I'm gonna keep it a hundred. There's a pretty good chance you've attended a music festival, charity run, or company function, and been given one of those plastic wristbands. You probably kept it on for a few hours, maybe a few days, then what happened? You either threw it away, or it was forgotten in a drawer. Those wristbands, made out of plastic, Tyvek, or silicone, are not very useful for a long time and the environments they are made in are detrimental. This is a large reason for the existence of fabric wristbands, and it explains the growing popularity for them and organizations that are concerned about sustainability.
So let's talk about why these wristbands, while they may seem like a good idea, really are not. Plastic wristbands are most often single use wristbands. You put one on, it fulfills its purpose, and then is cut off and thrown away. The unfortunate reality is, these wristbands almost never get recycled. They get tossed away, and that is often into the world's oceans. Studies have been conducted on silicone wristbands, and they reveal that the wristbands are capable of adsorbing plastic related chemicals and, as a result, exposing the human body that is in contact with those wristbands. In short, the materials used to make these wristbands are a lot worse than they may seem.
To put it in perspective, with the number of concerts, festivals, and events that take place globally, millions of people are in attendance every year. That being said, if every person gains a single plastic wristband, that creates millions of plastic waste with every event that takes place. For a meaningless VIP plastic wristband. Surely we can do better. And we can.
With the introduction of fabric wristbands, we could potentially eliminate plastic wristbands entirely and make no waste. Unlike plastic wristbands that are typically used and thrown, fabric wristbands are much more durable and are sewn together. This means that the make of wristband uses quality materials such as polyester, organic cotton, and even recycled PET plastic from recycled plastic bottles. For plastic wristbands, 'reusable' is in the name, because the fabric wristbands can be used over and over, unlike event plastic bands.
An even more grateful option for conscious brands is fabric wristbands made entirely of recycled cotton, giving a waste material a second chance instead of being incinerated or put in the landfill as it becomes textile waste. For brands and event organizers who are eco friendly, this is a valuable option. And this shows that your organization stands for something.
Unpopular opinion time for any event organizers considering plastic wristbands: those things are annoying. They don't breathe or allow for any expulsion of sweat. Your skin is literally suffocated and in turn creates irritation or even rashes. It's actually happened to many unfortunate people.
Fabric wristbands are a different experience. Have you ever felt the comfort of a wristband made of softer and more breathable woven material? Nah, because it's not sweat trapping, it's air circulating. Many of these bands use an elastic material to give you a more snug fit and not a restricted one. You could literally wear it for every day of a multi day event and forget it's even there. Comfort is a huge contributing factor to how long a wristband is worn after an event.
Durability is often the first thought when starting a consideration for any kind of product, and in this situation, the wristband is no different. Why would someone think it's made for more wear and tear than expected? They are made for everything. They are made to resist all of the variables that are often associated with the event: water, time, and all of the different colors.
RPET is one material used by some manufacturers that is created from recycled plastic bottles, so it's good for the environment and very durable. Other options are bamboo fabrics, which are naturally antimicrobial and resistant to mold. So this means that your wristband will not have to endure some stink after some days of use, unlike most plastic bands that are used and have an awful smell.
Another fact that most people ignore is that even if the band is eco friendly, the ink that is used to print the logos and designs on it can still be detrimental to the environment. Many older methods of printing use inks that are petrochemical based, are very unhealthy, and they contribute to the pollution of air and water.
The good thing about new wristbands is that most manufacturers of fabric wristbands have adopted eco friendly printing. They print using water based inks, which are not toxic and are much better for the environment. Some use dye sublimation, which locks the color into the fabric instead of printing on the surface, which in turn creates longer lasting prints. From an entrepreneurial aspect, it is one of the better eco friendly alternatives.
Your brand probably isn't getting much visibility from plastic wristband promotions since most people throw those away. Fabric wristbands, however, are much more memorable and are much more useful for promotions for you and your brand. Fabric wristbands are kept for much longer and are even put on again for events. When people keep them for festivals, concerts, and other events, they are advertising your brand for as long as they have events to go to.
Then, there's the time value of those impressions and your brand getting advertised when someone's at the grocery store, the gym, or getting coffee. Your brand is getting advertising and people are constantly getting those impressions from your brand. Plus, people keep advertising day after day for long time periods. All of that for the price of a wristband. You can get your logo and brand printed on the wristbands as well and since they're wearable and memorable, you will get event advertising long after the event is through.
Reusable wristbands can reduce plastic waste dramatically in the long run. Take a hypothetical plastic wristband company builder. Starting from scratch, they engineer ten thousand plastic wristbands to be distributed yearly for their events. By the end of five years they have dumped fifty thousand wristbands into landfills. Not a great business model. Now, consider the alternate scenario. Our builder produced several thousand reusable fabric wristbands that cost almost the same to produce. Now, they are allowed to refund customers for wristbands they have purchased the previous years, or even give customers discounts for wearing their wristbands. Not only do they reduce plastic waste dramatically, the customers are more financially engaged, and thus, more personally engaged with the company. They feel a part of something great, and the business model is fantastic.
Now that your plastic wristband business is a fabric wristband business, here are some tips. First and foremost, feel the wristbands. Great wristbands are made from great materials. For the utmost consideration in sustainability, bamboo fabric, organic cotton, and RPET plastic are great materials. Recycled bamboo is awesome reason being fast growth, little water, and no pesticides.
Next, consider the closure mechanism. Some fabric wristbands use plastic locks, which kind of defeats the purpose if you are trying to avoid plastic altogether. Instead, look for bands with wooden sliders, metal snaps, or even just a simple elastic design that stretches on and off without any hardware. Finally, consider the printing method. Water based inks and dye sublimation are the best eco friendly options for wristbands.
I won't claim that changing from plastic to fabric wristbands has the power to single handedly save the world. But, all the small changes that you can make to the planet will add up. Buying reusable fabric wristbands for your event shows that you care about your company and the planet. It shows your attendees, your customers, and your community that you are ready to do the right thing, even if it is a more expensive option or requires more planning.
Let's be honest, fabric wristbands look and feel better. It'll be more comfortable and stylish than the plastic bands you end up tossing. Help yourself, your brand, and your planet by switching to fabric wristbands. You will be happy to do so and so will everyone that wears one.
