Going Green – Eco-Friendly Custom Print Bag Options for Retailers

In recent months, it seems that the trend of "going green" - living in an environmentally friendly way - has caught on with mainstream America. Clorox has started advertising green cleaning supplies. Paper towels and toilet paper made of recycled paper are cropping up on store shelves. Car companies are advertising hybrid vehicles, and celebrities boast about their extravagant eco-friendly lifestyles.

As a practical retailer, joining the green trend may seem too expensive or too difficult. You care about the environment, but you don't have the time to install solar panels, grow grass on your roof, or conserve water with fancy plumbing. However, "going green" can be as simple as changing the store bags you use.

Enhance your image

Consider how many store bags go through your doors every day. Dozens? Hundreds? By changing to eco-friendly custom print bags, you can help the environment, and also brand yourself as an environmentally conscious retailer. Like businesses, consumers are starting to recognize the ecological benefits of green lifestyles. They'll be more apt to do business with a company that shares their philosophy.

Saying your company has "gone green" is one thing. Showing your commitment to the environment with every custom print bag that leaves your store is quite another.

Eco-friendly options for custom print bags

Paper bags usually come to mind first when people think of eco-friendly bags. Paper certainly has built a good reputation for itself over the years. Paper bags are both biodegradable and recyclable, making them a very good choice for the green retailer.

Some suppliers like BagsontheNet.com offer paper bags incorporating 30 percent to 50 percent recycled content on a regular basis at no additional cost. If you decide to go 100 percent recycled paper in your custom print bags, talk to your bag supplier about options. And yes, that 100 percent recycled content bag will cost a little bit more.

Plastic bags, on the other hand, have built a negative reputation because, until recently, they have been non-biodegradable. If custom print plastic bags are a necessity for your business, discuss with your bag supplier the many options that are available.

Some of these options include using 100 percent recycled plastic for your store bags, or purchasing plastic bags with an additive that makes them biodegradable. You could even institute a recycling program right in your store. All of these options keep your business eco-friendly without limiting you to paper bags or the more expensive reusable bags.

Challenges with eco-friendly bags

The biggest challenge retailers will face with eco-friendly custom print bags is the cost. Unfortunately, eco-friendly bags tend to cost a little more than regular custom print bags.

Factors influencing the cost of your custom print bag are the size of your products going into the store bags, the percentage of ink printed on the bags, and the number of colors printed on the bag. Store owners can lower their cost for store bags by ordering in larger quantities, taking advantage of price breaks. For paper users, instead of going with 100 percent recycled paper bags, use less expensive recycled paper bags with 30 percent to 50 percent recycled material.

Overall, the costs for going green are small. Consider it an investment in future generations, and an immediate investment in customer goodwill toward your company.

Help the environment one bag at a time

By becoming a green business, you open yourselves to some great opportunities. For one, you will be doing your part to help the environment and maintain the planet for your children and grandchildren. You will attract more environmentally conscious consumers, which can give you an edge over your competition.

Choose eco-friendly custom print bags today and create a new name and image for your business.

About the Author:
Want to go green today? Visit BagsOnTheNet for a free quote on eco-friendly custom print bags.

Iran Schwartz is the president of BagsOnTheNet, an online bag supplier. They've helped clients as diverse as the WWE, Rosemount Wine and WestPoint Stevens to fulfill their bagging needs, including custom bags and printing on tight deadlines. Visit them online at http://www.bagsonthenet.com to see how they can help you.