It is always great news to hear that corporations large and small, are doing whatever they can to make a difference to our planet and the environment we all live in. Actually it is even better when those companies are small companies, highlighting the fact that it does not take a lot of money, nor resources to do what we can to help the situation.

If we look around society today we can clearly see the numerous ways in which people abuse our environment. Every day we see more and more people conducting business and their personal lives in such a way that is detrimental to our environment, and this is even more reason for the other, more responsible and caring people, do what they can to combat that negative impact.

One of the latest concerns to hit the world stage is the use of “plastic shopping bags” as opposed to environmentally friendly, reusable bags. The effect these plastic shopping bags has on our environment is tremendous, and we need to be doing everything we can to replace this habit with something less harmful.

As reported prviously, the use of natural fiber in the production process of reusable shopping bags is a great benefit to our environment. We now see supermarkets and grocery stores, removing plastic bags altogether from their stores in favour of fabric bags that can be used over and over again by shoppers. There are also stores that have not gone to this extent yet, but instead are imposing tarrifs on the use of the plastic shopping bags. These can range from 5 cents to 20 cents per bag, and the idea is to discourage shoppers from using them.

It is about time we all realised the importance of protecting our waterways, and our parks, landfill, etc. Every day there is clear evidence of these plastic shopping bags getting into drains, the ocean, creeks and waterways. We see them floating around the street in the breeze, and we see many animals injured or killed as a result of careless disposal of the bags.

To shop with the confidence of knowing that the bag you use, is environmentally friendly, is a truly great step in the right direction. When you know that the store or company you bought your bag/s from is also doing whatever it can to protect the environment, by supporting environmental projects, this is even better. If we all do what we can, this planet we all live on, will return in some way to the glory it once presented, and we will all be able to hold our heads high, in that – we did what we could to make this a better place for our children, and their children, etc.

Today it could be that you change your pattern, to throw away all of the plastic shopping bags you have, and vow never to use them again. Today may be the day you decide that you will use environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags, to help improve our planet. If today is your day, I congratulate you on that decision.

A company known as Identity Links has been focusing on the “Going Green” issue and believes that corporations need to be not only promoting its products and services, but also its commitment to our planet. With this in mind the company has introduced a new eco-friendly material to the promotional products buyer, “Jute”.

An all natural material made entirely from plant fibers’, has more uses than cotton. Entirely durable and a prime eco-friendly, it is reusable for many years. The range comes in several different color combinations, and is only one of the many wonderfully chic eco-friendly bags. This bag can serve many purposes: purse, shopping bag, grocery bag, conference bag, etc.

Other preferred Textile Fibers’

Natural plant fibers’ such as Cotton, Flax, Hemp, & Jute

Whereas Nylon and polyester man made fibers’ can be discarded, but as we are now very aware, their disposal is more damaging to the environment than other more natural products. We are therefore left with a number of options to consider.

Plant Fibers’ of which all are 100% biodegradable. In this article we will look more closely at just one option.

COTTON is a soft unicellular hair fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. It is a tropical plant which is native to more than 60 countries of which China is the largest producer followed by America.

Cotton can be woven or knitted. It can also be turned into flannel, corduroy, muslin, and a variety of other fabrics used so universally that the American Cotton Council uses “the fabric of our lives” as a tag line.

Cotton also carries environmental controversy, particularly in the developing world, where dangerous pesticides are heavily employed. Cotton is subject to infestation, and therefore many growers heavily douse the plant in pesticides that are harmful to human and animal health, as well as herbicides to eliminate competition for resources.

A number of producers also genetically modify the plant, which many outside the industry view as a questionable practice. Cotton also has very large water requirements, which may place stress on nations with limited water resources. The processing of cotton is also a lengthy and complex process involving washing, boiling and bleaching all of which require temperature control. The finishing processes also involve starching and further chemical treatment. As a result, the production of cotton is heavily criticized for its damaging impact on the environment.

In the late 20th century, there was a push for organic, sustainable cotton grown and harvested without the use of pesticides and human exploitation. This cotton is significantly more expensive than conventionally farmed cotton, however, and may not be practical for most consumers.

A lot of things change when it comes to trends these days, but this much is certain: uniqueness will always be appreciated. To the average individual as well as to a respected multinational conglomerate, even something as insignificant in the grand scheme of things as a bag can make a difference. Marketing is everything these days. You may want to market yourself or you may want to market your business: ultimately, the originality factor will end up playing an extremely important role.

The concept of creating a personalized item has definitely started to become more and more popular. The personalized concept of “Be a Bag” has captured the attention of not only those who are bag lovers, but also those who would like to take advantage of items with a personal touch, in general. Anya Hindmarch’s “Be a Bag” project certainly paved the way for thousands of people to feel like a bag really belongs to them through this concept, and that is something she clearly deserves credit for.