A Kentucky legislator is keen to kick single-use plastics out of the Bluegrass State.

State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian has introduced a bill that would, if voted into law, ban single-use plastic bags and straws, as well as polystyrene containers and certain releases of what the legislation describes as plastic balloons. The bill could potentially lead to opportunities and challenges for promotional products companies.

A clampdown on single-use plastic straws could stimulate sales of reusable straws as an alternative.

Marzian’s Bill Request 999 would ban retailers from providing single-use plastic bags to customers after July 1, 2025. The bill defines a single-use plastic bag as a “thin film bag made of plastic derived from petroleum that is not biodegradable and is less than 2.5 mils in thickness.” A mil equals one one-thousandth of an inch. Single-use plastic bags used for produce and meats would be exempt.

Additionally, the bill would prohibit eateries and other retailers that sell food and beverages from providing customers with a plastic beverage straw, unless the customer asks. The rule would go into effect July 1, 2023 – the same day Marzian would like establishments to be barred from serving food and beverages in polystyrene foam/Styrofoam containers.

Sales of reusable tote bags could climb if a ban on single-use plastic bags is put on the books.

Marzian’s bill would also prohibit anyone in Kentucky from knowingly releasing/launching into the atmosphere more than 25 plastic balloons filled with a gas lighter than air during a 24-hour period. The bill defines a plastic balloon as one made from “nonbiodegradable plastic, latex, or the resin polyethylene terephthalate.” As proposed, the regulation would take effect July 1, 2023.

Violators would be subject to fines of $100 per day.

To date, the Kentucky legislature has taken no significant action on the bill. Still, it’s potentially one for promo products pros to watch. A plastic bag ban could help increase the appetite among businesses and other organizations for branded reusable bags, such as grocery totes. The straw ban could help stimulate opportunity for sales of logoed reusable straws, which were Counselor’s 2019 Product of the Year.

Meanwhile, the balloon ban could possibly have negative repercussions for sales of logoed balloons. In discussing balloon bans with Counselor, suppliers that operate in the promo balloon niche have said restrictions and bans paint an inaccurately broad, negative picture of balloons.

For instance, they say that foil balloons should be avoided for launches because they are not biodegradable, but that latex balloons – contrary to what the Kentucky bill maintains – are biodegradable, decomposing at about the same rate as an oak leaf.

“Most promotional consultants realize our biodegradable product is more natural and decomposes in lightning fashion, compared to almost everything else they sell to their clients,” said Mark Jenkins of Pioneer Balloons (asi/78200).

Some sellers of branded balloons in the promotional products market have also said that balloon launches constitute a relatively small amount of business. “We don’t promote mass balloon launches and haven’t for decades,” Jenkins said.

He further noted that there are “smart balloon use” practices that can present additional promotional opportunities, such as using other promo products to tether helium balloons. “While inexpensive balloon weights (the same you find in retail settings) are certainly available from manufacturers like us, there are a myriad of options to creatively use other promotional products in a brand-friendly solution for tethering balloons,” said Jenkins, pointing to items like “chip clips,” pens/markers and drinkware with handles.

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