Well, according to this recent study, prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, a chemical found in most polycarbonate water bottles, makes girls aggressive. Previous studies have also claimed that exposure to BPA slows down synapses, which, if proven true, will explain why some of us are a little, uh, slow and on the chubby side. (Does this mean we should let mean people get off the hook?) While these claims need stronger proof to back them up, I think it's but wise to be on the safe side and make sure your sports bottle is BPA free. (Doesn't hurt to be safe. Ask your mom.) So the next time you call your Branders rep to order some logo-imprinted sports bottles for your next promotion, make sure you ask for the BPA-free ones. Check out our BPA-free drinkware selection

Dear Celine, We're a canned food manufacturer, and we're looking for some recycled promotional home items that we could give out as an Earth special thing. You got any green ideas? I thought you'd never ask! Since you're a canned food manufacturer, I thought this promotional beverage can opener (as low as $0.52) would be a good fit for your industry. What makes this promotional home item eco-friendly is that it's made from recycled electronics: materials from TVs, computers, printers, mobile phones, CD and DVD players, TV remote control and other handheld electronic devices have been recycled to make new items like this promotional can opener. Remember that when you buy this item within April, Branders will have a seedling planted in your name. Find out more here. More, more promotional eco-friendly promotional items here. Don’t miss out on these special subscriber-only promos! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

America's national forests have been damaged by wildfire, and the National Forest Foundation's tree-planting efforts aim to recover these millions of acres through its tree-planting efforts. You can do your share in helping restore our national forests. For every purchase you make from our eco-friendly selection, Branders will donate an amount to the NFF for a seedling to be planted in your name. The seedlings will be planted in areas where the NFF has ongoing tree-planting projects, including San Bernardino National Forest, eaten up by the Butler II burn; the Plumas National Forest, which has been damaged by the Moonlight fire; the Huron-Manistee National Forest, where Kirtland Warbler nesting habitat restoration is going on; and longleaf pine restoration at the Ocala National Forest. We all may not live long enough to see these seedlings grow tall, but it's a good feeling to know that our kids and grandkids will be inheriting an Earth that is in a much better condition. That's a priceless legacy. Shop our eco-friendly promotional items now. Want to order? Call your Branders rep at 877-BRANDERS. Be part of the loop!You can get subscriber-only discounts on promotional items when you sign up with the Branders newsletter.

Last year's Earth Hour was a good exercise in getting people to understand the impact of global warming. If you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of Earth Hour, it's a movement that started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Its objective was simple: to let the whole world know that collection action can change the world. In 2007, 2.2 million homes and businesses joined in by turning off their lights and appliances for one hour. Earth Hour went global in 2008, with 50 million people across 35 countries switching off their lights in support. This year, Earth Hour aims to reach 1 billion people across 1,000 cities worldwide. Organizers hope these 1 billion votes will be heard at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this year, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. Your vote against climate change matters. It's simple, just switch off all lights and appliances in your home/office on March 28, 2009, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. You can take your concern for the environment a step further by becoming more conscious in your choices of promotional items. If you're launching a product, building brand visibility, or increasing sales, and looking for promotional items to help you achieve your ...

Tomorrow's Valentine's Day! What have you got planned? Valentine's Day is traditionally an occasion for us to show affection for other people, but if you'd rather not buy into this commercialized holiday, how about celebrating your love for the Earth on Valentine's Day by giving out promotional environmental giveaways? That's hitting two birds with one stone: not only do you build rapport with customers, but you're also doing the environment a good turn. If you're looking for unique earth-friendly or recycled giveaway products for a promotional event, Valentine's or not, you can find them here. Get subscriber-only discounts on promotional items when you sign up with the Branders newsletter.

