Before the single-use plastic shopping bag ban was rolled out last summer, it’s estimated that the average Kiwi was using 154 of them a year. Across the whole population, that added up to 750 million bags a year, with many ending up in landfills or polluting the seas, where they make up an estimated 80 to 85 per cent of marine litter.
Thankfully there are now loads of eco-friendly alternatives available, which are better for you and the environment. Here’s a few of the very best.
Promotional Jute Bags
It might not be a household name, but jute is one of the most affordable natural fibres. Only cotton is produced in larger volumes and for more uses. Jute is a bast fibre, which means it is made from fibres collected from the phloem of the plant. It is similar to other bast fibre fabrics, including hemp, flax, and kenaf. This means it is biodegradable, and therefore a great alternative to plastics.
Jute bags come in a specific range of sizes and volumes, but can be fully customised with your branding.
Custom Cotton Calico Bags
These popular bags are made from plain woven cotton, and are extra environmentally friendly because they use far fewer chemicals than more processed fabric options. They are long-lasting and durable, and can be made in a range of sizes.
Cotton calico bags look great when branded and make for very popular marketing giveaways.
Logo Branded Backpacks
You might not consider backpacks a traditional eco-friendly choice, but if you use your backpack in place of single-use plastic bags, you’re making a difference. And plenty of people already do use backpacks on a daily basis, from students to office workers to gym-goers, backpacks get you an awful lot of marketing space if properly branded.
We’ve got a huge range of backpacks available, so there’s bound to be something that will suit your next eco-friendly campaign.
