Sustainability is here to stay in the Promotional Products and Fashion Industries. With 58% of distributors preferring to purchase products that are environmentally friendly (SOI Report 2023), and 50% of consumers ranking sustainability as a top 5 value driver in purchase decisions, it's important to provide a sustainable option for your client. (PPAI Industry Trends).
Here are some ideas to help you incorporate green practices into your promotional efforts:
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Sustainable Merchandise: Eco-friendly items are winning.
Millennials will comprise of 75% of the workforce by 2025, and the influence they have on the retail market is growing along with their spending power, which has grown to over $2.5 trillion. So, it makes sense why their shopping trends and spending behavior have caught the attention of so many research campaigns. To them, social responsibility matters more than price with 73% of Millennials willing to pay more for sustainable brands and actively seeking them out (Forbes). That’s why it’s important to always try to present at least one sustainable option to your end user.
Every Storm Creek style is eco-made and sustainably sourced from our Bluesign® or Oeko-Tex® certified mills. With a wide breadth of options from polos to jackets, men's and women's fits, and an array of core and trending colors, there will be something for everyone.
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Eco-friendly Packaging: Make small but mighty differences.
Reducing your environmental impact through the use of eco-friendly packaging involves making conscious choices that prioritize sustainability. If your promotional activities involve sending products or samples, using eco-friendly packaging materials, such as recycled cardboard or biodegradable wraps can greatly reduce your environmental impact.
Plastic bags are among the most common sources of marine debris, where they can be mistaken as food by birds and fish. These bags also aren’t biodegradable, meaning it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose in a landfill.
Our polybags are made from Plastic #4, making them durable, but they can only be recycled through certain programs. To combat our bags being recycled incorrectly, we have begun collecting them at our company events and encourage our employees to bring them in from their homes. Since February, we have collected and recycled 795 pounds of plastic bags.
But this is just the beginning of transforming our packaging and transitioning to a more eco-friendly alternative. We are always actively looking for way to make our supply chain more sustainable.
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Donate to Green Causes: Empower positive change.
Consider partnering with environmental organizations or initiatives that mean more to your company and employees. For example, we are a member of 1% for the Planet, making donations to the National Park Foundation! We are also a Minnesota Keystone member, donating 5% of our profits to both local and national charitable organizations.
By contributing to green causes, you actively participate in the global effort to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and preserve natural resources. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant impact and amplifies the collective voice advocating for a greener, healthier world.
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Emphasize Sustainability in Messaging: Shout it loud and proud!
Incorporate eco-friendly messaging into your promotional materials. Highlight how your products or services contribute to sustainability or how your company is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact.
You can easily track your eco-impact with Storm Creek. The total number of upcycled bottles from each order is printed on your invoice and shipping confirmation. Once you understand the impact you have simply by selecting a sustainable option, it’s hard to go back.
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Educate and Engage: Foster conscious choices.
Use your promotional activities as an opportunity to educate your audience about the importance of sustainability and what they can do to make a difference. By providing information about sustainable practices, the environmental impact of products, and the benefits of eco-friendly choices, you empower your customers to make informed decisions aligned with their values.
At the PPAI expo in 2022, we launched Sustainability School and it was a huge success. Our President and Founder, Doug Jackson educated distributors on the fast fashion crisis, what it means for promo, and what we can do to be a catalyst for positive change. During Earth Month last spring we brought Sustainability School back and launched a full course educating distributors on how to get ahead of their end users' sustainability needs. We have plans to expand this course so that we can always be your resource for sustainable decision making.
By prioritizing sustainable efforts across business practices, you can help redefine how promotions can be both impactful and environmentally responsible.
