How to Choose Eco-Friendly Merch for Your Event

Picture this: You’ve just wrapped your “sustainable” conference. The banners claimed “zero waste!” The lanyards were branded “recyclable!” But as the cleanup crew bags hundreds of discarded “eco-friendly” totes and badge holders, a harsh truth sinks in: You’ve been greenwashed.

Why This Matters Now

Attendees care: 83% of Gen Z expects events to prioritise sustainability. Show up with disposable plastic swag, and you’re basically handing out reputation damage.
Regulations are coming: Single-use plastics are already banned in the EU and parts of the U.S. Future-proof your merch strategy.
Cost ≠ Compromise: Sustainable options can be cheaper (e.g., digital goodie bags vs. printed brochures).

A Real Wake-Up Call

Case Study: When Coachella swapped plastic wristbands for upcycled ocean plastic in 2022, they:

Cut wristband waste by 100%.
Got 2.4M social impressions from attendees posting their “trash-to-treasure” bands.
Paid less per unit (sponsors covered costs for branding rights).

Real-World Example:

A music festival swapped 20,000 plastic wristbands for seed paper tickets (attendees planted them post-event). Result? Zero wristband waste + viral marketing.

Budget Hacks

Sponsor partnerships: Brands pay for eco-merch in exchange for logo placement.
Bulk discounts: Recycled PET lanyards cost 40% less at 500+ units.

FAQ’s (7 Key Questions)

Q1: Are “biodegradable” plastics actually better?
A: Only if they’re industrially compostable (home compost bins rarely hit the required temperature).

Q2: What’s the most overrated “eco” product?
A: Cheap cotton tote bags. They require 20,000+ uses to offset their environmental impact (Danish EPA study).

Q3: How do I convince my boss eco-merch is worth the cost?
A: Show the data: 74% of attendees prefer events with sustainability efforts (UCLA).

Q4: Can I recycle merch after the event?
A: Depends. Recycled PET lanyards? Yes. “Compostable” PLA cups? Only in very specific facilities.

Q5: What’s the easiest eco-swap for beginners?
A: Digital programs (QR codes) instead of printed booklets. Saves money and trees.

Q6: Are bamboo products always sustainable?
A: Only if FSC-certified. Unregulated bamboo farming can cause deforestation.

Q7: What’s a sneaky greenwashing trick to watch for?
A: The “made with recycled materials” claim—unless it states a percentage (e.g., “30% post-consumer waste”), it’s meaningless.