Should Companies Stop Giving Out Promotional Freebies in the Name of Sustainability?

Julie Starr • July 27, 2024

It’s absolutely fantastic that the world is finally becoming more eco-conscious, in fact, nowadays, there are even more tradeshows out there, and what’s not to love there? But one thing that usually goes with trade shows or any industry related even would be giving out freebies, right? 

Well, the idea of giving out promotional freebies might seem a bit old-fashioned. With everyone pushing for sustainability, isn’t it time we ditch those giveaway gimmicks?

Well, not so fast. While it’s true that we need to be mindful of our environmental impact, there's still room for freebies if we rethink our approach. Yes, you read that right. People love freebies, and companies love to give out freebies, and it’s the best way to attract visitors to your stand. So, with that all said, let’s dive into why it’s perfectly okay to still hand out those goodies, but with a sustainable twist.


The Magic of Promotional Items

Promotional items are like the secret sauce of marketing. They’re those little tokens that keep your brand at the top of your mind. So, just go ahead and imagine walking through a busy trade show – what catches your eye? That’s right, a cool freebie! For basically everyone, it’s going to be a cool freebie! These items have a magical way of drawing people in and sparking conversations. They’re not just random handouts; they’re brand ambassadors in disguise.

Seriously, just go ahead and think about it: a thoughtfully chosen freebie can make a lasting impression. It’s not just about the item itself but the positive association it creates with your brand. 

The trick is to ensure that these freebies are not just eye-catching but also useful and relevant to your audience. However, the key is to find a supplier that has good stuff, stuff that people want, and unique promotional materials that people want to own and want to sport around.


No One Wants Junk

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – those tacky plastic keychains, stress balls, and other bits and bobs that nobody really wants. They’re the culprits behind the negative reputation of promotional items. These trinkets often end up in the bin, contributing to our ever-growing waste problem. Not exactly a good look for a company trying to stay relevant in the sustainability era, right?

So, you really need to keep in mind that consumers today are savvy. They care about the planet and are quick to judge brands that don’t seem to share their values. So, if you’re handing out cheap, throwaway items can backfire, making your company look out of touch and environmentally irresponsible.


It’s About Being Smarter and Greener

So, what’s the solution? It’s simple – don’t ditch the freebies, just make them smarter and greener. It was mentioned earlier, but it’s about finding the right supplier that provides sustainable products that people specifically want to own. So, with that all said, the key is to offer items that people will actually use and appreciate, and that won’t harm the planet. This approach shows that your brand is innovative, thoughtful, and committed to sustainability.

Consider this: instead of a stress ball, why not hand out a sleek, reusable water bottle? Everyone needs to stay hydrated, and a stylish bottle can be a daily companion, constantly reminding the user of your brand. 

Or how about a set of eco-friendly bamboo cutlery? Perfect for those who lunch on the go and want to avoid single-use plastics. These are just ideas, but they help the environment overall.

By Julie Starr April 18, 2025
Any business that focuses on sustainability needs to take a holistic approach to their operations. They’ll need to make sure everything is as sustainable as possible. This often feels complicated for various areas. One of the more notable is picking the right marketing strategies for sustainability companies. This can be difficult, as some options mightn’t be eco-friendly. That’s especially true with many more traditional options, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few your business can go for. There shouldn’t be a reason why they wouldn’t be sustainable marketing strategies. Run Eco-Friendly Digital Events Event marketing can often be a great area to invest in, but it’s not always the most sustainable option. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few ways to make it more sustainable. You could run digital events , which are often much more eco-friendly than their traditional counterparts. There’ll be no need for people to travel and generate carbon emissions, for example. There’ll also be a whole lot less waste during the event itself. Aside from being more environmentally friendly, this offers more than a few other benefits. There’s no reason why these events shouldn’t help your business. Invest in SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) can often be one of the better marketing strategies for sustainability companies. It doesn’t have a negative environmental impact, and it could offer you some amazing results. It’ll help you generate some great brand awareness, visibility, and even sales. This gets more and more in time. t can often be one of the more complicated areas to master, though. That doesn’t mean you can’t make it more straightforward. You can always look into professionals to help you with this, like here: https://tonimarino.co.uk . With a bit of time, you’ll see quality results from your SEO. Get Involved in Eco-Friendly Initiatives Countless eco-friendly initiatives are run every year, and these can often be great to get involved in. They can help you improve your brand awareness while getting in front of like-minded individuals. Many of these could be in a position to be interested in your products or services. Even sponsoring some of these initiatives can be worth it. It’s just a matter of looking into which initiatives you can actually take part in. Spend a bit of time figuring out which ones can be a great option for you. It’ll even help improve how people view your brand going forward. Figuring out the best marketing strategies for sustainability companies can often be a little complicated. Some options can be ruled out relatively quickly, as they mightn’t be too environmentally friendly. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few options you can go for. A few of them could stand out. These shouldn’t have a negative environmental impact, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider them. They’ll also offer you some amazing results going forward. With the impact they can have, it’s more than worth putting the time and effort into them. You’ll see some quality results because of it.
By Julie Starr April 15, 2025
Any business that focuses on sustainability needs to take a holistic approach to their operations. They’ll need to make sure everything is as sustainable as possible. This often feels complicated for various areas. One of the more notable is picking the right marketing strategies for sustainability companies. This can be difficult, as some options mightn’t be eco-friendly. That’s especially true with many more traditional options, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few your business can go for. There shouldn’t be a reason why they wouldn’t be sustainable marketing strategies. Run Eco-Friendly Digital Events Event marketing can often be a great area to invest in, but it’s not always the most sustainable option. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few ways to make it more sustainable. You could run digital events , which are often much more eco-friendly than their traditional counterparts. There’ll be no need for people to travel and generate carbon emissions, for example. There’ll also be a whole lot less waste during the event itself. Aside from being more environmentally friendly, this offers more than a few other benefits. There’s no reason why these events shouldn’t help your business. Invest in SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) can often be one of the better marketing strategies for sustainability companies. It doesn’t have a negative environmental impact, and it could offer you some amazing results. It’ll help you generate some great brand awareness, visibility, and even sales. This gets more and more in time. t can often be one of the more complicated areas to master, though. That doesn’t mean you can’t make it more straightforward. You can always look into professionals to help you with this, like here: https://tonimarino.co.uk . With a bit of time, you’ll see quality results from your SEO. Get Involved in Eco-Friendly Initiatives Countless eco-friendly initiatives are run every year, and these can often be great to get involved in. They can help you improve your brand awareness while getting in front of like-minded individuals. Many of these could be in a position to be interested in your products or services. Even sponsoring some of these initiatives can be worth it. It’s just a matter of looking into which initiatives you can actually take part in. Spend a bit of time figuring out which ones can be a great option for you. It’ll even help improve how people view your brand going forward. Figuring out the best marketing strategies for sustainability companies can often be a little complicated. Some options can be ruled out relatively quickly, as they mightn’t be too environmentally friendly. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few options you can go for. A few of them could stand out. These shouldn’t have a negative environmental impact, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider them. They’ll also offer you some amazing results going forward. With the impact they can have, it’s more than worth putting the time and effort into them. You’ll see some quality results because of it.