the years, a few minor accidents have occurred and although the leak was contained, just imagine if it wasn’t?

Green energy sources may not be maintenance free but at least it does not require that much to maintain them compared to conventional means. In the end, we save money because such facilities don’t cost that much to operate.  

The next advantage of using green energy sources is that we will never run out of them. For centuries, the sun’s rays have reached so has the wind which is blown from the sea. By using it, we decrease our dependence on oil which is a nonrenewable resource.

If you think about it, many of us have taken these green energy sources for granted. If we do the right thing now, future generations will not have to face the mess that we could have handled on our own years before.

In short, the power is in our hands. We have the technology and we know what to do with it. The only thing we need is to do is to put our money where our mouth is because despite the number of conferences on global warming and climate change, little has happened.

It is easy to talk about how concerned we are about the environment but you have to ask yourself when will more solar panels or wind turbines will be erected? When will the number of coal or nuclear power plants be reduced?

Green energy sources are the solution to the environmental, political and social problems of this lifetime. By spending more on these technologies, no country will have to depend on another or even a corporation for their power needs because they are self dependent and free.

With so many people on our planet today and all of the technology, Earth could be in trouble unless we all pitch in. The good news is that when we embrace the green life we are creating a healthier and happier life for ourselves. With less pollution and more trees, the Earth will become a beautiful place to live again.   There are several ways that you can improve the Earth and your life on it. Planting trees is one way. Think recycling also.   By recycling you will keep rubbish and toxins out of the landfills while helping the environment.   If you don’t need items around your home then donate them to people that could find a use for them. There are several organizations like the Salvation Army that will make your unwanted items available to others that would find them of value.   So with a small effort on your part you can clean up the clutter, help out your neighbors and keep the Earth greener.   Here are a few ways that could help your Earth and save you some cash as well;   Print less:

Do you really need to print everything? Maybe you can copy and paste the important parts into Wordpad and print less that way. The more paper you use the more trees will fall.   Turn off lights:

Keep lights off unless you really need them. Also, use the green lights available today to save both the environment and your cash.   Use cloth bags:

Say no to plastic bags. They decompose slowly leaving toxic petro-polymers in the soil and water which could promote cancer. Use and reuse cloth bags. They are cheap and can hold more without tearing.   Mulching lawnmower:

Use a mulching lawnmower that will up grind your grass clippings and leaves  for organic fertilizer. This way you won’t have to bag them while saving the environment, your back and your time. Sounds like a win/win situation.

Also, if you keep your grass longer it will keep the weeds down naturally. You won’t have to poison the earth with pesticides.   Other things worth considering are electric and hybrid cars. They are cleaner than conventional gas burners and will cut back on pollution and will save your gas money.   If you shop locally you will be supporting your neighbors as well as saving transportation cost which causes the polluting of air. Buy American whenever possible. How much pollution is being produced from those factories in China and the large cargo ships cruising across the oceans?   If you can buy organic groceries you will be preventing pesticides and other chemicals from entering the soil and yourself!   How often do you use liquid soap? Switch over to bar soap. It’s less toxic and you will save your money.   Flea collars are toxic as well. If you wash your pets regularly you may find that you won’t need those pesky collars.   Sure you could think about all the negative things that are happening to our Earth and wonder if it will survive much longer. What will your quality of life be like when you are suffocating in the poisonous air?   This fear could scare you into doing something about your problems today.   It’s better if you take the positive approach. Love your Earth. It’s your home and loving it is a stronger emotion that will bring more results. If you do your part out of love, then you will feel great about yourself.   With a positive outlook and actions, you will improve your mental and physical health as well as your home, the Earth.

by Debra Lynn Dadd

You probably are aware that giving your immune system a helping hand can ward off colds and the flu. But did you know that common exposures to toxic chemicals in your everyday life can actually increase your chances of becoming sick?

Catching a cold or flu requires exposure to bacteria and viruses and a body with a weak immune system. When bacteria and viruses encounter a strong immune system, the immune system recognizes the bacteria or virus as a foreign invader and fights them off. But when the body’s immune system is compromised, it can’t do its job of protecting us against the bacteria and viruses that can make us sick.

Unfortunately, today, our immune systems are exposed to a torrent of toxic chemicals that can weaken its ability to defend the health of our bodies. Plastics, pesticides, and pollutants of all kinds are in most consumer products. And virtually all of these chemicals can damage the immune system, leaving your body vulnerable to attack.

On the other hand, sometimes what may seem like a cold or flu may not be a cold or flu at all, but is actually a poisoning. In the wintertime, for example, during the “flu season,” many families turn on their gas heat. Exposure to combustion by-products from burning gas can result in flu symptoms. Taking a cold or flu remedy won’t help relieve those symptoms of toxic exposure.

Cold and flu symptoms can also be a sign that your body is at work to eliminate toxic chemicals it has been exposed to. A runny nose or sneezing might be a cold, or it might be the body trying to clear out nasal passages that have been inhaling toxic chemicals. There are many toxic exposures in the average American home. So many, in fact, that there is a whole class of chemicals called “immunotoxicants,” which, by definition, cause “increased incidence or severity of infectious diseases.”

