CustomEarthPromos - Eco Blog US

For several years, New York City has been discussing the possibility of implementing a plastic bag fee. The aim of this new fee is to encourage recycling, reusable shopping bag use, and to cut down that amount of bags being sent to the landfill. However, a 5-cent fee on disposable plastic bags that was set to go into effect this past October was delayed by the Council until February 15. In a slap in the face to New York City environmentalists, the state Senate passed a bill last month to roll back the city's controversial fee on plastic bags. Brooklyn state Sen. Simcha Felder, a sponsor of the bill, said, “Many families have a hard time just getting by, paying for groceries, rent and heat, and now the mayor wants to shake them down every time they shop just for the privilege of using a plastic bag. Mayor de Blasio, please do not nickel-and-dime New Yorkers with another tax." But Deputy Leader of the New York City Council, Brad Lander, said, "the data shows that low-income people are just as capable as middle-income or high-income people of bringing reusable bags." Disappointed but not surprised that GOP State Senate voted to force NYC to keep wasting billions of plastic bags. Hope Assembly will resist. — Brad Lander (@bradlander) January 17, 2017 Those in favor of the fee system argued that is would cut plastic bag usage by a whopping 60 percent, saving the city $12.5 million in sanitation fees. Despite a lot of support, there was more opposition including lawmakers who want to overturn the ruling. The bill will now head to the State Assembly. If it were to pass the Assembly, it's likely Governor Cuomo would sign it given that the city is pushing for it. You Can Still Be An Advocate for Reusable Shopping Bags While it looks like there isn't an immediate solution to New York City's environmental plastic bag crisis, there are still ways to turn things around. And regardless of what plastic bag laws exist in your area, you always have the opportunity to make a personal impact by saying "no" to plastic bags and becoming an advocate for reusable shopping bags.

Whether you're attending, exhibiting, or planning a trade show or conference, there's one thing everyone at the event will have in common which is trying to stand out from the crowd. With all of the hustle and bustle at major events, reusable trade show bags make a great takeaway, plus attendees will appreciate a bag they can use to store and carry around the promotional materials that they collect from different vendors at the show. Reusable trade show bags are incredibly useful and rarely thrown away, so they'll be sure to leave a lasting impression. Here's how to create trade show bags that will be a real crowd pleaser and get your brand noticed. Create Custom Trade Show Bags If you could dream up any type of bag for your brand, what would it look like? Do you have an image in your mind? Great! Now, let's go create it. Choosing a one-of-a-kind design for your trade show bags will bring more traffic to your booth because let's face it, attendees love free trade show goodies and giveaways. With high-quality graphics and a well-designed bag, you will be getting your brand's message out there in a subtle yet effective way. Don't forget to load your trade show bags with branded, call-to-action promotional materials and offers. Think Outside the Bag Traditional reusable trade show bags are always a hit but if you're looking to really stand out from your competitors, why not create something different? Promo Utility Bags  If you have promotional materials such as leaflets, USBs, business cards, brochures, and magazines that you plan on putting inside the bags, we recommend going for a promotional utility trade show bag. You can customize the design and show off your promo materials on the outside and inside of the bag like this: Cooler Bags  Everyone uses cooler bags whether it be for a picnic, the beach, or lunch, so why not give trade show attendees something they will hold on to for years and possibly use on a daily basis, too. Once you've chosen a style and designed the perfect reusable bag, people will be flocking to your booth in order to get their hands on one of your custom branded trade show bags. Check out our full range of reusable trade show bags, here.

Whether you're a business owner, conference manager, or a marketer, custom reusable bags make ideal promotional pieces for marketing and retail use. Not only do they deliver value, they also deliver a great ROI due to their durability. A customized reusable bag is something that represents your brand and can be used for a long while. When these bags find their way into the hands of your customers and prospects, they essentially become walking billboards for your brand. Customizing a Reusable Bag with a Unique Design  The key to creating a great promotional bag is to customize it. Instead of just slapping your logo on a bag and being done with it, take the time to choose a color and unique design that not only speaks to your brand but becomes something that will appeal to your prospects and customers as well. But don't forget to choose a bag that's appropriate and suitable to your brand. For instance, if you're a wine company, you might want to go with a reusable wine tote that will show off your wine bottles as well as your company name. Once you've finalized your design and the bag's features, you will have built an effective marketing tool your customers will use again and again. Custom Reusable Bags Are Eco-Friendly The other benefit of using a reusable bag for promotional purposes is the fact that it's eco-friendly. Consumers will associate your brand with a sustainable, eco-friendly reusable bag that represents longevity. When you market your brand with custom reusable bags you are eliminating the use of disposable products which helps protect the planet and stops consumers from throwing away your brand (literally). We Can Help You Customize Your Promotional Bags Do you have any questions about our customization process? Do you need help figuring out what type of materials are best for your bag and brand? We'd love to help! Contact us at info@customearthpromos.com

