Gone are the days when people ignored ingredient lists. Today, everything is scrutinized, and consumers are tired of cheap, disposable products they don’t need. If businesses give away promotional items that go straight to the trash, what’s the point?

On the other hand, if your business provides trending, sustainable, eco-friendly brand products with long-term use, you’ll be seen as an eco-friendly brand and get more impressions from your promotional products. You’ll feel good knowing you're reducing plastic waste and making a positive impact. Eco-friendly items may not always be the cheapest, but customers will use them longer, enhancing their experience and strengthening their support for your brand.

Eco-Friendly Products Can Further Brand Messaging

If you had to choose between two brands, both with cute water bottles and great messaging, but one of them uses 20 recycled bottles to make theirs and supports ocean clean-up—who would you choose? With everything else equal, what sets your brand apart? Consumers want a reason to support you, and if your brand doesn’t come across as eco-friendly, you risk losing a big part of your audience. Simply avoiding throwaway items like cheap pens, sticky notes, and stress balls can set you apart from the competition.

Going Green with Brand Products

Going green is a process, and it can start with the promotional products you hand out. Many companies default to cheap bulk pens. Instead, consider choosing a medium-grade pen that people will actually use daily. Use the same budget but buy fewer, higher-quality pens to reduce waste. While you may have fewer items to distribute, they’re more likely to be kept and appreciated.  Likewise, instead of bulk foam stress balls at $0.75 each, invest in fidget cubes or quality stress balls that customers will keep on their desks. Put yourself in the user's shoes: would the product you’re considering actually get used?

Trending Eco-Friendly Products

What are some of the trending eco-friendly products right now? Water bottles continue to lead the way in sustainability initiatives. They help reduce the number of single-use bottles that end up in landfills and oceans. Innovation in water bottles, tumblers, and drinkware has accelerated as consumers focus on sustainability. One of our favorite new promotional items is the Bestie Bottle—CLICK HERE to check it out.

Apparel with sustainability features is another popular trend. This can include items made from recycled materials, such as shredded plastic bottles, which helps reduce waste. Many new options are emerging in this space. For instance, this t-shirt is made from the equivalent of up to six recycled plastic water bottles—CLICK HEREf or details.

While awards are often given in corporate settings, mass-produced awards can be wasteful. Many employees end up discarding them to make space for new ones. Perpetual awards offer a solution by allowing recognition for certifications, continuing education, or years of service without adding to waste. Here’s an example—CLICK HERE

With single-use plastic bags banned in 12 states and likely to face nationwide restrictions, quality grocery totes are becoming essential. Providing customers with durable options can generate significant impressions. Check out my favorite high-quality grocery tote—CLICK HERE.  —and a more affordable bulk option—CLICK HERE.  Solar-powered items, such as wireless charging portable chargers, also contribute to sustainability efforts. Additionally, many kitchen items and higher-end electronics fit the eco-friendly category. In our view, anything that isn’t a cheap, throwaway item qualifies as eco-friendly.

Sustainability Matters

Sustainability matters because you’re either part of the problem or the solution. If your business isn’t focused on sustainability, you’re contributing to the growing issue of mass-produced items that get discarded after minimal use—or sometimes unused altogether. After tradeshows, it's common to see airport trash cans filled with handouts that went straight from table to tote to trash. Becoming an eco-friendly brand requires thoughtfulness and strategy. Partnering with an experienced promotional products company can help you build a sustainable product strategy far more effectively than going it alone.  Ask yourself, does sustainability and being an eco-friendly brand matter, and why does having a sustainability initiative matter at all?  

Be Branded Can Align Your Business and Values

At Be Branded, we often ask why. Why choose that specific product? Will it resonate with your audience, or will it just end up discarded? Does it reflect your audience’s preferences? Is there a better way to spend your budget for a stronger return on investment?  While choosing only eco-friendly products might not fit every business, opting for more sustainable options can help align your brand with your values. Are eco-friendly promotional products harder to find? Sometimes. Yet, with the rise of sustainable consumer preferences, more innovative, eco-friendly options are entering the market. However, if your provider isn’t up-to-date on these trends, you might miss out.  Choose Be Branded—or a company that consults strategically—so your promotional items truly reflect your brand values and goals.  And yes we do carry Yeti in case you were wondering!  CLICK HERE to see our selection!