Environmentally Friendly Swag Ideas for 2023
We’ve made major progress in the past few years when it comes to considering the planet in our everyday purchases. Customers are more conscious than ever before of preventing waste and choosing brands that give back to the earth. Why shouldn’t that apply when ordering custom swag and promo products for your company?
There’s an outdated misconception surrounding swag and promotional products, that they’re mostly disposable things that add no real value. We’re here to bust that myth and share with you our favorite eco-friendly promotional products that make a positive impact with every purchase. From items made of recycled materials, to gifts that plant trees for every purchase, we are proud to carry a wide range of eco-friendly custom swag items.
If you’re looking for more eco-friendly goodness, you can use the filters on the site to seek out products that are eco-friendly and recyclable, among a ton of other options. These options are good for all your promotional product needs, from giveaways and trade show swag to business gifts and employee appreciation items. Here are our top favorites for 2023:
Reusable straws
With the recent bans of one-time use straws in some establishments, it’s super convenient to carry a set of reusable straws with you wherever you go. Purses, cars, and backpacks are all good places to stow away reusable straws so you can access them when needed.
Choose one like the 10-in-1 Straw Set that includes a branded canvas pouch and cleaning brushes to keep your reusable straws neat and ready to go when you need them.
Water bottles and reusable drinkware
Drinking from reusable containers is a good way to go green and reduce the use of one-time plastic bottles and cups. Plus, people tend to carry water bottles and travel mugs everywhere, from the office to the gym and everywhere in between. Branded drinkware is a great opportunity to share your brand with a wide audience.
One of our favorites, the 17oz Ocean Bottle is made from recycled plastic that would otherwise end up polluting the ocean. It’s dishwasher-safe, has a handy carrying loop, and insulates drinks to stay ice-cold for extended periods of time.
Not sure a water bottle is the right type of reusable drinkware for your needs? Try a reusable mug or tumbler instead. The 16oz MiiR Climate+ Tumbler is perfect to fill up at coffee shops or at home – it’s fully composed of recycled materials and offsets 110% of carbon emissions. Get unique custom mugs involved to complete the drinkware trifecta!
Tote bags
Paper or plastic bags? How about neither. Use tote bags to replace traditional grocery bags and use the real estate on the front of the reusable tote bags to place your logo or design, making it stand out among the sea of other reusable bags. Pick out a high-quality tote bag that recipients are sure to use over and over again.
The Daily Grind Tote is a classic reusable bag to hand out at promotional events . It’s made of durable cotton canvas, making it great for grocery shopping and carrying whatever you may need for the day.
If you’re looking for a more unique style, the Stuff-Sack Bag is a go-to. It’s a full-sized shopping bag made of 100% recycled plastics that rolls up into a small pouch designed for your key ring!
Eco-friendly notebooks and office supplies
Everyone needs a notebook to jot down their thoughts and important notes throughout the day, so why not choose one that serves a dual purpose by supporting the environment?
When it comes to earth friendly notebooks, the Karst Hardcover wins first place. Made from 100% recycled stone and without any bleaches or acids, Karst Stone Paper is is more durable and sustainable than traditional paper made from wood. Plus, these pages are waterproof and tear proof, so they can handle anything!
In the market for other thoughtful office supplies? The Nimble Portable Charger is a great find – it’s pocket-sized and provides an extra charge for devices on the go. It’s not a traditional “office supply,” but it sure will be appreciated by those who commute or work on the go!
Sustainable Apparel
When you’re given the choice between products made from brand new materials and those made from recycled or post-consumer materials, always go with the latter for the best impact on the environment. This goes for apparel as well.
This Next Level Eco-Blend shirt is a great option for your next branded t-shirt. It is made from a blend of recycled cotton and polyester and comes in an assortment of classic colors.
Looking for something on-trend and cozy? We recommend the tentree Zip Hoodie for a luxe option that your team will never want to take off. tentree plants 10 trees per every item purchased, so every sweater is made with the environment in mind.
