Pittsburgh Pirates Go Green

Green programs and sustainable business practices are popping up everywhere you look. Even professional sports teams are joining the revolution, and the scale of their efforts is definitely helping. The Pittsburgh Pirates have been enacting green initiatives all year at PNC Park where they play, and they've made considerable progress so far.

Bob Nutting, Pirates Chairman of the Board, gave a great reason for the new program: "We are not launching this program because 'going green' is a popular trend. We are doing it because it is the right thing to do." More and more socially-responsible executives are starting to share Nutting's sentiments.

When the "Let's Go Bucs. Let's Go Green." program was announced in March, ballpark promotions were on the list of ways to effectively reach out to the community. So far, this strategy has been a massive success for the Pirates. Check out these plastic beverage cups that are being used at PNC Park. Instead of going with petroleum-based plastic that can't be composted or recycled, these eco-friendly cups are made from 100% sustainable corn plastic. The imprint on the side of the cup does a great job of educating and raising awareness.

The Pirates are helping to set a new standard for MLB teams and for professional sports in general. We only hope that others learn from their good example!

Brand Consistency: Sustainability Symbol

For those who are highly involved with the movement to be “greener,” you might have come across the following equation: Peace + One = Harmony and Balance between Society, the Environment, and the Economy, which is embodied in the 3-finger sustainability symbol. The building of awareness and the movement towards using sustainable resources and methods in China are lead by the McMaster Institute for Sustainable Development in Commerce who educates the public on how to be agents of eco-friendly change. The sustainability symbol and a miniature character called “MiniP3”—the three P’s mean People, Planet, and Profit— symbolize the purpose of the institute well because they are ever-present thus they create a consistency for the brand and their objectives. The mini-mascot seems to be a correspondent because he travels throughout China searching for entities that exude “green.” This campaign illustrates that the efforts toward a more eco-friendly future are international.

The Applauding Bus Shelter

There's plenty of changes we can make in our daily lives to contribute to the eco-friendly revolution. One of the most efficient lifestyle changes you can make is using public transportation whenever and wherever possible. The Department of Environment and Conservation knew that this was a behavior worth encouraging, so they came up with this creative eco-promotion to thank bus-riders for using public transportation instead of their personal vehicles.

Several bus stops in high-traffic areas were outfitted with motion sensors that played a recorded applause whenever someone entered. As commuters searched for the source of the applause, they were greeted by a poster which read "Congratulations, by taking this bus you're doing your bit for the environment." This small token of recognition put a big smile on the faces of many bus-riders.

Green Fundraising Items

Today we're digging into our mail bag to answer a question from one of our readers. It happens to be a very common one, so pay careful attention -- you just might learn something!

Nate C. from San Francisco asks: Hey! Can you guys recommend a promotional item to use at a fundraiser? My company is trying to raise money that will be re-invested in green infrastructure for the community. Thanks!

Awesome! There are lots of products out there that could be potentially sold during fundraising events, but what makes one a better candidate than another? Well, from experience, we've found that the most common characteristics of a successful green fundraising item are:

• Affordability. Affordability is important because it allows you to excersise a wider profit margin to gather more funds for your cause. If you choose high-end items, you'll have to sell them for high prices, and that could scare some donors away. On the other hand, inexpensive items can rake in a decent return on your investment, and if donors want to give more than what you're asking, they're more than welcome to!
  
  
• Authentically eco-friendly. The item obviously has to be authentically eco-friendly — no greenwash allowed! If you're raising money for an environmentally cause, you probably don't want to sell 55 gallon drums of oil imprinted with your URL. Aim for an eco-conscious item that doesn't contradict the cause you are supporting. 
  
  
• Easy to transport and store. While circumstances will vary, fundraisers often require staff members to move products among different locations. When the event is over, extras need to be packed up and stored. For all of these reasons, its nice to choose an item that helps rather than hinders these efforts. Look for a product that can be moved easily between venues without wasting a lot of space.

