Top Sustainable Swag Ideas for 2024
To help you get started, here’s our curated list of trending eco-friendly swag ideas, organized into four popular categories.
Sustainable Branded Apparel
This year, branded apparel claimed three of the top five rankings for most influential promotional products nationwide, according to ASI. We're seeing a boom in branded outerwear, along with shirts, beanies, socks, and more, all made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled fabric, reclaimed wood, bioplastics, and sheep’s wool.
Get creative when looking for your company's sustainable apparel in 2024. Keep your target audience in mind, and opt for high-quality clothing that will last longer. Look for brands that practice fair trade and ethical labor practices and use energy-efficient manufacturing processes. Consider branded apparel with certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Fair Trade Certified, and bluesign® system.
Here are our team's favorite sustainable apparel items:
Zero-Waste Promotional Products
According to the World Economic Forum, humans have a plastic problem - by 2050, they estimate that the world’s oceans will contain more plastic than fish! The good news? You can adjust your corporate gifting strategy to include more zero-waste items.
These eco-friendly promotional products minimize waste in their production, use, and disposal, aligning with the principles of the zero-waste movement, which advocates for the reduction of waste sent to landfills, incinerators, and the ocean.
In 2024, choose the more sustainable alternative for single-use products like cutlery, drinkware, and food containers. Investing in eco-friendly promotional items that support zero-waste practices is a popular way to share sustainable values with clients, prospects, or employees, and it reflects well on your brand’s character.
Here are some new zero-waste products we love:
Swag Made with Recycled Materials
Investing in promotional products made from recyclable material is the environmentally responsible choice, but it also adds a higher perceived value to your gift. In other words, consumers want to go green, and they’re willing to pay for it!
Younger generations, like Gen Z and Millennials, are pushing especially hard for sustainable product choices. But according to a recent survey, 90% of Gen X consumers are willing to spend an added 10% or more on eco-friendly products.
In 2024, consider eco-friendly gifts that use recycled or upcycled materials such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and recycled polyester.
Here are our favorite promo products made with recycled materials:
Social Giveback Gifts
The sustainability movement goes beyond making and investing in eco-friendly products. It also includes social giveback gifts. Also known as cause-related swag, these items are often linked to specific nonprofit organizations or social/environmental initiatives, with a portion of the proceeds from their sales being donated back to worthwhile causes such as environmental preservation, clean water initiatives, and animal welfare.
70% of consumers want to know what the brands they support are doing to address social and environmental issues, while 77% say they’re more willing to do business with a company that’s demonstrated their commitment to society.
Luckily, more and more retail brands are popping up offering sustainable swag that supports social impact programs. In 2024, select socially conscious gifts that align with your corporate values and the social or environmental causes most important to your recipients.
Here are our favorite collections of cause-related swag:
Ready to Find Eco-Friendly Promotional Products?
Choosing sustainable swag builds brand loyalty and reduces waste. In 2024, people are focused on making the planet healthier and happier. By choosing these sustainable swag ideas, you’ll show clients, customers, and employees that your brand stands for something bigger.
If you’re looking for more hands-on support, get in touch with a GoDelta Brand Consultant. With expertise rooted in creative design and product selection, we’ll use our industry knowledge to help you find sustainable swag that delights your recipients.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on December 7, 2021, and has been updated for accuracy and current best practices.