Reusable bags are a great alternative to plastic bags, especially at a time when the environment appears to be having a meltdown (quite literally). With plastic bag bans going into effect globally and stateside, popularity for reusable bags has soared. Not only do they help reduce the amount of waste going into our landfills, we have to admit, they're pretty stylish, too. From grocery bags to organic cotton totes and jute bags, there are reusable bags for every occasion, made from a wide range of fabrics and materials. However, if you forget to clean them, they could harbor harmful bacteria and therefore, become bad for your health. The solution? Treat them like you would your dirty laundry. For the most part, they are easy to clean, so there's really no excuse. Here's how: Canvas Bags  Canvas totes are probably the easiest type of reusable bag to clean. When you feel they are ready to be washed, just throw them in the laundry with some eco-friendly detergent and then run them through the dryer or lay flat to dry. Insulated Grocery Bags  By now, you should be separating your meats from the rest of your groceries by sorting them into different bags. If you don't already do this, we advise you start now if you want to prevent cross-contamination. Insulated grocery bags are ideal for carrying your meats but don't forget to wipe them down after each use with a disinfecting wipe. Recycled Bags  Bags made from recycled materials are also easy to wash. For recycled shopping bags, we suggest hand washing them with warm soapy water and putting them on the line to dry. Now that you have a better idea of just how easy it is to clean your reusable bags, you're probably wondering why you never cleaned them in the first place.

When you've lived a certain way your whole life it can be difficult to shake old habits like using plastic bags for grocery shopping or grabbing plastic water bottles instead of using a reusable water bottle. But that doesn't mean you have to be stuck in your old ways forever. By using reusable products as alternatives to products that are harmful to the environment, green living can be made easy with just a few simple changes. Here are a few reusable items that will have you kicking your old earth-neglecting habits to the curb in no time. Sub Plastic Bottles for Reusable Bottles We already know that making this simple switch will save you money and will simultaneously help protect the environment. But did you know, according to Ban the Bottle, that the energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes? So, if you're serious about green living, invest in a multipurpose reusable bottle that can be used for not only water but coffee and an array of other drinks, too. Sub Plastic Bags for Reusable Bags Perhaps we're biased but reusable bags are our favorite reusable product on the list! They are one of the simplest changes you can make for a more sustainable lifestyle. Just think of how many plastic bags you end up with after a single grocery shop. Now multiply that number by the number of grocery shops you do each year. That's an unnecessary amount of plastic bag waste that could be avoided. And that's not even taking into account other single-use bags such as shopping bags. By investing in several reusable shopping bags that you can keep in the car for grocery shopping or in your handbag for retail shopping, you'll be reducing your personal waste dramatically. Sub Paper Towels for Reusable Towels and Cloths Paper towels are so useful, yet so ungreen for the most part. In fact, each day, over 3,000 tons of paper towel waste is produced in the US alone, according to The Green Divas. To make matters worse, it takes 20,000 gallons of water and 17 trees to make one ton of paper towels. These are staggering statistics considering that the alternatives to paper towels are so accessible.  For instance, for cleaning purposes, cut up some of your old bath towels that can be washed over and over again and use them as rags. Use microfiber cloths for cleaning mirrors and windows. For dinner, use reusable napkins and for everyday spills and messes, try using bar mop towels. These are just a few reusable products that we use every day in place of products that aren't so eco-friendly, however, there is a myriad of reusable products out there that will make green living a lot easier. All you have to do is make some new green habits and stick to them.