Removing immunotoxicants from your home will do even more than stop colds and flus–it will protect you and your family from all contagious diseases, including bronchitis and pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, mumps, whooping cough, and others. Flu shots and vaccinations? Removing immuntoxics from your home allows your immune system to regenerate naturally, and fight off all infectious diseases.

Here are five simple things you can to start eliminating immunotoxicants from your home and strengthen your immune system.

1. Open the window. During the winter, we keep windows closed to keep warm and save energy, but this also keeps toxic chemicals inside the home. Open a window occasionally to let the toxic fumes out and bring fresh air in.

2. Don’t spray disinfectants. It’s second nature to reach for a disinfectant to kill cold germs and flu viruses, but disinfectants only make things worse. Disinfectants contain the immunotoxicants cresol, phenol, ethanol, and formaldehyde, which reduce the ability of the immune system to fight the germs they are killing. Better to strengthen the immune system to protect the body from germs as it should. If you need to kill germs, use hot water or tea tree oil.

3. Don’t use “permanent” markers. These contain the solvents cresol, toluene and xylene, all powerful immunotoxicants. Choose waterbased markers instead.

4. Don’t use nonstick cookware. A 2008 study by the Environmental Working Group through West Virginia University found higher levels of a chemical in Teflon found in the blood of test subjects correlated with lower levels of a protein that helps the body fight bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Instead use cast iron, porcelain enamel, glass, clay, or one of the new PFOA-free “green pans.”

5. Sleep on untreated cotton or linen sheets. All polyester/cotton and permanent-press cotton sheets are treated with a formaldehyde finish that cannot be removed and continues to emit formaldehyde for the life of the sheet. Common symptoms from this immunotoxicant include runny nose, itchy eyes, and other cold and flu symptoms.

If you have children in your home, it’s even more important to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals because a child’s immune system isn’t fully developed until age seven or eight.

Every step you can take toward removing toxic chemicals in your home will greatly improve your health. Begin today.

To learn more about protecting yourself and family from immunotoxicants, visit Debra Lynn Dadd’s Web site at www.dld123.com/colds-flu, and get your copy of Home Safe Home.

Hailed as “The Queen of Green” by the New York Times, Debra Lynn Dadd has been a leading consumer advocate for products and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the environment since 1982. Visit her website to learn more about her book Home Safe Home, to sign up for her free email newsletters, and to browse 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products. http://www.dld123.com

A typical American home uses approximately one-hundred gallons of water per day, and according to the 2007 census, there are over one-hundred and eleven million households in the U.S. So, making some of the smallest changes to your own plumbing system can not only save you money now, but a potentially significant amount of money over time. And if everyone made these changes it would make a huge positive impact on the environment.

A leaking faucet isn’t just annoying, it also costs you money. Fixing it keeps your money from going down the drain. Roughly twelve and a half gallons of a household’s water use is attributed to faucet, toilet, and pipe leaks. A dripping faucet can waste up to seventy-four gallons a day, a leaking toilet up to two-hundred gallons a day. A quick repair by you or your plumber now, will save you money in the long run.

Bottled or tap: A water filtration system attached to your faucet (or free-standing) can purify enough water to fill up more than 3,000 disposable plastic water bottles every year. Globally, 38 billion disposable plastic water bottles are thrown out every year. Cutting down on the use of these disposable bottles also reduces crude oil dependency -crude oil by-product is used in plastic water bottle manufacturing, approximately 17 million barrels of oil are used every year just to meet America’s demands for these plastic water bottles. Buy a reusable bottle and fill it with water you filter yourself, you’ll save money and the environment.

Graywater (or greywater) systems: A safe and easy way to collect and filter the water used by faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines, and reuse it for non-potable (non-drinking water) purposes –cutting back on your home’s water consumption. The system recycles water, to water plants for example, reducing your use of fresh, potable water. It also cuts down the amount of water going into your community’s sewage system instead of the soil.

When leaky pipes can’t be repaired because of too many pinhole leaks or another systemic problem, what can you do? Traditionally the solution has been to replace your plumbing system -to repipe, but that means cutting walls open and tearing out pipes. So not only are you throwing away the old pipes and the drywall that had to be removed to get at them, but then you need to replace them with new pipes and drywall. Manufacturing these new materials has an environmental impact.

Leaky pipes: What happens when your leaky pipes are so full of pinhole leaks or can’t be repaired and need to be replaced? A repipe, or pipe replacement, involves cutting open walls and removal of the affected pipes. Not only does this mean you’re throwing away drywall and old pipes, but you’re using new drywall and pipes, each with its own manufacturing toll on the environment.

An alternative to wasting pipes and drywall is epoxy pipe lining — CuraFlo’s epoxy pipe lining system is an environmentally friendly alternative to repipe. It takes less time than pipe replacement and generally costs less. Pipes are cleaned out and epoxy lined through connections to your existing plumbing fixtures and valves, nearly or completely eliminating the need to cut open walls. And best of all, epoxy lining your pipes can prevent erosion and corrosion damage to your pipes that led to the need for repair or replacement in the first place.

About the Author

Brian LeMaire is President of CuraFlo and has been in the plumbing maintenance industry since 1981. He is a State registered plumbing contractor in Ohio. Find out more about pipe leaks and discover what to do about Manhole lining