These days, most brands are trying to adopt sustainable merchandising. From promotional products such as shirts, branded bags and wireless chargers to their POS displays, they are becoming more conscious about what they release in the market.
In this blog, we will discuss this concept, giving you an example from Uniqlo. Likewise, we will also introduce our very own sustainable merchandise that businesses can use as promotional ideas and provide tips on how to create sustainable branding.
What Is Sustainable Merchandising?
Sustainability simply means meeting the needs of today’s market without hindering the next generation’s ability to sustain themselves. Hence, sustainable merchandising is the use of environmental materials and processes with respect to our finite resources.
Utilising alternatives to materials that damage our environment such as using bio-based leather rather than genuine leather. The use of plant byproducts like bagasse and materials that does not contribute to deforestation like cork to produce merchandise that the market demands.
Uniqlo’s Sustainable Initiative
Uniqlo‘s campaign, THE POWER OF CLOTHING, aims to unite efforts in combating the rising tide of ocean waste. As urban plastic waste increasingly inundates the oceans, posing a threat to the ecosystem, Uniqlo is committed to making a positive impact.
For each product purchased through this campaign, Uniqlo will donate 1 USD to UNESCO, supporting initiatives focused on cleaning and reducing ocean waste.
6 Sustainable Promotional Merchandise Ideas
1. Portable Speaker
This portable speaker is also a subwoofer which means it can produce low bass volumes well. Additionally, one side of this speaker has solar panels so you can enjoy music outside throughout the day, without worrying about running out of battery.
It can also be connected to a phone through Bluetooth within a 10-meter range.
This wireless charger is made from cork and comes with a USB wire in a package that allows people to slid it into small bag pockets and compartments.
It’s also customisable to have your brand or company logo and secure brand presence in your consumers’ daily lives.
3. Branded Calculator
Calculate in an eco-friendly way through this calculator made from kraft and powered by solar energy!
This portable handheld calculator is also customisable and small enough to carry around.
A trendy desk organiser that also doubles as a wireless charger is promotional merchandise people would appreciate!
This is made from kraft paper and a perfect corporate gift to your clients and employees.
5. USB Hub
Provide your target market with a lot of options to connect their gadgets with a USB port hub.
Be at the centre of this convenience to your consumers with a branded USB hub.
6. Mouse Pad
This mouse pad is made from kraft paper and doubles as a wireless charger. People can have their phones within reach while charging.
It also has short-circuit and overcharging protection so your consumers can worry less about their smartphones.
What Does Sustainability Go Hand And Hand With?
When consumers hear the word “sustainability,” there are certain traits that immediately raises with that. All of which leave a lasting positive impression on consumers. We listed them here for you.
Since most of the materials applicable for sustainable merchandising are alternatives, some of which may be relatively new to the market, it’s important to check their quality.
Whether they’re durable, or waterproof and how they will be handled at the end of their lives.
Consumers know this. Thus, they know that a merchandise out of sustainable materials have been tried and tested for its quality.
It’s easy to use plastic and other materials since they’re readily available.
It’s almost a no-brainer step. On the other hand, sustainable materials need a little more research.
Hence, people hold sustainable merchandising in higher regard. They have a sense of the amount of work needed and the huge impact it can have on the environment.
Bio-based materials like bagasse, rice hull and pineapple leather are all made from byproducts of plants.
Those materials are otherwise treated as waste, given another functional purpose.
So much of sustainable merchandising relies heavily on this efficiency of rediscovering a material and utilising it into a useful product.
The step to making sustainable merchandising comes with the fact that your brand is environmentally aware.
This is a brand trait people can easily follow and devout themselves into.
After all, being responsible for the environment also means the brand cares for them and everyone they care about.
How To Send A Greener Message With Sustainable Merchandising?
Reusing and Repurposing
Encourage reusing and repurposing of your products. It would be ideal to inform your consumers how or give them ideas.
These are all details that you can add to your product packaging through a QR code or slip in a one-page manual to cater to all types of people.
Material Transparency
Transparency about the materials used, how you’ve procured them and how they can dispose of the merchandise at the end of its life are information people always appreciate.
These are also information that makes it easier for people to form brand trust over.
Green Technology
Since there is sustainable merchandising, naturally, there are also machines, processes and technology created to support this sustainability.
Either through the use of solar energy or minimising the waste of water, you can opt for green technology.
This is not limited to the aforementioned factors since you can also utilise a greener channel of communicating with your consumers.
Use Your Certifications
There are a lot of certifications that can attest to your sustainability merchandising and efforts.
While they are very handy when it comes to partnerships with other brands, they can also be vital for consumers.
It can be included in your packaging as well as on your sites, informing consumers about your standards and influencing them to take small steps on it too.
Get more sustainable merchandising products in the blogs below:
In this blog, we listed promotional products for the tech-savvy market made from sustainable materials. Ensure your market’s connectivity and the safety of their personal data all the while reducing your carbon footprint.
As the year approaches its end, the holiday season is almost at our fingertips, more and more celebrations will be held. Part with a lasting impression in your consumer through these eco-friendly gift sets!
Bags are one of the most used merchandise by consumers. They’re brought anywhere for various reasons and occasions. Establish your brand presence in your consumer’s daily routine through these eco-friendly bags!
Looking for alternatives to leather that are durable and environmentally friendly? Check out kraft tex and the merchandise ideas we suggested below:
Nowadays, people couldn’t leave their houses without their gadgets. Specifically, their phones. A thin and portable inductive charger to accompany them everywhere would guarantee a rise in sales, brand awareness and loyalty. Plus, it’s eco-friendly!
Essentially,
Sustainable merchandising encompasses the products, the services and the processes behind the products. It also includes how the products will be disposed of or recycled and repurposed at the end of their use. It’s a way of doing business that does no harm to the environment while meeting market demands or influencing them to take the same green steps.
If you’re interested to utilise the promotional products we suggested above, don’t hesitate to email us with the product code: ODM-4227 and get a quote today!
Who Are We?
The ODM Group is a promotional product development company established in 2003. Our decades in the industry gave us the experience to be experts in promotional merchandise and creative POP displays. We have an in-house creative team, Mindsparkz, who will work with you from brainstorming sessions to sourcing and production.
We offer a wide range of services such as manufacturing eco-friendly gift with purchase, designing point-of-sale and free-standing display units as well as providing packaging solutions for your corporate giveaways. Contact us today!
For more sustainable merchandising ideas and eco-friendly materials to choose from, you can check out our sustainable marketing below:
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