The Eco-friendly Shift in Promotional Products Marketing

Eco-anxiety is on the rise, and consumers are increasingly looking to support brands that are committed to sustainability.

This trend is having a major impact on promotional products marketing, as more and more businesses are shifting to eco-friendly options, like eco-friendly retail bags.

In this blog post, we will explore the driving force behind this trend and provide tips on how you can adapt your promotional products marketing strategy to include more eco-friendly options.

How to get started with eco-friendly promotional products marketing?

If you are interested in getting started with eco-friendly promotional products marketing, there are a few things you can do:

Do your research

There are a wide variety of eco-friendly promotional products available, so it is important to do your research and find products that are right for your brand and budget.

Consider your target audience

What types of promotional products do your customers appreciate? What are their environmental values? Put your thinking caps on, would they indulge in a form of sustainable branded merchandise?

Partner with a reputable supplier

When choosing a supplier of eco-friendly promotional products, it is important to choose one that is reputable and has a track record of sustainability.

Once you have chosen your eco-friendly promotional products, you need to market them effectively.

Here are a few tips:

• Highlight the eco-friendly features of your products. Make sure your customers know that your promotional products are eco-friendly. This can be done on your website, in your marketing materials, and on the products themselves.

For example, this customized eco-friendly bag can be a great way to showcase your brand logo or brand mascot as a way for your employees to feel a sense of togetherness in the office! It also be used as a staple bag in every employee’s household for various purposes.

 

 

• Educate your customers about the benefits of eco-friendly promotional products. Many consumers are not aware of the benefits of using eco-friendly promotional products. You can educate them by creating posters with headlines like the one above that will prompt them to think sustainably.

This is not an ordinary poster as it had a strong call-to-action header, sub-title being “connecting with nature” and the visually appealing look of a green tree that will resonate with everyone at the payment check-out station, hoping to use the plastic bags for groceries.

• Partner with other businesses that are committed to sustainability. You can cross-promote your eco promotional merchandise products with other businesses that are committed to sustainability. This is a great way to reach a new audience and promote your brand.

Imagine your favourite skincare brand creating a cork toiletry bag for sustainable branding and launching it through a sustainable form of promotion.

Picture a promotional video where the popular celebrity who is the face of the brand, takes part in the video shoot where he uses the toiletry cork bag to store the skincare products and uploads it onto his Instagram account. This easy yet powerful way of promotion enhances the brand’s credibility in enforcing its sustainable practices as customers trust celebrities & stay loyal to them.

By following these tips, you can use eco-friendly promotional products marketing to show your customers that you care about the environment, stand out from your competitors, and reduce your environmental impact.

The Rise of the Green Consumer

Consumers are becoming more aware of environmental issues thanks to educational efforts at schools around the world, and media coverage that highlights environmental issues. Consumers are no longer just sharing their concerns online; they are demanding more readily available, greener products.

The 2020 report “Consumer Products and Retail: How sustainability is fundamentally changing consumer preferences” by Capgemini Research Institute found that sustainability concerns influence the purchasing decisions of 79% of consumers. Being eco-friendly is not just a niche; it has quickly become a must-have for many promotional products.

Why Brands are Shifting Towards Eco-friendly Promotional Items

For some brands with a millennial and Gen-Z customer base, the eco-friendly shift is a no-brainer: their brand loyalty depends on it, their target audience demands it, governments are imposing regulations for it, and their competitors are moving forward with greener solutions. For other brands that have not felt the pressure, it is also time to consider leaping. Let the reasons below encourage you to start going green for your next promotional products.

Case studies are plenty, let’s have a look at Samsung’s eco-friendly solutions involving designing product cardboard packaging that can be rearranged into another product, such as a cat’s house or a magazine holder.

Your brand can replicate this ingenious solution to have an effective marketing strategy that achieves several aims: featuring your new products, giving a functional gift with purchase, and leaving a deep impression about your sustainability effort.

Economic Benefits

Contrary to the misconception that sustainable practices are costly, waste reduction often leads to financial savings. From minimizing production scraps to rethinking packaging, cost-effective measures can result in reduced material needs and waste disposal expenses.

Check out the materials that can be used for creating eco-friendly gift sets of your customers’ favourite products from your brand. Not only will this be a better value proposition on the customer’s end, it will also garner interest towards each of the products in the set which may not have been in the customers’ viewpoint previously!

Enhanced Brand Image

Today’s consumers are increasingly opting for brands that share their environmental values. A business that prioritizes waste reduction and carbon neutrality is viewed as responsible, forward-thinking, and in tune with modern consumer demands.

By taking reference to Edelweiss Point-of-Sale (POS) display, it is clear that not only does providing a gift with purchase for customers when they buy a pack of 4 cans will give them a 100% opportunity to win a gift including a tote bag, laptop bag, or 1 can of Edelweiss, it will also provide them with the chance to join the lucky draw to get a Samsung projector!

After analyzing the reasoning behind the free tote bag or laptop bag, we can infer that the brand is providing customers with a sustainable item for reusing in their homes which will continuously remind customers of the product bought from Edelweiss. All in all, this enhances the brands’ awareness with stronger customer loyalty.

Ethicality & Long-Term Responsibility

Beyond the economic and branding perspectives, businesses, as influential entities, have an ethical obligation to minimize their negative impact on the environment. The collective effort of the corporate sector can significantly mitigate global environmental threats. Adopting waste and carbon reduction measures ensures that businesses are thinking about their long-term viability. By preserving resources and promoting sustainability, they’re investing in a future where they can continue to operate and thrive.

Popular Eco-friendly Promotional Products to Consider

Eco-friendly promotional merchandise starts with sustainable materials.

