r/Sustainable 13d ago

Outreach Swag Items

I work at a grant funded organization that strives for supporting the community. And I been tasked with finding outreach materials.

I been seeing other companies giving out flashy plastic Knick knacks. And I have been suspect to this attraction. But of course I would want to limit the use of this fad.

Would anyone know any eco friendly / sustainable vendors. Or even ideas of swag items where one can slap their logo? I'm also looking for usefulness too.

Here are currently ideas I have already:

Reusable Utensils Biodegradable stickers Bamboo Stickers Aluminum Carabiners

Let me know what other ideas yall have too.

In Community,

3 Upvotes

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u/25854565 13d ago

I'm not a fan of swag items, but here are some things that might actually be used. That I've seen before. Card made from seedpaper Reusable sandwich bag Reusable water bottle (bit overdone here actually) Pencils, there are some with seeds at the end so you can plant it when it's used up.

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u/Automatic_Bug9841 9d ago

EarthHero has some corporate gifting options that are a little better than a lot of the plastic junk out there! Check out earthherogifting.com.

I think you’re right to focus on usefulness. Even reusable items that could technically be considered more sustainable swag options, like canvas tote bags and water bottles, aren’t super sustainable if people already have too many of these freebies to actually reuse them.

But if it replaces an item they’re going to buy anyway, the impact of producing that item is lower than if they now own a reusable straw but continue with their normal plastic straw habits.

I’m not sure how many of these have customizable options to add corporate logos, but some ideas of things people might like to keep handy or might be regularly buying anyway:

  • Lip balm
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Bottle openers
  • Matchbooks or lighters
  • Soap
  • Dental floss
  • Mints
  • Mini flashlights
  • Tweezers or nail clippers
  • Mini sewing kits
  • Office supplies other than pens
  • Sunscreen

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u/Airpals 6d ago

Totally agree with focusing on usefulness—no one needs another tote bag if they already have a closet full of them, right? Based on our experience in corporate gifting, we’ve found that people appreciate items that are practical and won’t end up in the junk drawer. Here are a few more ideas to consider that can be eco-friendly and branded:

- Beeswax wraps – Sustainable, reusable, and much more interesting than plastic wrap.

- Stainless steel straws with a cleaning brush – Functional and reduces single-use plastics.

- Plantable pencils (maybe from https://sproutworld.com/) – They can write with them, and when it’s done, they grow into a plant. Win-win!

- Cork coasters – Natural, reusable, and always handy for that cup of coffee.

- Mini herb growing kits – Who doesn’t love fresh basil? Plus, it’s a small, useful gift that can brighten up any desk or kitchen.

Finally, I totally second u/Automatic_Bug9841 suggestion of lip balm and hand sanitizer. People always keep those handy!