The most popular free tote bags at exhibitions and conferences are those with the best design and the best ecological credentials, according to Raglan-based Samedaybags.com who are a major supplier of printed tote bags.

The Salvage Shopper has just won a Gold Award in the 2023 British Promotional Merchandise Association Awards in the Bag and Folder Category after being entered by Samedaybags.

Melvin Green, who founded Samedaybags said: “For a while now anyone who uses plastic bags for give-aways at exhibitions and conferences have found customer resistance. But now there is huge competition for the best designed and the one with the best environmental credentials.

“There are still an estimated 1 billion plastic bags circulating in the UK even though “bags for life” have been around for a quarter of a century. The Salvage Shopper that won the Gold Award ticks the boxes for environmental compliance at all stages of its production.”

The bag is made with 60% recycled pre-consumer cotton and 40% recycled post-consumer polyester, so the material used to produce it is already being recycled rather than going to landfill. Salvage cuttings from conventional organic textile production are collected to make the Tote Bag.

Organic cotton production emits 46% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional cotton production with no crop spraying – a big environmental plus as cotton production is responsible for 6% of global pesticide and 16% of insecticide use.

The offcuts are then shredded transforming them into soft cotton fibres before fibres are added from recycled plastic bottles to produce a polyester and cotton blend. Spinning the fibres produces a dense yarn that is woven into a thick twill.

Not surprisingly the bag had already gained some industry accolades meeting the standards set by the Control Union and has a certificate from the Organic Blended Content Standard.

Samedaybags.com prints the Salvage Shopper using vegan, water-based inks and glues so every part of the product is environmentally sound. The next task is to ensure that those who acquire a bag use it for a long time and that comes down to having an exciting, credible design that people are proud to be seen carrying means they will use it again and again.

Melvin Green said: “We have design specialists who help our customers with designs that appeal to the public. Our eco-friendly screen printing means every stage supports the environment.”

Find out more about the company by calling samedaybags.com on 01600 800 500 or email [email protected].