What's on the horizon for eco-friendly products? By Heidi Thorne The eco-friendly product world continues to evolve. Since staying on top of what’s happening in this arena is critical for my business, I thought I’d share with you some of the trends that I see emerging: Plastics that safely degrade/biodegrade Since petroleum-based plastics can have life spans that run into millennia, I think we will see a preference for degradable and biodegradable products that don’t add to the billions of tons of waste plastic already in existence. You might ask why we can’t just recycle all that plastic. The answer is that we can, but the levels of participation in recycling are still very low. Let’s take plastic bags for example. The Worldwatch Institute reports that each year Americans “throw away” about 100 billion plastic bags; only 0.6 percent is recycled. Since it’s usually easier to change a product than it is to change behaviors, attention has turned to degradable and biodegradable plastics, which can degrade in as little as 10 years or less, breaking down into substances that are more earth-friendly than standard plastics. However, there are some concerns about the risks of corn-based plastics emitting methane as they biodegrade. Additionally, if people throw biodegradable plastics in the same bin with petroleum-based plastics, the recycling of the petroleum-based plastic can become contaminated. To address these issues, there is a new plastic called Oxo-biodegradable, which can be safely added to standard plastic recycling streams without contaminating them, provided it is not already in an advanced degraded state. It is “degradable,” meaning it doesn’t need microorganisms to begin degrading, as would be necessary for “biodegradable” products. Heat and sunlight are the prime elements needed to trigger the degrading process. Though not required, the presence of microorganisms speeds the process. Oxo-biodegradable material does not emit methane in landfills and only takes about two years to degrade. I just used this material for a client bag order and there is little difference in look and handling between the Oxo-biodegradable and standard petroleum-based plastics. I think we will also see the development of even more degradable plastic-like substances over time. Closing the green loop For those products that are not safely or easily biodegradable, we will see movement towards “closing the green loop.” In other words, products will be built for easy disassembly to be used in other products or recycled into new material. With low rates of recycling participation, it will take a large and sustained effort, and mostly likely governmental intervention, to make this a reality. Manufacturers and retailers are beginning to institute “take back” programs. Companies selling in Europe already must comply with take back regulations, which require manufacturers to handle the disposal of products after consumers are done using them. No doubt, if you know you’re going to have to deal with a product after it leaves your doors, and have to deal with its disposal, you’ll think pretty carefully about what you’re offering. Made in the USA Surprisingly, a large portion of the eco-friendly promotional products I encounter in my business are made overseas, which, ironically, is less environmentally friendly. So buying local, or at least domestically, is one way to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Also, concerns over product safety from foreign products have led to a renewed interest in “made in the USA” Fair trade Running parallel with the eco-friendly movement is the push for fair trade, which prohibits the use of child, forced and prison labor prevalent in much of the developing world. Fair trade policies also are concerned with environmental accountability. Green Labeling With claims of “greenwashing”—saying a product is “green” when either it isn’t or is minimally so—becoming louder, we will definitely see a push for green labeling standards for products. Right now it is all over the map in terms of certifications, with some coming from governmental agencies such as Energy Star and USDA Organic, and others coming from prominent associations such as Fair Trade Certified and Forest Stewardship Council. Heidi Thorne is president of Thorne Communications in Lombard. She is a promotional products marketing consultant, who educates small- to mid-sized business owners and associations on ways to become more eco-friendly and socially conscious in their promotional product choices through her free weekly e-newsletter PWP (Promo With Purpose) Today. Visit www.thornecommunications.com to subscribe.

Posted on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (Archive on Wednesday, November 25, 2009) Posted by jstoltz  Contributed by jstoltz

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