Sustainable products
If you can’t choose a product made from recycled materials, go with one made from new, sustainable materials, like bamboo. Bamboo wood is easy to grow and great for the environment – plus, the manufacturing process is less harsh than those for glass or plastic products. Bamboo products also make great corporate gifts.
For a practical item people will use all the time, customize a Bamboo Pouch with your logo or design! It’s a convenient way to store and carry personal belongings, from office supplies to makeup to charging cords.
Looking for a stand-out, eco-friendly item that’s sure to impress? The Bamboo Square Charging Pad is a high quality tech gift that people are sure to love. Its earthy design and sustainable production are an added bonus!
Biodegradable products
Biodegradable products are another fantastic eco-friendly swag option. Biodegradable products will decay over time naturally and won’t spend several lifetimes at the bottom of a landfill, like traditionally manufactured products will.
Encourage productive brainstorms with the Eco Fontana notebook. It’s a classic softcover style that’s easy to slip into one of those reusable tote bags we mentioned earlier.
If you’re giving out eco-friendly notebooks, why not toss in a couple of biodegradable pens, too? The Bamboo 2.0 Pen has a sleek bamboo body and its cornstarch trim is made with 60% biodegradable materials.
Lunch bags
Bringing your lunch to work every day is an excellent way to cut down on the waste associated with one-time containers or eating out regularly (not to mention the benefits to your health and bank account!). Encourage your team to get into the eco-friendly habit of bringing their lunch in reusable containers with a stylish branded lunch bag or bento box.
The Recycled Lunch Cooler is a simple solution for bringing lunch with you. It has an interior ID label to write your name, to prevent office refrigerator mix-ups, and an extra pocket on the outside for reusable utensils and napkins.
The Bamboo Fiber Lunch Box is extra handy for lunch on the go – the lid doubles as a mini cutting board to make meal preparation easier.
Sustainable Fabrics
Not all clothing is made the same way, and some of the practices in manufacturing clothing are downright detrimental to the environment. When ordering custom t-shirts for a promotional event and you want your tees to be as carbon neutral as possible, go with a sustainable choice. Not only will your logo make a statement, but so will your decision to go with the option that best protects Mother Earth.
Cotton is always a great choice when it comes to comfortable t-shirts, and the Econscious Men’s T-Shirt is no exception. It’s made of 100% certified organic ringspun cotton, and 1% of every retail sale of this item goes to supporting the work of environmental non-profits.
When it comes to colder weather, the Econscious Organic Beanie is a wardrobe staple. A double layer, 100% certified organic cotton knit rib looks great and offers warmth on the chilliest of nights.
Eco-Conscious Trade Show Giveaways
Trade shows are not usually known for their environmentally friendly ways. But, you can help by trying to be more eco-conscious with the trade show swag you choose to giveaway. Of course, you don’t want to break the bank with these giveaways. We have eco-friendly promotional products available for every budget.
Conference goers are often travelers, so swag that makes their time away from home easier is sure to get treasured. This recycled fanny pack is a great option that comes in tons of great colors.
To really grab attention, consider a more high-end item like this recycled PET blanket. If you want to be efficient, you can offer fewer items by creating a raffle that encourages engagement with event attendees.
Also try to choose greener must-have conference items like lanyards and badges can also help reduce the waste at your events.
What impact can your promotional product choices have on the environment?
Whether it’s positive or negative, every choice you make when selecting swag for giveaways or corporate gifts has an effect on the world we live in, so choose wisely. Whether it’s one of the eco-friendly products on this list or another one of our many eco-friendly products, green is the way to go. Giving your audience something that will help them be more eco-conscious is also a great way to help. Giveaways like reusable grocery bags, pens or drinkware are great options.
Want to chat with someone on the Swag.com team about your next gifting or swag initiative? Fill out the form below and one of our expert curators will reach out as soon as possible.
Updated September 2023