We always talk about going green, but do we really practice it? According to a recent article on Fast Company.com, 44 percent of 10,000 consumers surveyed say they wanted to give green gifts for the holiday, and about 50 percent said they were willing to pay a little more for these items. However, the reality doesn't reflect these figures at all. As Saabira Chaudhuri reports, it's similar to having these New Year resolutions and dropping out after a month of trying. We've seen a number of companies who consistently try to implement eco-friendly practices, even to their choice of giveaways, like a Branders client, Treadwell & Rollo, Inc., a certified green business that offers geotechnical, environmental, and earthquake engineering services. We've blogged about the company before, mentioning its corporate program that aims to encourage employees to cut down on waste by replacing paper cups with reusable promotional mugs. In another event, Treadwell's marketing coordinator Meredith White ordered these 1G promotional bamboo USB flash drives (as low as $10.50) for an environmental law conference last October. Meredith says she chose this promotional item because of its casing, which was made of bamboo, a natural renewable source. "The principals of our company think [the ...

Actions say much about our character and help establish our identity, and this goes the same for corporations and personalities. Consistency in messaging is important. How will a company (or a personality, for that matter) gain the trust of supporters if it says one thing and does another? Take the case of Hollywood actor Gwyneth Paltrow, who was recently criticized for allowing herself to be photographed with a real fur stole. Paltrow, who is a vegetarian, quickly made a public apology to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals saying she was unaware of the stole's make. [Read the back story from PETA.] Branders client Treadwell & Rollo, Inc. knows consistency too well. The company, which offers geotechnical, environmental, and earthquake engineering services, is a certified green business and does its best to incorporate eco-friendly practices, down to its choice of giveaways. Searching for corporate gifts and employee incentives, Treadwell marketing coordinator Meredith White chose the Tech Tumbler for its quality and reusability. "Treadwell & Rollo is a green business, so we like our promos to be green. These promotional mugs help cut down on waste," Meredith says. Treadwell also had a special informative poster made to illustrate how a reusable mug helps cut ...

In a recent survey, we asked Branders customers what products they wanted to go on sale, and this red aluminum sports bottle topped the list. And because Christmas is fast approaching and we wanted to give you all a treat, you can get this sports bottle for only $3.68 until November 28, 2008. Target's Jennifer Strangis tells us these promotional sports bottles were a hit when the company did a back-to-college marketing campaign. "Target handed out over 25,000 of Branders' red aluminum bottles to help eliminate plastic bottle usage around campuses. They were a huge hit!" Jennifer shares. Read her full-length product review here. Find out what other sale items we have in the bag.

As much as I try my best to be as environment-friendly as I can, as someone who writes and works with ideas, I just cannot seem to give up paper products. I absolutely cannot have enough notebooks! To give you an idea of the extent of my notebook addiction, imagine this: I have a lined Moleskine leather journal, a pocket-size reporter notebook for story ideas, a Kraft-cover pocket-size cahier, a mini lined notebook for my grocery lists and other reminders, and a slightly used Rhodia notebook for those times when I just feel like using it. I know, it's extravagant and, oh, very un-green. Will I ever stop using paper to pursue the sustainable lifestyle? I don't have to, thanks to these promotional recycled notebooks and notepads to assuage my paper-addicted self. Yes, Virginia. You can have your custom notebooks and write on them while pursuing the eco-friendly lifestyle. Here are some nature-loving, creativity-sparking custom paper products that lets you go green: Promotional Post-its made with recycled paper (30% post-consumer content) let you stick reminders everywhere sans the guilt. It's a great giveaway that's a must-have both at home and in the office. A 4x6-inch version comes in white, canary, yellow, or spring green. This ...

With a long season of gift giving coming up beginning September, I thought it would be good to reflect on how businesses choose corporate gifts. Are these presents given much thought? What factors affect the decisions of choosing gifts? Are they chosen based on value, practicality, or fashion? Does the company's ethos come into play as well? Corporate social responsibility seems to be the fashion these days. Sometimes I can't help but think, Is this company supporting this charity or espousing as a public relations move or does it sincerely mean the gesture? So what makes for responsible and sustainable giving? Let us count the ways: Environmental impact. Corporate gifts and promotional items that are reusable, made from recycled materials, energy-efficient, organic, and sustainable can certainly convey your message and yet not take away from the planet. (And while we're at it: Remember to factor in the gift wrapping.) Ethics. Yes, a fur coat or an ostrich bag may seem extravagant and impressive, and perhaps it'll seal a business contract, if not further strengthen client relations. But at what cost? Do animals have to die for you to get a million-dollar deal? Humanity. Some corporate gifts may involve child labor or exploitation. By buying ...