With St. Patrick’s Day, spring, and Earth Day all coming in the near future, I’ve got green on the brain. About 2 years ago “going green” was the hot trend in promotional advertising and the rest of the business world. However, in the aftermath of the recession, some are questioning the staying power of the eco-friendly movement.

The fact that the economy tested our commitment toward eco-friendly promotions and sustainability should be no surprise. Price has always been a barrier of entry for going green, so even though businesses believed this emerging trend, with the spotlight no longer on this movement, the value has certainly diminished.

The cost of eco-friendly products doesn’t have to prevent you from using promotional items to go green. The use of a product can be just as eco-friendly as the materials it is made of. The least expensive coffee mug or sports bottle can reduce the consumption of their disposable counterparts in your office. This reduces your costs for waste disposal and purchasing these items over and over again. This simple and sustainable business practice pays for itself and you now have an eco-friendly story to tell.

Of course, using an eco-friendly mug or sports bottle tells a better story, but you have to start somewhere. Feel free to share some of your eco-friendly promotion ideas.