Posted on 23rd January 2023
by Jacqui Vear
On 14th January, the Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey announced a ‘far-reaching ban on single-use plastics in England’, which comes into force in October 2023. Here’s a link to the press release from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
The ban will include single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers.
This action is vital to protecting the environment for future generations. It follows successful outcomes from a ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds in October 2020.
There is an opportunity to raise the profile of your brand whilst helping your contacts adjust their lifestyles to these changes. Whether a gift for your team, or a giveaway for your contacts, we have some quality, practical and reusable items within our curated range of sustainable corporate gifts.
Reusable cutlery
The Government’s press release cited plastic cutlery as being in the top 15 most littered items in the country by count in 2020.
Here are a couple of recommended products that look stylish and are ready to be personalised with your brand and message.
A spork is a hybrid form of cutlery, combining a fork and spoon with a serrated edge that will help to cut items, without being sharp. The product has a large branding area at 54 x 19mm and is personalised via a full colour digital print. The minimum order quantity is just 100 units.
These sporks are made in the UK from revolutionary recycled polymers, which are treated with a biodegradable additive. The material has been tested to ISO 15985 and has ASTM B5511 certification. They are designed to be reused for a long period of time. However, if the product is ever discarded and destined for landfill, the biodegradable additive will respond to a natural environment rich in microorganisms and the spork with biodegrade quicker than plastic.
They are available in four subdued colours that have a subtle grain, only reinforcing the sustainable origins of the product.
Click here to enquiry about this spork.
If you have space in your lunch bag or laptop bag, this bamboo travel cutlery set is practical, tacticle and a bit of a game changer. It includes a spoon, fork, knife, straw and cleaning brush for the straw. They are presented in a canvas travel pouch which can be printed in one spot colour, to a print area of 35 x 20mm. The utensils can be engraved and will also decompose when in a composting environment.
Click here to enquire about this bamboo travel cutlery set.
Balloon holders
If you’re representing your organisation at a family event, we know that if you can capture the attention of the children, you’ll be creating an opportunity to engage with their parents / guardians! Balloons and balloon sticks can be great resources, and there are now sustainable options.
Natural rubber latex balloons are biodegradable. Balloons can be quickly printed with your artwork, to promote your brand and message effectively and affordably.
Balloons can be further customised with sustainable balloon sticks. Move over plastic sticks, this product is engineered from cardboard that can be fully recycled in domestic waste streams. The balloon sticks are available in white and a range of standard patterns, or they can be custom printed in full colour to the outer surface area.
Food storage
Snack boxes and lunch boxes, we have multiple sustainable options to offer you! There are a range of materials on offer, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and recycled polypropylene. Let us know the number of personalised items that you’d like to reflect your brand. Narrow that down with your budget and the application you have in mind and we’ll develop a shortlist of product recommendations for you.
We’re here to help with your promotional projects. A far-reaching ban on single-use plastics is cause for relief. Let’s reduce, reuse, recycle and rejoice! There are some lovely, brandable product options to support this transition.
