The Environmental Impact Of Promotional Merchandise And How Brands Are Making A Difference

Promotional products have long been a staple of marketing strategies, but their environmental impact is often overlooked. In 2025, businesses must rethink how branded merchandise fits into broader sustainability goals. It’s no longer just about visibility or reach - it’s about making responsible choices that reflect evolving consumer values. As customers become more conscious of how and where products are made, they expect promotional items to follow suit. That means aligning merchandise decisions with environmental responsibility is not optional, but essential for lasting brand trust.

That’s why at Brandconnect we offer a growing range of eco-friendly and sustainable promotional merchandise - helping brands reduce their environmental impact where it matters most. Here’s what to consider when building a promotional merchandise strategy that works for your business, resonates with your customers, and supports more responsible choices. 

The problem of waste

When branded merchandise isn’t made to last, it quickly becomes waste. Cheap plastic, single-use packaging, and novelty items that serve no real purpose are often thrown out just as fast as they’re handed out.

That’s not just bad for the environment - it reflects poorly on the brand. In a time when sustainability matters, thoughtful merchandise influences how consumers see you. If a product feels wasteful or unnecessary, it undermines even the best intentions.

Create value, not volume

Thankfully, there are many creative solutions to the problem of wasteful branded merchandise. By prioritising value over volume, businesses can offer well-designed, useful items that better fit into their customers’ lives.

One clear example of this is in the area of reusable coffee cups. This simple branded merch product can quickly become an everyday favourite for customers, giving them genuine value and helping them to adopt better sustainability practices for themselves. For brands who publicly discuss climate goals or ethical sourcing practices, it’s certainly non-negotiable that their promotional merchandising reflects these brand values - otherwise, there’s a high risk of disconnect within their brand experience.

Merch people actually use

At Brandconnect, we’re big believers in the power of great merchandising truly earning its place in consumers’ lives. This is where a focus on usefulness is paramount: delivering products that solve problems, complement routines, or become easy to reach for in everyday life. The best branded merch is the items people want to keep - and would miss if they were gone. This builds strong potential for ongoing brand loyalty while delivering better environmental outcomes at the same time.

For brands planning merchandise campaigns, it’s about being strategic, selective, and thoughtful. It’s also a chance to become part of your customer’s daily life - whether in their kitchen, at their desk, in their bag, or their wardrobe. If your branded product is there, it should serve a purpose.

Making strong, sustainable branded merch choices

If you’re a brand looking to reduce waste while still creating a powerful impact, how can you achieve this?

The best place to begin is by asking these simple questions:

• Does this product have a use that goes beyond the first point of interaction?
• Is it made of recyclable, compostable, or renewable materials?
• Does the product represent our environmental brand values?
• How will this product integrate into our customers’ lives over the long run?

The answers to these questions can provide strategic insights that fuel smart merch decisions, leading to the creation of thoughtful products that stand the test of time.

Conclusion

Sustainable merchandise doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it often leads to more thoughtful, intentional products. If you’re reviewing your approach to promotional merchandise and want to create something that’s truly sustainable, we’re here to help. At Brandconnect, we’re working with companies every day to design products that make sense - both for the planet and the people using them. Contact us today to learn more!