Going green is hardly a new trend, but one thing is for sure: This year’s eco-friendly promotional products are fresh, creative and inspiring. They’re not the same old tired ideas—they’re actually new, and we were impressed by the offerings at ASI Orlando.

We spotted several cool options if you’re aiming to promote your business with environmentally responsible items this year. And why wouldn’t you?

More than half (57%) of consumers consider the environmental impact of the products they use, according to an Ipsos poll. Plus, 66% of consumers think companies should support the environment, reveals research from Nielsen.

Ipsos reports that college grads, residents of the Northeast and young adults are the biggest supporters of green products. If you’re targeting these markets, eco-friendly promotional products can have a big impact on your sales.

Here are some trendy promotional ideas from The ASI Show. You can also check out ePromos’ selection of eco-friendly promotional items.

Bamboo is popping up everywhere, and now you can put it to work for your brand with bamboo custom pint glasses. You win from a green standpoint and a marketing standpoint. These glasses are reusable and made from one of the most eco-friendly materials in the world. We love how each cup is a little different, too, with slight variations in color and texture due to the natural properties of the bamboo.

Want something incredibly cool, different and green? You’ll love these hand-crafted custom bowls. They’re gorgeous décor (we’d put one in the office), incredibly eco-friendly (they’re made from recycled bicycle spokes), and they’re customizable. Oh, and they’re made by artisans from Noah’s Ark, an organization that provides healthcare, education and housing in India. Our minds? Blown. What a great way to associate your brand with something uniquely eco-conscious and socially responsible.

These custom planting kits are packed with everything your customers need to start a garden: a pot, soil and seed paper. It’s a creative way to send a message about growth, and it’s also great for springtime campaigns and Earth Day promotions.

Promo know-how tip:

Many companies are promoting a green message (and have been for years), so if you want your eco-friendly promotional products to stand out, choose something new and different. Let our Promotions Specialists help.

Beer and gardening: While they typically don’t go together, they mesh perfectly in Molson Canadian’s new promotion. The beer company is using plantable custom coasters to generate buzz for its Red Leaf Project, an effort to help beautify Canada.

Consumers can pick up specially marked boxes of the brew to snag a promotional coaster, which, when planted and nurtured, will grow into a stately Black Spruce.

This promotional product is a perfect fit for Molson, which is striving for a more sustainable image. The custom coasters boast the company’s signature shades of red, white and blue, and they clearly state the mission of the promotion: To make Canada better, one beer at a time.

Cheers to that.

Promo know-how tip: Many promotional coasters, because of their slim design, are excellent for direct-mail campaigns.

Promotional bags are likely to surge in popularity soon. It’s not because custom bags are useful; it’s because plastic grocery bags are increasingly being banned.
Last week, Los Angeles made history as the largest city in the nation to ban plastic bags. “Plastic harms our environment. It is a threat to the coastal economy. It is a danger to marine life, and it is an unconscionable burden to taxpayers who have to foot the bill for cleanups year after year,” attorney H. David Nahai, a former top executive at the L.A. Department of Water and Power, said in an L.A. Times article.

Paper bags might be next. Paul Koretz, the councilman who pushed for the ban, told the L.A. Times that the prohibition may extend to paper bags in just two years.

Considering that a single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, swapping disposable bags for reusable promotional bags is smart for the environment—and your business.

Compared to other promotional items such as pens or mugs, promotional bags have a sizable imprint area to promote your business, contact info and message. Plus, a promotional bag gets an average of 8,927 impressions. At an average of $15 per bag, the cost per impression is just $0.002.

Here’s another stat for you: The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store. Give your customers a promotional bag. It’s a truly useful, eco-friendly way to promote your brand.

Promo know-how tip: Promotional bags are right on time with the green movement, and they’re the perfect blank canvas for promoting your company. Think about how your customers will use the promotional bag. Will they use it to tote groceries, lunch or their laptop? ePromos has custom bags to serve any purpose.

How do you take your vodka? How about in a promotional water bottle? It’s an unconventional idea, but it’s one that’s getting KRU 82 vodka some serious attention on the shelves.

One liquor outlet in the New York metro area reported that 80 percent of customers wanted to try KRU 82; a normal taste test only attracts about 30 percent of customers. The liquor outlet sold 20 cases in a matter of days. The owner says the packaging is the reason for the swift sales.

With a thick, black strap and a convenient carabiner, the KRU 82 bottle conveys style and outdoorsy appeal. Hikers can pack some glasses and vermouth in their backpacks, and voila: martinis on the slopes.

Or not. It’s just nice to have the option.

This packaging also appeals to the green crowd. It’s 100-percent BPA-free and shatterproof, so users can refill and reuse.

KRU 82 stands out from other vodkas because of its distinctive packaging. So we say: Ditch the proverbial bottle. Dare to mix it up with your packaging.

Promo know-how tip: Presentation matters. Polish your campaign with the right packaging, whether it’s a promotional jute bag or a logoed gift box.

With Earth Day a little more than one month away (April 22nd, 2012), it’s time to start thinking green! Using eco-friendly promotional products benefits the earth by reducing the amount of resources that go into manufacturing your products. Not only will you get some good karma, but you’ll also get the attention of any eco-conscious consumers looking to do business with socially responsible companies. Plus, since many eco-friendly items are reusable, your imprinted message lasts longer than it would with traditional marketing mediums. Here are three green items that are perfect for an Earth Day promotion:

Recycled Non-woven Tote Bag. This legendary promo product gets an eco twist with a sustainable re-design that uses 100% recycled material. You get all of the benefits of a typical tote bag – convenience, usefuless, and big potential for brand exposure – as well as the green benefits of advertising with a recycled product. This versatile promo is a practical and affordable corporate gift idea.

Biodegradable Translucent Water Bottle. Build up your brand’s impact without impacting the environment thanks to this biodegradable water bottle. It’s extremely durable, BPA-free, and reusable, so it will see plenty of use and reduce the consumption of disposable plastic bottles. It can also be recycled at any facilities that process #1 recyclables, which are typically turned into items like fleece clothing, fiber, tote bags, bottles, furniture, and carpet.

Recycled Paper Barrel Pen. This promotional pen features a natural-looking recycled paper barrel which cuts down on the amount of plastic used to make it. It’s a click-action ballpoint pen with black ink that has the same long-lasting shelf life of similar pens, yet this one gives off a distinct eco-friendly vibe that will give customers a feel for what type of business you are. At under $0.75 each, it’s also a cost-effective option for any business that’s trying to make the switch to more sustainable advertising practices. Great for internal office use or tradeshow giveaways.

At Sundance Film Festival, Brita and Nalgene teamed up to provide festival-goers with reusable custom water bottles filled with Brita-filtered tap water. This partnership drastically cut down on the huge amount of plastic bottled water waste that is typically seen at these events, proving that simple changes can make a big difference. In addition to the free bottles and filtered water, the FilterForGood project premiered a short documentary about greening the music industry. Overall, a great way to not only raise awareness but also deliver the tangible tools attendees needed to actually contribute to the project’s eco-friendly mission! Kudos to Brita and Nalgene for a well-executed promotional campaign.

For more information on FilterForGood, check out this quick Sundance interview with Brita’s Drew McGowan: