Corporate gifting is the practice of giving gifts to stakeholders, employees, and customers, as a way to build relationships with them and grow your business. However, this practice can be harmful to the planet, as it often involves unsustainable products and packaging. Given the devastating impact of climate change on the world, businesses must take action to reduce their waste and save the planet, and one way to do so is to align their gifting practices with eco-friendly initiatives. In other words, they should shift to sustainable corporate gifting, which means giving ethically produced gifts that do not harm the planet.
What are the benefits of choosing eco-friendly corporate gifting?
Sustainability matters a lot for businesses in 2023 and we have studies to prove it. Here are some exceptional stats showing the importance of green corporate gifting.
- 63% of consumers in the US would prefer to get an eco-friendly promotional product;
- 42% of consumers see advertisers in a more favorable light if the product is sustainable;
- 78% of UK office workers would rather do business with organizations with a solid eco-friendly policy regarding corporate gifts.
Given these facts, it only makes sense to embrace sustainable corporate gifting, especially when thinking about the many benefits you will get, such as positive environmental impact, improved brand reputation, social impact, and fostering loyalty and long-term relationships with everyone you do business with.
Characteristics of a sustainable gift
A sustainable gift ensures the materials used to manufacture the products are compostable and recyclable. In other words, they take into account the well-being of the communities, and can be:
- Items that reduce single use plastics;
- Items made of organic and locally sourced materials;
- Items created for certified sustainable processes;
- Items that comply with sustainable industry standards.
How to get started with sustainable corporate gifting
Sustainable corporate gifting is a great way to make a statement about your company’s values, and at the same time encourage both employees and customers to adopt a climate-friendly lifestyle. But how do you implement sustainable corporate gifting? If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry – we’re here to guide you through the process.
Use sustainable packaging
As mentioned earlier, packaging can be highly wasteful if plastics are used in the process. Since the material isn’t biodegradable, its impact on the planet is huge. Hence, one way to implement sustainable corporate gifting is to use eco-friendly packaging. For example, you can opt for cardboard or paper instead of plastic. Luckily, eco-friendly gift suppliers like Greengiving offer a wide range of products (such as cotton and paper bags) that will help you accomplish your sustainability goals and make your business stand out. Here are some examples of sustainable packaging you can use for corporate gifting:
- Reusable fabric bags;
- Compostable cellophane bags based on plant;
- FSC-certified paper;
- Biodegradable packing peanuts, etc.
Personalise the gifts
If you want to make an impression, consider personalizing your gifts. This will make them more memorable, allowing you to show appreciation to employees and customers and strengthen your relationships with them. For example, you can offer them customized notebooks with an inspirational message or your business logo printed on them.
Or, you can surprise your company associates with a unique calendar made of seeded paper. These are often part of the office, making for the perfect corporate gift. Once the year ends, they can put the calendar sheets in the soil and watch beautiful herbs and flowers grow out of them. Now, with such a gift, you will make your associates and the planet happy!
Give back to the community
Another way to make a meaningful impact is by giving back to an important cause, whether social or environmental. As a business, you hold significant power to change the world for the better, so you should use your resources to this end. For example, planting trees is an incredibly effective solution when it comes to fighting climate change. This is because once they grow, trees absorb CO2, which is a significant greenhouse gas that affects the environment.
Another idea is to contribute to renewable energy projects, which aim to reduce emissions and air pollution, saving water resources and boosting the economy. There are different renewable energy projects worth keeping an eye on, so make sure to research them and decide which one to fund.
Offer experiential gifts
Have you ever thought of offering customers and employees experiences instead of products? If not, you may want to consider it right now. This is a great idea that not only allows you to take care of the planet but also to make long-lasting, beautiful memories. Experiential gifts can range from cooking classes and wine tastings to outdoor adventures and wellness retreats. You can also offer cultural experiences like theatre tickets or museum visits – there are endless options!
What matters here is to tailor the experiences based on customers’ and employees’ preferences and interests. To succeed with this, you must take the time to understand what they are into. You could be thinking of organizing hikes, but if the recipients don’t enjoy taking long walks, this wouldn’t get you any results. So, you must first ensure they will like it by considering if it matches their personalities.
Move your business online
When it comes to reducing waste, going digital remains one of the most effective solutions. Once you do so, you can send digital gifts instead of physical ones, helping eliminate waste. Here are some excellent ideas for digital sustainable corporate gifts:
- Video or music downloads from artists;
- E-books on personal development or the importance of sustainability;
- Gift cards to ethical services;
- Digital team building events;
- Online subscriptions to wellness programs.
Moving your business online isn’t just a great way to protect the planet, but it can also help you connect with customers and employees in a more personal way, which can ultimately improve the bottom line of your organization.
Takeaway
Sustainable corporate gifting is a great way to contribute to a greener future. As more businesses embrace sustainability, there is no doubt that this trend is here to stay, so you should also adopt it to differentiate yourself from competitors and make a difference in society.