With just a few simple changes to the products you use every day, you can save yourself a ton of money over the space of a year. By introducing new green items and products into your life, you'll reduce the amount of energy you use and how much trash you throw away. Here is a short list of 3 green tips that will help you make sustainable lifestyle choices that will not only benefit the planet but keep your wallet fatter, too. And who couldn't use more money, right? 1. Switch to LED Lighting If you switch out your light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can reduce your energy use by 66 percent – plus they will last roughly 10 times longer than an incandescent light bulb. But if you're looking to save even more energy and money, LED lighting is the way to go! Want to see exactly how much you can save? Use this calculator to view the cost benefits of LED bulbs over incandescent bulbs based on where you live. 2. Try a Reusable Water Bottle For just a few dollars, you can purchase a durable reusable water bottle, which would save you hundreds of dollars a year on bottled water. With the recommended eight glasses of water a day, at U.S. tap rates equals about $.49 per year; that same amount of bottled water is about $1,400, according to Ban the Bottle. So, the next time you go to reach for a plastic water bottle, choose a reusable water bottle instead. 3. Make Your Own Home Cleaning Products Commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can not only affect the air you breathe but be harmful to you, your children, and pets. Instead of using Windex for instance, try a mixture of vinegar and water for your windows, glass surfaces, and mirrors. You'll get the same shine but at a lower cost with no harmful toxins. Hop over to the Big Green Purse for a full list of affordable cleaning products and how to make them. Green Tips  Do you have any green tips you can share with our readers? If so, please share them in the comments below.

Who doesn't love the latest must-have gadget? From the new iPhone to the next best, top-rated smart TV, getting your hands on the latest technology is always exciting. But as advancements in technology continue, more and more of the gadgets we use today will become obsolete. In fact, the average mobile customer already owns two unused cell phones in addition to their current mobile device, and only 11 percent of mobiles are recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's data. That's a pretty staggering stat when you consider how quickly new smartphone models are released.   However, mobile phones aren't the only pieces of tech that aren't being recycled. Laptops, monitors, TVs, printers, tablets and other electronic devices have all become what is known as e-waste as soon as they aren't wanted anymore. And e-waste isn't always easy to recycle which is pretty apparent when you look at recent electronic waste records across the globe. In 2014, the amount of e-waste was equivalent to 1.15 million heavy trucks forming a line 14,300 miles long. Though disappointing, these statistics inspired us to share with you, our favorite tips on how to recycle and responsibly dispose of your old gadgets. Make the Most of Corporate Recycling Programs Corporate companies like Staples, Dell, Sprint, Sony, and LG to name just a few of many, make it easy to dispose of old electronic gadgets. Best Buy for instance, takes nearly every type of electronic device including televisions, laptops, cameras, monitors, etc. All you have to do is simply visit your nearest store and drop off your items at the service desk. Sell Old Tech On eBay, Craigslist, or Through Another E-Commerce Company E-commerce companies such as eBay and Craigslist allow for people to sell their used electronics and devices online. Sites like Gazelle and USell were solely developed with this idea in mind. Tip: Before you begin listing your old gadgets for sale, don't forget to wipe your devices clean. Donate Old Gadgets to Non-Profits What could be better than recycling and supporting a good cause at the same time? By donating your old electronic devices to nonprofit ventures, you're essentially recycling them and putting them back into use. There are nonprofits and programs out there dedicated to refurbishing and delivering cell phones and other electronics to those in need.

Not everyone has a green thumb when it comes to gardening but that doesn't mean we can't all try to be greener and there are plenty of eco-friendly ways to do so. Not only do eco-gardeners have the ability to create a more self-sustaining environment, but according to studies, their eco-gardening techniques can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making a positive impact on the slowing of climate change. They can also cut energy use and reduce waste. If you're looking to transform your garden into an eco-friendly oasis, below are some green tips to help get you started. Attract Friendly Bugs That Reduce Harmful Bugs If you detest bugs, that's okay, but it's important to note that some bugs are friendlier than others and can help reduce the population of harmful bugs. Ladybugs and green lacewings, for instance, eat aphids such as the blackfly that are known to destroy crops. Naturally, these friendly bugs help control many different pests, so it's worth growing plants that attract these types of bugs. Birds can also aid your garden from other harmful pests such as snails and slugs. Install bird feeders and nesting boxes that will attract a variety of different birds to take care of this job. Set Up a Compost Bin Composting is one of the easiest ways to kickstart your eco-friendly garden. To set up your compost bin, begin by collecting ingredients that are compostable, items such as coffee grounds, shredded paper, seed paper, weeds, and table scraps. By adding compost to your garden, you're introducing new microorganisms that will prevent plant disease from spreading and promote plant growth. You're essentially reducing your waste and creating an alternative to harmful, chemical-filled fertilizers. Go Organic Another way to create an eco-garden is by going organic. Say goodbye to harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Instead use organic soil, compost, and non-GMO seeds. Install Solar Lighting If you sit out on the patio or in the garden at night, you can reduce your electricity use by changing your lights to solar. Not only with you be benefitting the environment, you'll also save money on your next electricity bill. Do you have any eco-friendly gardening tips to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section below.  

