Sustainable Branded Merch is here to stay
Seen as a buzzword in recent years, young buyers are making Sustainability a lasting category
Sustainability as a value proposition
The movement by younger buyers to align their buying decisions based upon how those products fit with their personal values has driven this industry shift.
Per a recent Forbes survey of consumers:
- Almost 30% said they want to improve the environment
- 23% wish to reduce production waste.
- 22% are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint
- 17% are concerned with animal welfare.
- 7% cited social signaling as a motivator
Moreover, a recent Business News Daily Survey reported 72% of respondents intentionally purchase more environmentally friendly products than they did five years ago.
With retail brands like Tentree focusing on these consumer intentions, corporate buyers are driving demand for merch that keys in on these values to attain and retain employees.
Defining the Term
That has been an object of contention in the environmental space as Sustainability lends itself to a wide range of interpretations.
Fine-tuning your Brand's sustainability standards and aligning product selection to those standards - be it with give-back initiatives or using green materials - will help build buy-in with employees and consumers.
However, all products in this space aren't equal, and labeling a product eco-friendly or sustainable doesn't mean that it is good for either term! Making sure that the products not only align with your Brand guidelines but also live up to the terminology is important, especially when the end user is driven to use that product.
By defining your Brandview of sustainability, you can then create a merchandise solution that not only helps the environment, but motivates employees to align their values with your Brand.