According to some, they are "more expensive, lower quality and limited in range compared with the traditional alternative". You'd like to buy them but you cannot at the moment. You have to wait until the cost difference has gone and the quality is as good...

Is that your view of environmentally friendly products? Is this the reason why you are not taking up the green option when buying promotional merchandise?

If so, there are many like you - potential buyers who have these misconceptions about such products.

It is a widespread state of mind that is limiting the use of green alternative products even by those who want to buy them. And it is, I'm pleased to say, no longer true. Prices have dropped, quality has improved and the range is no longer limited.

We have more than 150 items in our standard range from clothing and electronics, to bags and outdoor fun items. We also include the regulars - writing instruments, lanyards and desktop accessories to mention just a few.

They are no longer more expensive - in fact, around 90 per cent of products are around the same price as the mainstream version. Recycled pencils printed in one colour are priced from 9p upwards, while pens start at less than 10p, printed.

The idea that all you can buy are writing pads made from recycled paper, pens from recycled plastic and pencils, is one that's out of date.

Stylish, modern clocks (some of which are water powered), caps made from recycled bottles and cotton and even golf accessories created with recycled materials, are some of the latest products available.

The environmental products sector of the promotional merchandise market now offers quality and design at competitive pricing. Turn around times of orders are also much shorter.

We already offer a three and five day service and will soon launch a next day dispatch offer on many of our more popular items. Companies like ours can now also hold greater quantities of stock in the UK to ensure fast turn rounds and repeat orders.

Regardless, we still see, sadly, that the out-of-date reputation is prevalent. Many people also think that making recycled products (most obviously paper) is worse for the environment than producing the virgin alternatives.

Frankly, this is nowadays a myth as we have new and improved manufacturing techniques. That said, developing techniques for manufacturing of new items (or old items in new ways) is often less efficient than tried and tested techniques which have been improved over years of production. However without that development in the first place, better techniques cannot be developed and savings for the environment created.

Fortunately, many major organisations, particularly public sector, keen to demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility, are insisting that staff put environmental criteria in tender documents and briefs. This is where and how they are discovering that the price and quality gap has closed significantly.

The only way this is otherwise going to change is if companies ask again for a quotation for the green alternative whenever they are planning promotional and below the line campaigns.

So, check your preconceptions and ask again. 

www.everything-environmental.co.uk

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