So, what do we recommend for Nate?

How about this fully recycled travel tote bag? This useful and eco-friendly product matches all of the criteria on our list, and it's something people want to get their hands on. Selling these recycled totes not only raises funds for a green cause, but it also helps to reduce the use of plastic bags. You're killing two birds with one stone! To make this promotion even more powerful, you can imprint the bag with any type of information you'd like, including Web site URLs where people can learn more about going green. Hope this helps all the green fundraisers out there!

Product Spotlight: Eco 100% Recycled Laptop Sleeve

Here's a simple yet desirable eco-friendly promotion you can give to anyone who never leaves home without a laptop! The sleeve is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and provides good protection for a 15'' standard laptop. Not to mention, the front of the recycled laptop sleeve has a large, high-visibility area for your logo or company name. These handsome gifts are budget-friendly as well — what's not to love?

Apple Gets a Bit Greener With Their Newest iPods

Apple recently announced the launch of their next generation of iPod Nanos, the most popular MP3 player in their lineup. In addition to some new bells and whistles, it seems the new nanos have also been made a little bit greener! According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the new iPods are the cleanest, greenest, and most toxin-free they've ever sold. Apple took a closer look at the materials used in the construction of the devices and they are now BFR and mercury-free. They also use arsenic-free glass and are "highly recyclable." Apple may not be the greenest company, but this is certainly a step in the right direction — and just another example of green business practices going mainstream. What is your company doing to contribute? Are you prepared for the changing landscape of modern industry?

Have You Thought About Eco-Friendly New Hire Gifts?

I just read this great article about the different eco-friendly jobs that are being created lately. With the economy in shambles it's nice to know that attempts are being made to create new eco-companies for a changing eco-friendly world.

That got me thinking, if you are an eco-friendly business, what kind of promotional items are you giving your new employees. Are your promotional pens eco-friendly? Perhaps you can put together an environmentally friendly new hire kit, that contains a recycled drawstring backpack, organic t-shirt, and a recyclable padfolio.

If you are a company with ecological concerns you should be green across the board. Putting your eco-friendly promos into the hands of your employees will encourage them to put stock into your environmentally aware business.

Another Reason to Use BPA-Free Promotional Water Bottles

The results of a new study completed by the Yale School of Medicine reinforce what some researchers have been saying for awhile — bisphenol-A (BPA), a common chemical used to make plastic water bottles, may not be as safe as we think.

The study was conducted over a 28-day period, during which a team of scientists gave 50 micrograms/kg per day to a group of African Green monkeys on the island of St. Kitts. This dosage reflects the amount considered safe for human consumption by the Environmental Protection Agency. This is the first time a BPA study was conducted using a primate population, which means the results are especially relevant when considering the effects BPA exposure may have on humans.

The conclusions of the study are not very promising. Researchers found that BPA had a definite negative impact on the connections between brain cells. According to Medical News Today, these synaptic losses "may cause memory/learning impairments and depression."

So what does that mean for eco-friendly businesses?

First, it's important to keep in mind that most humans are not exposed to levels of BPA as high as the ones seen in this study. However, researchers are quick to point out that BPA exposure occurs over the entire lifetime of a human, as opposed to a short 28-day period. This means synaptic losses and other negative effects accumulate as people age. Either way, if your business uses promotional water bottles for marketing purposes, it makes sense to switch to BPA-free products to cater to the growing demands of the eco-conscious market.

In the coming months, you are likely to see a huge demand for BPA-free water bottles. Luckily, there are plenty of promotional products available to help you meet this demand.

You're still using plastic?

Take a look at these funny reusable shopping totes. Each one of the eco-friendly bags is imprinted with an environmental message. The choice is between "You're still using paper?" and "You're still using plastic?"

You can create similar promotions for your business by having eco-friendly tote bags imprinted with a message of your choice. It can be proactively "green" like the messages featured on these bags, or you can simply stick with your company name and logo to show your commitment to eco-conscious lifestyles and business practices.