Merchandise is still an ever-popular tool for engaging with your audience at exhibitions and events. But, we’re all becoming more mindful of the giveaway’s impact that it can have on the environment. More businesses are now keen to stay away from ‘gimmicky’ style giveaways, as they often end up in landfill in favour of items that can have a positive impact on the environment.
Skyline Whitespace is synonymous with sustainable exhibition stand design and build, which means we are always on the lookout for ideas to make consciously kinder suggestions to our clients for their giveaways too. So, here’s a run-down of our favourite eco-friendly merchandise ideas.
1. Sow and grow kits
Plants as giveaways are a really popular choice in general, especially those that can be branded and popped on the recipient’s work desk as a constant reminder of your company.
You may be worried about how they might travel for international events. Sow and grow kits are an ideal giveaway to show your green credentials. With seeds and soil coins, they can be grown out of their pouches with lots of seed options including cottage garden mix, mixed herbs, or a sunflower.
2. Eco-friendly packaging sweets
Sweets as a giveaway are always likely to be well received. But a lot of sweets often come in single use packaging. If you’re keen to follow the sweet route, look out for ones that come in recycled or even compostable packaging.
3. Eco-friendly cutlery
With many food outlets such as Waitrose doing away with single use cutlery in their stores, people are increasingly needing to keep their own set of cutlery on hand. That is what makes this giveaway such an ideal option, as it’s something that many people won’t have but actually do really need. If your brand isn’t food related, consider tying it in with something edible so that it makes logical sense.
4. Seeded paper bags
Branded bags are a great way to get your company’s name out there, as exhibition attendees make their way around the rest of the event and their way home after. However, they can obviously have a negative impact on the environment, which is why so many brands turn to recycled or recyclable bags instead.
Why not take it one step further and use seeded paper bags that can be planted once you’re finished with them? As the bag degrades, the seed germinate and shortly after flowers will grow!
5. Seed sticks
Branded bags are a great way to get your company’s name out there, as exhibition attendees make their way around the rest of the event and their way home after. However, they can obviously have a negative impact on the environment, which is why so many brands turn to recycled or recyclable bags instead.
Why not take it one step further and use seeded paper bags that can be planted once you’re finished with them? As the bag degrades, the seed germinate and shortly after flowers will grow!
6. Branded beeswax wraps
Depending on if it suits your particular industry, beeswax wraps are another great eco-friendly option for a giveaway.
Again, as a larger surface area that can be fully branded, these will likely be used on a regular basis by the recipient, when they wrap up excess food or take their sandwich into the office for lunch. It’s definitely a good talking pint and if branded thoughtfully, could really win your company some green brownie points!
7. Glass and bamboo tea diffuser
With many other companies already offering reusable coffee cups or water bottles, why not try something a little different like a glass and bamboo tea infuser? Not only does is look and feel premium, it will help you stand out from the crowd, and get used.
8. Solar powered phone charger
Appeal to your more outdoorsy customers with a clever solar powered portable charger. This is perfect for the evening commute home, summertime picnics or festival season!
9. Jute and twill tote bags
As more companies are giving away reusable bags, we can all be guilty of building up a backlog that we don’t actually use. If you would like to give out a tote bag, ensure yours is the one they will reach for time and time again by buying higher quality, modern versions.
If cost is an issue, buy fewer, better tote bags. Take time to consider who you’re giving them to and whether you realistically feel they will turn into a customer.
10. Glass water bottle or metal flask
Choose a bottle that reflects your brand personality in a modern and cool way. A glass water bottle or metal flask is something that everyone can make use of!
11. Seedballs matchboxes
Having already used these promotional giveaways ourselves, create your own personalised matchbox that holds ‘seedballs’ containing your choice of wildflower seeds.
You scatter them onto bare soil or compost, they grow into beautiful flowers that attract and protect bees and butterflies. The packaging can be fully branded with a design of your choice.
12. Sprout pencil
An innovative idea that still offers lots of space for branding and messaging, sprout pencils can be used for writing and drawing. When you’re finished, you can plant them into the ground or a nearby plant pot and let them grow. With multiple seed options, there is lots of different options to suit your brand.
Top things to consider when choosing eco-friendly giveaways
Think through the following pointers to ensure you are keeping the impact on the environment front of mind:
- Think of the potential lifespan of an idea you might have. How long do you really think it will be used? Is it likely to be passed onto other family members?
- Is it an item you think they need and will come in handy in their day to day lives?
- Is the item of a good enough quality that they will want to use?
- Just because something falls in the eco-friendly bucket, if the quality isn’t good enough these may well be relegated to the bin. Many companies give out these types of items and they are useful. However, there will come a point when someone might just have too many of them. If you choose to follow this route, make sure it’s your ones they prefer to use over others.
- Will the recipient actually want that item with your branding on it? Think carefully about which items you’re branding, or how much you are branding them. Some things lend themselves to being nicely branded by your company, but other items might feel a little strange to be heavily branded. Think about discreet ways you can do this. This could be by using smaller logos, branded linings or placing the item inside branded packaging (of course, make sure this is recyclable!)
If you need further inspiration for choosing the best giveaways for your company, read our Exhibition Tips and Tricks: The Ultimate Exhibition Stand Checklist.
Alternatively, if you’re seeking other ways to make your next show truly sustainable, contact our friendly team of experts for sustainable stand design ideas.