Branded merchandise has an environmental footprint that's easy to overlook. Here's how to specify sustainable clothing and promotional items people actually keep.
The most important sustainability decision in merchandise is choosing items with genuine utility and quality that earns long-term use.
T-shirts and clothing
GOTS certified organic cotton is the gold standard. Recycled polyester (rPET) is strong for technical wear — each garment uses approximately 10-15 recycled plastic bottles. Specify water-based, PVC-free inks for screen printing.
Bags
GOTS certified cotton tote bags are genuinely useful, long-lasting and have a clear sustainability story. Natural jute bags are an excellent alternative. rPET bags when water resistance is needed.
Drinkware
Stainless steel insulated bottles are one of the highest-impact merchandise items. A quality bottle used daily for two years replaces approximately 700 single-use plastic bottles.
The principle
Make things people keep. A cheap logo pen that fails after a week is worse than no pen at all. Quality merchandise that’s kept and used is sustainable marketing.
Shop related products
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