If your business or charity is exhibiting this year, you may feel something ‘eco’ and more innovative feels appropriate?  Your instinct for your client is probably right.  While many UK buyers do not yet have sustainability targets in place, almost two thirds (63%) are expecting to maintain or increase their investment in sustainability and sustainable procurement in 2025.*

As a carbon-neutral company, Whitehall are passionate about eco-products; so we’ve put together a list of the most popular and sustainable merchandise we supply.  With so many plastic alternatives now available, there’s really no reason to order virgin plastics for your next event!

In fact, endless use of disposable and unsustainable products could potentially embarrass your brand in front of savvy consumers.  So, here’s our top 5 gifts to win at sustainable merchandising.

1. RE-USABLE TOTE BAGS

With all major supermarkets dropping plastic bags, bags-for-life are arguably the most useful re-usable gift of our times. A quality tote bag is ideal for carrying items around an exhibition and beyond, providing lasting brand exposure.

Whilst organic cotton reduces water waste and pesticide pollution, jute and bamboo are fast-growing using less water. Jute bags also last longer and are more readily biodegradable.

Average prices based on 100: from £1.49 to £2.99 each

2. EVER-POPULAR PENS & PENCILS

Pens and pencils are a classic giveaway and ideal on a limited budget. Opt for recycled plastic pens or go for something fully biodegradable such as corn starch. At a recent exhibition we gave away pencils made from recycled newspapers, which went down really well. These are available in 7 vibrant colours to suit most brands and are a great talking point.

We even supply pens made from recycled milk cartons!  From just 39p each.

3. LUXURY BOTTLES & CUPS

A highly durable item for outdoor events and beyond, drinks containers offer long-term visibility for your brand. Reusable metal thermal cups are currently trending as people move away from plastic and concerns around micro-plastics.

We often see our recycled and recyclable steel ranges working particularly well for gyms, solicitors and travel companies. There are also some very stylish bamboo combinations available.

Recylable steel tumblers from £8.99

4. POWER BANKS & CHARGERS

In today’s digital age, power banks are highly sought after, especially by data-hungry commuters and students. Portable and practical, these will keep your brand visible for several years. Again, there are plastic-free alternatives available, such as our bamboo and wheat straw, that can be engraved or over-printed with your logo.

Bamboo cordless charger from £5.99

5. BADGES & LANYARDS

Ordered in their thousands each year, many lanyards are made from single-use plastics, that sadly end up in landfill. However, there are wide range of alternatives such as plant silk, bamboo fibre and even cork ribbon lanyards.

Cork lanyards will shout “sustainability” to your visitors and are fully biodegradable when your event is over, available from just £1.49 per lanyard.

With most lanyards ending up in landfill, could you produce a re-usable forever necklace and simply swap out your guest names at each event?

We offer beautiful Kraft cardboard badges and even chalkboard surfaces for re-usable, writeable name badges.

Top Tip: Adding a QR code to your printed take-aways will make it easy for your prospect to contact you and allow you to directly measure your print’s value.

Choosing between the various categories of sustainable ‘eco’ products can be quite daunting. Our dedicated merch website allows clients to choose between categories such as biodegradable, organic, vegan, re-useable and recycled.  It’s difficult to assess the complete impact of a product so it’s always worth deciding which of the categories is most important to your brand. For example, an Ad agency may look for a quirky an imaginative recycled product, whereas a manufacturer may be more interested in quality and re-useability.

And do feel free to ask us if there is a biodegradable, recyclable paper alternative available – you may be surprised!  After all, paper is the world’s most recycled product.

For our full range of eco-gifts, visit www.whitehallmerch.co.uk  and select ‘eco’ filters.

N.B. Prices may not include cost for decoration, setup, freight, or VAT.  For a detailed quote based on your desired quantity, send a request to enquiries@whitehallprinting.co.uk.