Eco-Friendly Marketing & Promotions for a Net Zero Future

Are you trying to achieve Net Zero for your business? Choose eco-friendly marketing and promotions to reach your sustainability goals.

Net Zero is big news for businesses in the UK as all companies are required by law to hit Net Zero by 2050. The goal is to reduce greenhouse emissions and balance remaining emissions with removing CO2 and other gases.

Businesses shouldn't produce more carbon than they can offset or remove. But reaching net zero isn't just about balancing carbon emissions - it aims to transform the way businesses operate. Sustainability should be built into every aspect of your business and its operations - from sales and marketing to production and delivery.

Read: What is Net Zero? An Introduction for Business

You can also Join the SME Climate Commitment

Put Sustainability at the Heart of Promotions

Make a green ethos company policy and teach it to employees. Explore how to be greener and promote and communicate those green achievements to both customers and staff. One of the quickest and easiest ways to do that is via a marketing campaign - but make sure you follow the ethos of Net Zero when you are sourcing promotional products for your brand.

The Environmental Pitfalls of Promotional Products

The main issue with marketing & promo products is that they leave behind a lot of waste, plus create carbon in their production and transportation. And if the intended recipient just isn't interested in reusing it, then it will have very little impact. It could even cause customers to see your brand as wasteful and unconcerned about the environment.

• Plastic Waste: Pens are one of the most popular promo products but are often made from virgin plastic that cannot be recycled after use. Producing virgin plastic uses three times the resources and energy to produce than recycled plastic, wasting precious resources and generating extra carbon.

• Non-durable or Reusable: Single-use products made from low-quality materials end up in landfills quickly. They can't be recycled or reused, contributing to more plastic pollution.
  
  
• Excessive Production: Marketing materials are often overproduced for events and campaigns. This leads to unnecessary waste and leftover items end up in the bin if you have nowhere to store the excess items.
  
  
• Awareness of the Environmental Impact of Different Materials: Most people would presume a natural fibre bag made from cotton would be more eco-friendly than a plastic-based fabric like non-woven PP. However, NWPP uses far less carbon and water in production. It's also lighter weight and more compact, saving on carbon emissions during delivery. Natural doesn't always mean eco-friendly!

It's simple for companies to create eco-friendly marketing campaigns if they take the time to source the right products. One of the main goals of Net Zero is to reduce, reuse and recycle so keep that in mind as you source branded promo products.

Three Ways to Create More Eco-friendly Marketing Campaigns

1. Choose Reusable, Biodegradable or Recycled Materials

The simplest way to reach Net Zero goals is to choose promo products made from sustainable materials. Consider products like recycled ecobags, printed bio bags and shopping bags made from 100% recyclable NWPP.

These products use fewer resources in production, leave minimal waste, and reduce landfill and emissions.

2. Choose Eco-Friendly Products that Consumers will Want to Reuse

Choose a desirable product with longevity and durability that customers will want to reuse. A well-designed reusable bag will be reused for years without breaking. The UK has already seen a huge reduction in the number of single-use plastic bags that are used since the Bag Charge was introduced. It's become second nature to carry a shopping bag around, so give them an eco-friendly promo product that is practical and they are happy to carry (spreading brand awareness every time they do).
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3. Reduce Production or Find Suitable Storage

Companies often over order marketing materials as they want to take advantage of economies of scale. The more you order, the cheaper the unit price is so it's tempting to go big. There is no problem with this if you can store it until you can use it. But this isn't always the case. If you want to order wholesale, but don't have a place to store materials read this blog about Bonded Warehouses.

These are just a few simple tips to get your business started on its Net Zero journey. Keep scrolling for links to our sustainable reusable bag fabrics to help your business create eco-friendly marketing campaigns.