The world is rapidly changing, and promotional gifts are not indifferent to this change. The global pandemic and the climate crisis are mobilizing the economy and legislation of countries towards a common goal of sustainability, which will affect all aspects of our lives.
The Legislation on Plastics
More and more countries are legislating against non-reusable plastics. The European partners are banning single-use plastics in 2021, which is expected to lower 22 billion euros the environmental bill.
Some products will disappear completely: plastic cutlery, straws, cotton swabs made of plastic… And for those that will remain, the impact on the environment will be transferred to the companies.
This is making all companies rethink their position on waste consumption. How does it affect us? Where can we improve? What processes are involved and how do we change them?
Sourcing paper responsibly
Still, paper comes from trees, and forests are a limited resource with great impact in the environment. Europe is implementing policies of rational use of forests, protecting them and controlling trees extraction.
Manufacturers have now the opportunity to obtain their raw materials from sustainable sources thanks to the FSC standards. For example, upon request Grifoll can supply promotional gifts with a traceable and sustainable source thanks to its FSC chain certificate. A compromise that will add value to a brand proposal.
More and more loyalty programs and promotional campaigns are turning into FSC items. Wonderful ideas are reaching the market. We are redescovering paper as a highly customizable raw material, with thousands of solutions ready to be discovered. From traditional collectibles wrapped in a paper polybag to triptycs ready to unfold their unique proposals.
In the beginning of the digital era, we are discovering that digital actions need physical supports. And that support is paper.
Reinventing Paper
In the promotional sector, new solutions are being developed to cover this growing demand on plastic reduction. Plastic wrapping was traditionally preferred because its visual impact was higher, and so was the perceived value. For a very low cost, marketers were able to offer an attractive gift in their loyalty programs / promotional campaigns.
But those values are changing, and consumers are looking for brands committed to save the environment. Whenever singlewrapping is required, plastic is being substituted by a paper solution.
In this complex world, one might end up asking whether paper is more sustainable than plastic. Well, in this case the answer is easy: regular paper can be recycled up to 7 times (plastic usually only 1), needs less resources to be produced, and it is biodegradable.
Also, paper is lightweight (lower logistic impact), and it allows a higher level of personalization while remaining recyclable.
If your purchasing habits are increasingly oriented towards sustainable solutions, Grifoll is focusing all its innovation on developing recyclable, responsible and reusable promotional gifts. Contact us and find out how we can help you.
