You’re attending a trade show and want to position your brand as eco-conscious. You often see visitors (and potential future customers) flocking to stands with freebies, but worry about the impact these have on the planet. In this guide, we’re providing simple tips to help you choose more eco-conscious freebies to hand out at your next event, so you can spread brand awareness without harming the environment.
From ditching one-use novelty items to choosing biodegradable or recycle-friendly materials, there are plenty of options to align with your brand’s planet-friendly ethos. Discover our highly recommended event products below.
Notebooks are a good choice. It’s a great way for people to add notes from their day, and, when the notepad is full, the paper can make its way into the recycling bin rather than the waste bin. More importantly, some notebooks are already crafted from recycled materials, so you can feel good that no trees were harmed in their creation.
Look out for the all-important FSC label. This is a trusted indication that materials have been responsibly sourced, and you’ll also support wider environmental initiatives, such as a no net loss of forest.
There are three labels to choose from, including:
FSC 100%: Materials sourced from FSC-certified forests.
FSC Recycled: Made from 100% recycled materials.
FSC Mix: Materials sourced from a mix of FSC-certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood.
And what about the wristbands for the event? You may worry that this is a one-use item that will end up in landfills. If the wristband is for one-time use to track people attending, we recommend the trusty paper wristband. However, if you want to promote continuous wear and even turn your brand into a fashion statement, the more hard-wearing silicone variety could be just the thing. Did you know they can be recycled at some centres? Well, now you do! With the option to add one or two colours, and a turnaround of just 24 days, your wonderful wristbands will be with you in less than a month.
The great news is that there are plenty of reusable freebie items, including drinkware. Water bottles and travel mugs are great for your event and the environment. They discourage people from using single-use plastic bottles while getting your brand name out there. Water bottles are common items we see people using in the office, at the gym—pretty much anywhere!
Our top tip? To avoid microplastics getting into the environment or food chain, look out for BPA-free items.
From providing branded T-shirts for your team to handing out freebie T-shirts to visitors, you’ll want to know how to select the most eco-friendly materials.
On the one hand, synthetic, plastic-based fibres, such as polyester and nylon, are non-biodegradable. If they end up in landfills, they could take up to 450 years to decompose.
While naturally-derived fibres, such as cotton and viscose, are biodegradable, they won’t always be responsibly sourced. Conventional cotton farms rely on pesticides and high water consumption, which contribute to localised drought and soil degradation.
So, which is best?
Organic cotton is a good go-between. It uses less water and takes synthetic chemicals out of the equation. The setback is that organic cotton is more expensive.
Another option is to source clothing made from 100% recycled materials. This breathes new life into materials that would otherwise have ended up in landfills, and it can be a cheaper option.
Of course, another key consideration is the longevity of the materials. No one wants to wear or receive a thin T-shirt that gets a hole in it after just a week! How materials are processed and the type of material can play a part in how long they last, as well as how comfortable they are.
We recommend ringspun cotton T-shirts as these are more durable and, being made from natural fibres, tend to be kinder to the skin and prevent sweating that can occur with synthetic materials. As for printing, you can choose between a 1-sided or 2-sided print design. For affordability, we recommend the one-sided T-shirt print, which is less than £12 per item.
If your brand is eco-conscious, GP Print is an ideal partner. As a business, we’re just as invested in our environmental responsibility and enjoy helping other brands level up their goals in this area. Using eco-friendly printing presses, vegetable-based inks and sustainably sourced paper are just some of the initiatives we follow. Shop our event printing products online and get a quote today.
