SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
The Canadian Plastics Industry conducted a commission to study reusable bags and found problems with them. Hmmm … anyone really surprised? No? Me neither.
Here’s a portion of what the plastics industry in Canada found:
The Canadian Press (May 20, 2009)
TORONTO — The growing popularity of reusable grocery bags could pose a health risk to Canadians by increasing their exposure to dangerous bacteria, says a study commissioned by the plastics industry released Wednesday.
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association hired two independent labs to conduct what it said was the first study of so-called eco-friendly grocery bags in North America, and found 64 per cent of them were contaminated with some level of bacteria.
Forty per cent of the reusable bags tested had yeast or mould, and some had detectable levels of coliforms and fecal intestinal bacteria when there should have been none, said Dr. Richard Summerbell, who was commissioned to evaluate the lab findings.
Need I say that findings paid for by the Canadian Plastics Industry and used to discredit reusable bags is suspect at best? Want more?
[…]
The study also warned of other potential health problems if the reusable bags are used to carry gym clothes or diapers in addition to groceries, (say what?) which could lead to exposure to the superbug called community-acquired MRSA (methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
I don’t know about you, but it never occurred to me to use or consider using that same reusuable bag for groceries, dirty diapers, nasty gym shoes, or other nefarious and germ laden items.
This boys ‘n girls is junk science at its best … its paid for best.
If the reusable bags produce bacteria then it is an education issue. Once you educate the users about washing the bag regularly and keeping it clean, you no longer will have any bacteria.
It seems like the plastic industry wants to just find anything that can help win the lost battle.
Go Green!
http://www.iecycle.org/blog
Research proves promotional Cotton bag as most economical & effective branding strategy
Among various marketing tools, promotional cottons bags with company’s artwork & name has been proven very effective and result oriented. Also, it is very cost effective and environment friendly option. Here are some interesting findings and few reasons for these promotional cotton bag to be proven so successful.
Online PR News – 26-July-2009 – All of us realize the importance of promoting & creating brand awareness or spreading out the noble cause of your non-profit organization, especially in these trying times, through unique promotional tools that are not only cost effective but also capture the right mind space
Lately, majority of companies & organizations are using cotton made shopping bags with their organization’s logo & message as a Top of the Mind Approach and joining the ‘Go Green’ band wagon, which has proven to be very effective and result oriented. It is also an extremely cost effective and environment friendly option. Your Organization’s logo and name can be printed on these bags which will help you not only promote & spread out your noble cause but also build goodwill.
According to a new research study conducted by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), among businesspeople over age 21, revealed that advertising specialties beat out all forms of TV, radio and print advertising as the most cost-effective advertising medium available. The average cost-per-impression of an advertising specialty item is $0.004, making it less expensive per impression than nearly any other media. According to Nielsen Media data, says the report, the CPI for a national magazine ad is $0.033; a newspaper ad is $0.0129; a prime time TV ad is $0.019; a cable TV ad is $0.007; a syndicated TV ad is $0.006; and a spot radio ad is $0.005.
Among key findings, results indicate that:
* 84% of people remember the advertiser on a product they receive
* 42% have a more favorable impression of an advertiser after receiving an advertising specialty
“Using cotton bags for promotions is probably the quietest and the loudest way for a company or a organization to make a value rich statement about itself. At a low cost and with an aesthetically pleasing subtlety”
* 24% indicate that they are more likely to do business with an advertiser on items they receive
* 62% of respondents have done business with the advertiser on a product after receiving it
81% of all promotional products were kept because they were considered useful. Guess what’s considered most useful? Bags, of course!
Here are few reasons why promotional cotton Bags are most economical & effective branding strategy for small business and not-for profit organizations.
1. Walking Billboard – Promotional cotton bags get re-used as many as 500 times. Every time it gets re-used it acts as a walking billboard for sponsor’s brand or for thier message. In addition to just doing a passive reminder job like other stuff – for example a billboard – can, it also makes a proactive statement that the consumer or client who is carrying their bag endorses their decision to use a cotton bag as a promo device rather than some flippant giggle-once-and-throw-away thing.
2. Save the Environment – Also, it would be part of the environmental movement by reducing/stopping use of plastic bags and substituting them with eco-friendly cotton bags. These bags will help build goodwill and foster deeper relationships between your members by showing them that company or organizations cares about protecting the environment
3. Promotional Tool – Whether it’s a product or a service brand promoting, or an event, a fund raiser or a rock show, the same logic applies: Do stuff your audiences respect you for. Shows that their actions prove their attitude.
promotional Bags will help reach potential members easily and keep your organization and its noble cause top-of-mind as your current member will use them in their day to day lives.
4. Cost Effective – In times these difficult times where marketing budgets are low, especially for non-profit organization, promotional cotton bags are proven to be a cost effective option that fits to most of small business and not-for profit organizations.