"Environmentalism is not an upper-income issue, it's not a white issue, it's not a black issue, it's not a South or a North or an East or a West issue. It's an issue that all of us have a stake in," Obama shouted back in 2004 at the League of Conservation Voters. “And if I can do anything to make sure that not just my daughter but every child in America has green pastures to run in and clean air to breathe and clean water to swim in, then that is something I'm going to work my hardest to make happen.” People may not realize it but Obama came into office as an environmental crusader. In fact, Obama's environmental activism can be traced back to his undergrad days at Columbia University, during which he tried to convince students in Harlem to recycle. When he became the state senate of Illinois in 1996, he also became a leader on environmental and public-health issues. But perhaps Obama's most impactful environmental moments have occurred while he's been in office. 1. Signed the Paris Agreement Back in September of last year, Obama formally signed the U.S. up to the Paris Agreement, with the goal of cutting global emissions and limiting the impacts of climate change.  Though President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to pull the U.S. out of the agreement, the Obama administration said it would do everything in its power to implement the Paris agreement on global warming before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. 2. Protected Millions of Acres of Wilderness In addition to signing the Paris Agreement, Obama also signed into law the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to protect more than 1,000 miles of rivers and thousands of miles of trails for the National Trails System. It also authorized the 26 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System within the Department of the Interior. 3. Banned Oil-Drilling in the Arctic With chunks of polar ice twice the size of Alaska melting in record heat, Obama's banning of oil drilling in the Arctic couldn't have come at a better time. "These actions, and Canada's parallel actions, protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem that is unlike any other region on earth," Obama said in a statement in December 2016. In coordinating with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on this action, Obama moved to solidify his environmental legacy. Change  Obama's time in the White House might be coming to an end but one thing's for sure, during his Presidency, he stayed true to his slogan, “change,” at least in his commitment to protecting the environment and tackling climate change.

When you think of the battle against global climate change, reducing carbon emissions normally comes to mind. From deforestation to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, there are plenty of human sources we could cut back on to reduce our carbon footprint. However, methane – over a century– is actually 34 times more potent than CO2, but over 20 years, its 84 times more potent.  Researchers Saunois and Jackson with Global Carbon Project are part of a larger team of researchers which track the flows of carbon across the planet – an element found in both carbon dioxide and methane – and publish a global methane report every two years. Concentrations of this gas are spiking, according to their report published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Their analysis shows relative stagnation in the early 2000s with methane concentrations in the atmosphere rising only at about .5 parts per billion per year. But in 2014, they spiked by 12.5 parts per billion and in 2015, they spiked by 9.9 parts per billion. Atmospheric levels of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, are spiking, scientists report https://t.co/VQaXSEKEsM pic.twitter.com/NPmiSmFoyO — Post Green (@postgreen) December 12, 2016 With carbon dioxide levels rising at a slower rate, it's methane we're going to have to keep an eye on in terms of global warming. Reducing Emissions  Domestic oil and gas drilling have attributed to spiking atmospheric methane levels in the past decade. However, new research by the PNAS points to the agricultural sector. Their analysis suggests that reducing meat consumption would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also lower healthcare costs and improve human health. If you struggle with the idea of switching to a plant-based diet, try reducing your red meat intake instead. Poultry products produce fewer emissions per unit of product than that of red meats. So, next time you're at your favorite restaurant, order a chicken sandwich instead of a burger. From meat consumption to improvements in livestock feeding practices, it's apparent that global efforts need to be taken in the agriculture sector if we stand any chance at reducing methane levels and winning the fight against climate change.