BAGS OF ALTERNATIVES

Whilst the ubiquitous plastic carrier bag has been the most written about type of bag in the national and promotional press recently, let’s not lose sight of the fact that it’s just one of the many bag options on offer for promotional purposes. In this feature we also look at shopping bags, computer bags and travel bags. All of these have a longer life, and therefore a longer branding opportunity, than the plastic carrier bag, which has been so lambasted in the press of late.

However, there’s no getting away from it, carrier bags are with us to stay, even though, quite rightly, we are being urged to use environmentally-friendly versions. So let’s start with a look at the dilemma’s facing those sourcing alternative carrier bags.

GETTING CARRIED AWAY WITH CARRIER BAGS
As plastic carrier bags become somewhat of a taboo subject, promoters are turning to cotton and jute bags, which have a longer life. David Cowell, Director of London-based Promo2u, a company specialising in sourcing and supplying promotional gifts, advises caution when sourcing bags to meet a brief for an eco and or environmentally-friendly carrier bag. He says, “In line with current trends, many of our customers are looking for eco-friendly promotional bags. The bags mainly supplied in this area are made from cotton or jute and are imported from India and China. However, there are very few importers/manufacturers who are able to provide us with documented evidence that their environmental and ethical policies are enforced and in some extreme cases they cannot show that they have them at all.” So, lesson one is: thoroughly check your supply chain. It could be more than just red faces if your customer is found to be using products that do not conform to their eco, environmental or ethical code, as many major brand names have found out, the latest in the spotlight being Primark.

However, it is possible to trace the source and this bag, from Promo2u, is made from eco-friendly cotton, dyed by hand, printed by hand and the only part of the manufacturing process which is done by machinery is the sewing of the bag (after printing). David says he is happy to open up his company’s supply chain to customers so that they can audit the company’s main production facility in India, to satisfy themselves that it is run on an ethical and moral basis where the workers are paid a salary, work a maximum 48 hour week and there are medical and education funds in place to take care of the physical and mental welfare of both the workers and their families.

David also tells us that he is looking to source a recycled shopper manufactured in Europe (preferably the UK). If you can help, get in touch via www.promo2u.com

Carole Bull
Editor Promo e-news