Bamboo grows much faster than wood, has an exotic and earthly look, is biodegradable, heat-resistant, while also boasting strength and durability for a range of products, such as cutlery, mugs, packaging, lunch boxes, or even wrist watches and cutting boards.

1. Flax Fiber

• One of the strongest natural fibers, flax fiber is resistant to heat and bending. This is why you often find it in food and drink packaging.

2. Sugar Cane

• An alternative to flax fiber is sugarcane. Fully biodegradable in just some months, sugarcane food packaging is fully reusable and heat resistant. The appearance is quite similar to flax fiber packaging.

Also consider other biodegradable materials for packaging such as rice husk for bottles and lunch boxes, and corn starch for bags and cups.

3. Tote Bags

• Plastic bags have been an environmental nightmare, so many people have been switching to tote bags. Durable, multi-purpose, washable, and super customizable, tote bags can easily be added to your promotional products marketing.

4. Stone Paper

Many desk accessories have seen their eco-friendly versions. 100% tree-free and water resistant stone paper that can be made into notepads and notebooks. Stone paper is made from the marble left over at construction sites mixed with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). They can replace the corrugated cardboard made from trees.

5. Kraft Paper

Kraft paper is washable, biodegradable, and recyclable. Lightweight and tear resistant, It is used in the making of file bags, laptop bags, pen cases, and card holders, all replacing their former plastic versions. Also check out tyvek, a waterproof and flexible material that can be made into lunch bags.

Finally, solar-powered gadgets are tech items that do not rely on traditional energy sources, reducing electricity consumption and fossil fuel burning. Portable solar power banks, canopies, torches, and umbrellas with charging ports are practical applications of solar power. When offered as part of promotional products marketing, the advanced solar technology and the sustainable use cases can both boost your brand image in the eyes of new and loyal customers.

Check out our range of sustainable materials for promotional products marketing

As a major player in the promotional products industry, we have rich experiences in working with sustainable materials to help you stay close to your climate commitment. Wondering how to get your brand logos and colors onto these eco-friendly materials?

Check out our decoration methods ranging from embossing to heat transfer. All of these can prominently feature your branding on high quality promotional products, getting you ready for trade shows, campaigns, or recruitment.

Measure the success of your eco-friendly promotional products marketing campaigns

There are several ways to measure the success of your eco-friendly promotional products marketing campaigns. Some common metrics include:

• Website traffic:

Track the number of visitors to your website who came there after seeing or using your eco-friendly promotional products.

• Social media engagement:

Track the number of likes, shares, and comments your eco-friendly promotional products generate on social media.

• Lead generation:

Track the number of leads generated from your eco-friendly promotional products marketing campaigns.

• Sales:

Track the number of sales generated from your eco-friendly promotional products marketing campaigns.

• Brand awareness:

Conduct surveys to measure how aware customers are of your brand and its commitment to sustainability.

• Customer loyalty:

Conduct surveys to measure how satisfied customers are with your eco-friendly promotional products and how likely they are to recommend your brand to others.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly promotional products marketing is a growing trend, and for good reason. Consumers are increasingly looking to support brands that are committed to sustainability, and eco-friendly promotional products are a great way to show your commitment to sustainability and stand out from your competitors.

If you are interested in getting started with eco-friendly promotional products marketing, there are a few things you can do:

• Do your research and find products that are right for your brand and budget.
• Consider your target audience. What types of promotional products do they appreciate? What are their environmental values?
• Partner with a reputable supplier of eco-friendly promotional products.
• Market your eco-friendly promotional products effectively. Highlight the eco-friendly features of your products and educate your customers about the benefits of using eco-friendly promotional products.

By following these tips, you can use eco-friendly promotional products marketing to show your customers that you care about the environment, stand out from your competitors, and reduce your environmental impact.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions that you may be concerned or curious about! Not to worry as we have made sure to answer all of your queries!

Q: What are the benefits of using eco-friendly promotional products?

A: There are many benefits to using eco-friendly promotional products, including:

• Reduced environmental impact: Eco-friendly promotional products help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and incinerators. They also help to conserve natural resources, such as trees and water.
• Enhanced brand image: Consumers are increasingly looking to support brands that are committed to sustainability. Using eco-friendly promotional products can help to enhance your brand image and attract new customers.
• Increased customer loyalty: Customers are more likely to be loyal to brands that they perceive as being sustainable. Using eco-friendly promotional products can help to increase customer loyalty and build long-term relationships with your customers.

Q: How can I choose the right eco-friendly promotional products for my business?

A: When choosing eco-friendly promotional products for your business, it is important to consider the following factors:

• Your target audience: What types of promotional products do your customers appreciate? What are their environmental values?
• Your budget: How much money can you afford to spend on promotional products?
• Your brand image: What kind of image do you want to convey with your promotional products?

Once you have considered these factors, you can start to narrow down your choices and choose the eco-friendly promotional products that are right for your business.

Q: How can I promote my eco-friendly promotional products?

A: There are many ways to promote your eco-friendly promotional products, including:

• Your website: Highlight your eco-friendly promotional products on your website and in your marketing materials.
• Social media: Share photos and videos of your eco-friendly promotional products on social media.
• Public relations: Issue a press release about your eco-friendly promotional products.
• Trade shows and events: Hand out your eco-friendly promotional products at trade shows and events.
• Partnerships: Partner with other businesses that are committed to sustainability to cross-promote your eco-friendly promotional products.

By following these tips, you can promote your eco-friendly promotional products and show your customers that you care about the environment with our help!

Contact us for comprehensive advice on how to design and produce your eco-friendly promotional products for a successful marketing campaign.