The Worldwatch Institute claims Americans as a whole toss 100 billion plastic bags per year – less than 1 percent of which are recycled.  And considering the effect all those bags have on marine life, landfills and the environment, concern for the future of our planet is causing people to take a second look at alternatives to the plastic bag.  (Read more about this on Livestrong.com)

One of those alternatives is the age-old brown kraft bag.  Except in today’s eco-conscious world, more and more of those trusty carriers of our school lunch and weekly groceries are made from 100% recycled paper.  They are reusable, recyclable and biodegradable, and available in all shapes and sizes.  Of particular interest for the corporate buyer, the imprint area is large enough to carry a full color logo plus a tag line or corporate marketing message.

Consider the number of bags distributed at industry trade shows and community outreach programs.  Then consider the message you send to the recipient when you hand out your literature or product give-aways in a creatively designed paper shopper.  Regardless of the industry, more consumers are paying attention to the providers who ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to business practices around sustainability.  In 2009, 47 percent of consumers said they bought products from a socially or environmentally responsible company. Going into 2010, 76 percent of all consumers said they expected to purchase more from environmentally responsible companies  (Tiller, 2009).

In light of all the benefits of using paper bags, the choice of paper or plastic becomes an easy one!  Try it at your next corporate event!

(Image via Bag Makers)