Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

I have been talking quite a bit lately with people about the things I receive at Trade Shows.  The things I find most useful I have talked about here a few times, like the lip balm giveaway. I have been also reading about "green giveaways" as this seems to be the wave of the future.  Jenn over at Trade Show Blog has a post about The Greenest Trade Show.

This made me think of the number of events I have been to this year and how "green" they have been.  I tend to bring home lots of giveaways, and they usually don’t make it far out of my bag before the are commandeered by my kids for their own purposes.  I have seen many gifts turned into warriors, ninjas victims and even saw a mouse pad turned into home plate.  This is how I can use the giveaways I get that I don’t really need.  I have been actually getting a number of bags that we are using now to carry groceries in and that is pretty cool given I have a full tribe of people to feed here at home.

I recently received a hip flask at an event and that was somewhat perplexing given I don’t drink, and that is not the best item to give your four year old to carry to school or around the neighborhood or heaven forbid like I caught yesterday taking it to church for a "water bottle".  Are your giveaways "green?"  Can they be recycled or reused?  Do you ask your exhibitors to be more green in what they do for giveaways?  I see inserts going into gift bags that I know won’t make it past the hotel trash can.  I am curious what you are doing.

Photo via King’s College

Tags: Green, eco-friendly conventions, trade show giveaways, swag