Environmentally-conscious products are at the forefront of consumer demand. Building a sustainable brand image is necessary in a market where at least three-quarters of consumers are looking for sustainable products. As society embraces green habits, brands that focus on sustainability will excel.
Sustainability isn’t just a passing trend. The desire for sustainable products is predicted to grow with each generation. Millennials (the current largest consumer population in the US) are twice as likely as baby boomers to shift their purchasing habits to be sustainable. The coming generations are likely to be even more focused on sustainably. Gen Z is already proving itself to be committed to sustainability: more than half of Gen Zs say they are willing to spend 10% or more on sustainable products. Growing consumer demand is making sustainability a crucial part of a company’s long-term business strategy.
An important consideration in a company’s sustainability strategy is utilizing eco-friendly promotional products. You should be proud of the sustainable products that promote your brand—and your customers should be excited to use the products. Below are the top strategies for incorporating sustainability into your promotional items.
Opt for reusable and green products
Supporting the environment is a major focus for the American population, with about 70% of Americans worrying at least a “fair amount” about the environment. Another 88% of Americans want brands to help them in leading a more sustainable life. This desire for brands to lead environmental change is evident in recent purchasing trends. Products from pens made of old water bottles to electric cars are consumer favorites.
Providing eco-friendly products is a common way to support your customers in living their most sustainable lives. Think reusable water bottles, bamboo coasters, tote grocery bags, and matching journal & pen sets made of recycled materials. These are products that are practical and sustainable. Customers can feel good about using your products and promoting your brand.
Encourage your customers to use your promotional products by incorporating sustainability into the products. It will help them include environmental values into their lives, making them more likely to frequently sport your product. Your brand will be more visible and will be connected to the highly valued sustainability initiative. By putting your brand on popular sustainable products, you’ll become a trendsetter in sustainability.
Be mindful of shipping and packaging
Reducing waste in shipping and packaging should be pursued in conjunction with sourcing sustainable products. The unnecessary waste connected to shipping and packaging is becoming taboo. Many consumers feel that wasteful packaging offsets any benefits that come with sustainable products. As the “guilt and frustration” of disposing of all the packaging and shipping waste arriving on their doorstep increases, consumers are ready to put their support behind sustainable companies.
Shipping and packaging waste could be costing you more than customer loyalty: overall company costs are increased when dealing with large amounts of waste. Purchasing large amounts of shipping and packaging materials can rack up an expensive bill for a company. And the costs go deeper than just the upfront material purchases: if your provider of promotional products is not sustainably-minded, they will deliver the products to you in excessive packaging. Your labor costs will increase because of the extra time it takes to process all the packaging. And the cost of disposing of the unnecessary packaging can hurt your company. Investing in sustainable shipping and packaging options can help save labor/disposal costs and improve your company’s longevity.
Some ideas for reducing shipping and packaging waste when sending out promotional products are:
- Use compostable and minimalist packaging.
- Avoid splitting shipments. If multiple products are being sent to the same location, package them all together rather than separately.
- Use shipping materials that could be repurposed. Whether it be a reusable tote bag used in place of plastic wrapping or packaging that can be returned to your business and reused, customers will appreciate the initiative to reduce waste.
Support sustainably minded providers
Choose providers of promotional products that are enthusiastic about sustainability. Partnering with sustainably minded businesses will allow you to access environmental options more easily. Rather than scouring their site in search of a sustainable product, sustainably minded providers will offer a range of easily-accessible environmental products. Sustainability isn’t a sacrifice—choose a provider who offers you eco-friendly products that fit your needs perfectly.
In addition, partnering with an environmentally conscious provider will help you foster more sustainable relationships that promote your brand. Your company may be advocating for sustainability, but this effort can go unnoticed if the providers you partner with use inefficient and wasteful processes. Sustainable partnerships will improve the environmental impact of your company’s internal processes, as well as demonstrating your commitment to sustainability publicly. “Publicity and progress can go hand in hand… [sustainable initiatives and partnerships] can bring more support, add credibility, and generate momentum” for your business. Establish your brand as a leader in sustainability by developing relationships with sustainably minded promotional product providers.
American Apparel & Promotions has a wide selection of eco-friendly promotional products. With an emphasis on accessibility, we make it easy for you to find the sustainable promotional products that speak to your customers. Contact us to learn more about sustainably sourced promotional products you can be proud to give.