People are worried about climate change, and they’re responding with lifestyle changes—including the products they choose to purchase. Now is a perfect time for your charity to invest in more eco-friendly branded merchandise. We are in the midst of Recycled Week 2023 (a dedicated campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to reduce waste) and the drive for more sustainable products is fresh on the minds of donors and supporters.
In this post, we highlight the importance—and impact—of opting for more eco-friendly branded merchandise for your charity. We share statistics on the rise of sustainability in branding, explain how recycled products contribute to a circular economy, and share a few examples of affordable eco-friendly merchandise swaps you can make today. Whether you introduce your planet-friendly products for your year-end fundraising activities or during the next Recycled Week, this post will help you incorporate products that boost your donations and appeal to your supporters.
The Rise of Sustainability in Branding
The numbers are clear: People care about the impact they have on our planet. The Office for National Statistics reports that 74% of people are worried about climate change and 75% say they’ve made a lifestyle change to help tackle the problem. According to the 2022 Global Sustainability Study, more than 70% of consumers are making changes to the products they buy. In fact, eco-friendly products are one of the top five factors people consider when making a purchase. Another interesting statistic is who is clamoring for more sustainable products, even if they cost a bit more. A whopping 90% of UK millennials are keen to pay more for better products (compared to about three-quarters of Generation X consumers).
In short, more and more people are demanding eco-friendly and sustainable products. Corporations and charities alike have a role to play. Corporate social responsibility and environmental awareness is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s critical that your charity can speak to supporter’s concerns about how you’re adjusting your activities in response to climate change. This can impact everything from your reputation to your fundraising levels to recruitment and retention among your own staff, no matter your size or your focus area, be it mental health or animal welfare. This is especially true if millennials and younger supporters are a key demographic for your charity.
Re-positioning or calling attention to your charity as an eco-conscious organisation takes time and must be done with authenticity and care. But you can start small and begin to tell your planet-friendly story via the products you put into the world. Your socially and environmentally conscious supporters will value your charity for the efforts you make in the months and years to come.
The Importance of Recycled Materials
As we mentioned above, charity supporters are more aware of an organisation’s environmental footprint than ever before. Opting for sustainable or recycled branded merchandise is an easy, affordable, and must-do move to put your planet-friendly foot forward with supporters and donors. But you might ask, what exactly does recycled merchandise mean for our planet?
Recycled materials help reduce waste and conserve precious resources. Opting for more eco-friendly products contributes to a beneficial, circular economy. A LinkedIn article explains more: “One such approach that holds great promise is the concept of a circular economy. By embracing a circular economy mindset, we can reduce waste, maximise resource efficiency, and pave the way for a more sustainable future.” The article suggests seven actionable steps we can take to contribute to the circular economy movement. For your charity, these steps might include:
- Opt for reusable products: Choosing durable, reusable products over single-use items reduces the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills. It also reduces the number of pollutants introduced to our environment.
- Choose recycled materials: A key way your charity can contribute to the circular economy is by making smarter merchandise decisions. Opting for recycled materials closes the loop on the production cycle and reduces our need for virgin resources.
- Support sustainable businesses: You can also choose to partner with socially and environmentally friendly vendors. For example, at Rocket Charities, our Climate Positive Accreditation is just one proof point of our dedication to the environment. We also offset 110% of the emissions caused by shipping your order, and we’re dedicated to driving improvements in ethical and responsible business practices in global supply chains.
Tips for Choosing Recycled Merchandise
Swapping your favorite branded merchandise for more eco-friendly alternatives is easy and affordable—we also think it’s kind of fun! Keep in mind: your supporters use and want these items. A consumer study suggests that nearly 75% of people bring their own bags while shopping, and half of them use fabric bags. And two-thirds of people use refillable water bottles.
At Rocket Charities, we offer a wide range of recycled and reusable “bags for life”, like our Newchurch range of totes made from 70% natural recycled cotton and 30% rPET, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. Or check out our Natural Water Bottle made from sugar cane and bamboo which features a biodegradable lid. We also offer a range of recycled badges, running vests, and so much more!
In conclusion, we hope this post illuminates the importance of—and demand for—more sustainable branded merchandise for your charity’s upcoming fundraising activities. We encourage you to consider the environmental impact of your purchasing decisions and to lean into the myriad benefits of these special products. Please get in touch with our friendly experts to learn more. We can’t wait to help you pick the perfect products for our planet!