Eco-Friendly 

Promotional 

Products

Sustainable merchandise and the marketing mix

The world has become very environmentally aware in the last couple of years. Aware of the impact on the planet of plastics, aware of the dangers of global warming. Many brands are demonstrating their commitment to supporting the environmental cause by being conscious of the items they buy. 

Promotional gifts are great way to promote a brand, but we must not add to the throw-away society. To do this Pavilion look for great merchandise which is useful and therefore will be retained. Products made from recycled materials or materials which are biodegradable.

Pavilion recognises how important branded promotional products are for the marketing mix which is why we have pulled together the best eco friendly promotional products we could find. If you do not see the sustainable promotional product you are looking for on the site please do contact us to discuss your ideas.

Which eco-friendly promotional products?

Like all promotional merchandise there are many things to choose from including:

Clothing - recycled rPET T-shirts to organic cotton

Drinkware – recycled plastics and recycled aluminium as well as glass

Bags – not just cotton totes but novel paper and jute

Pens – from bamboo to recycled plastic

Notebooks - kraft paper covers to stone paper notebooks and recycled leather

We also have a range of tech products and premium gift ideas for that special client

How do I know if it’s Eco-Friendly?

We have all heard of ‘greenwash’, read our blog on what is greenwash?, the issue for the eco conscious marketer is knowing when the claims of a supplier are true and ethical. There is no 1-10 rating for promotional products which will tell you which is better because the issue is to a degree subjective. For example, a re-usable drinking cup is environmental if it encourages refill rather than land-fill, but if it is made from virgin plastic is it eco-friendly?

We explain in detail at the blog post here – but essentially it boils down to:

Material Selection – looking for re-cycled materials such as recycled plastics and recycled aluminium; but also naturally biodegradable such as cotton, paper, wood and our favourite bamboo.

Production processes – look for organic cotton, GOTS, or other certified processes including Fair Trade.

Durability and longevity – seek products which will last such as a recycled aluminium water bottle,

Functionality and relevance – choose something that will actual be used. Functionality means that we are not adding to a throwaway society. A quality pen which will serve a client for a long time is much better than a throw plastic pen, even if the plastic is recycled.

Branding Eco-friendly merchandise

The main purpose of promotional items is to put the brand in the hands of your client. Ensure that your branding is as eco as possible by using embroidery rather than print on a garment. Look for printing methods which are water based rather than solvent based or why not think about engraving which does not involve any harmful chemicals.

But also ensure the choice of a product matches the brand image you are creating. Is your brand technical and functional, entertaining and fun, or responsible. The item can always project an image and be environmentally friendly.

Sustainable is no longer unusual

Not so very long ago sustainable and environmentally friendly was seen as a quirky and eco- specialists like Pavilion a bit unusual. But sustainability is now main stream. This means that the design and quality of the items available is vast and some of the claims made exaggerated. Even more reason to talk to a specialist company that has been in this market for some time and has built up an expertise and understands the subject.

Carbon footprint and carbon off-setting

Pavilion look at our carbon footprint very carefully ensuring the office and factory use power from renewable sources and that we use a parcel carrier that is carbon neutral for our deliveries. If you would like to know what your personal carbon footprint looks like we have a free carbon footprint calculator you can use.

If you wish to off-set your carbon footprint then we guide you to UK and international projects where you can offset your carbon emissions through the investment in tree planting and similar projects.

Sustainability advice and innovation

Pavilion prides itself in a consultative approach. Even if you are at the early stages of a project and are looking for help and advice and most often new ideas, then do get in touch, We are more than happy to chat about ideas, what has worked for in the past and the products which ‘hot’ at the moment.

Pavilion spends a lot of time exploring new product ideas and testing the claims of new eco-friendly products

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the lead time?

Clearly this depends on the project but most products are 10-14 days with some in under a week. If you have a deadline to hit tell us and we will see what we can do.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

Depends on the product but many of our products do not have an MOQ – but rather will become very expensive at small quantities because of the amortisation of the print set up costs

Can you brand with my logo?

Yes – almost certainly – send us the logo and we will tell you what we can achieve. We will need high resolution vector files in order to ensure the best printing or embroidery outcome but we have experts on hand to advise you.

Can you deliver abroad?

Yes – we shipping abroad on a daily basis – we have a deep understanding of what is required by the customs officials of many countries both when shipping to businesses, home addresses and exhibitions and events.

Can you give me some ideas?

Yes – that’s what we do – easier if we chat about it but what we need to understand is the objective of your project and the message you are trying to convey. We will ask about the nature of your target market and the personality of your target client, any colour or moods you wish to convey and the budget you have. Happy to chat

What’s new?

Ask us and we will give you our view of the up to date trends and the newest items on the market.