Why invest in sustainable branded merchandise UK

Make a statement with sustainable branded merchandise for UK businesses that reflects your ethical brand values and champions positive change. Teaming up with our social enterprise partners is a powerful way to push forward your social procurement and wider CSR strategy. More than just a do-good choice, our branded merchandise is as cool and high quality as it is sustainable. These are just some examples of the products your colleagues and clients will use again and again – from hand-blown glass coffee cups to upcycled laptop cases. 

Create a powerful emotional connection to your brand with our feel-good merch. 

Your clients and employees increasingly want to see action on the climate crisis and are leaning into green, ethical values. This means traditional promotional products are losing their swaying power – no one wants to take home swag or gifts that are wasteful and made in cheap, unethical ways. 

Sustainable branded merchandise is the solution. Useful, ethically made products reflect your commitment to environmental stewardship and transform your brand image into a business that truly has green values at its heart. 

Dive into our diverse range crafted from recycled plastics, bamboo and wheat straw, among other eco materials. Innovative items like USBs made from recycled newspaper and cork notebooks offer unique branding opportunities. 

Plus, everything here creates even further ripples of positive impact, thanks to our UK-based social enterprise suppliers’ social and environmental missions. 

UK-based sustainable branded merchandise for onboarding

Welcome new joiners with an onboarding hamper or gift they’ll love. Eco-friendly, impactful products communicate your company values, sending your newest recruits a clear message that they’re entering a purpose-led workplace. 

This is invaluable for recruitment and employee engagement, as more and more candidates prioritise environmentally minded employers in their job search. Green values will set you apart from competitors and could even be more enticing than a sky-high salary: Deloitte reports that 50% of workers would take a pay cut to work at an environmentally friendly company.

So, once the contract and start date are all agreed, send one of our sustainable new joiner gifts their way for a great first impression before they’ve even met the team. They’ll enjoy discovering how their new items are helping people and planet, such as the reusable water bottles giving back to a charity delivering meals to children in need and a sealife centre on the British coast. 

Eco-friendly promotional products for UK events

Stand out from the crowd at conferences, trade shows and events with UK-based social enterprise merch, earning client appreciation while increasing brand awareness. Choose from eco-friendly alternatives to traditional promotional products – bags, clothing, drinkware, pens, stationery, gadgets and exhibition items.

Customised with your bespoke branding, these products serve as a lasting reminder to attendees of who you are and your purpose-led values. They make a far more impactful impression than typical throwaway freebies. 

That’s especially true thanks to the stories of positive change connected to these items. Even the humble pen, a giveaway staple, can make a memorable statement when done social enterprise style. This recycled aluminium edition promotes safe, active travel for school kids. 

UK event merch that reflect your brand values

Align your eco-friendly promotional products to the values of your brand and event for maximum impact. Rural land management organisation The Crown Estate impressed attendees at a Marine Data Exchange stakeholder event with meaningful sustainable merch that had a connection to water and nature. 

Attendees took away items like a stone notebook and reusable water bottle that both donate to a clean water charity. They were delighted to see the effort made to create products in keeping with the spirit of their shared objectives, especially knowing they were carbon positive. 

Allow us to match you with social enterprise merch like this, helping you to spark synergy with your attendees. Whether they’re your clients, colleagues, stakeholders or potential leads, it’s a sure-fire way to forge a meaningful connection to your brand.

Frequently asked questions

Who are Social Supermarket?

Social Supermarket is the UK’s largest social enterprise marketplace and a certified B Corporation. Behind the team are three founders, Jamie, Alex and Matt, who were inspired to leave their corporate careers behind after being inspired by the impactful stories behind social enterprises. 

How do I know these products are sustainably and ethically made?

We independently verify the impact of all of the sustainable products you see in our marketplace using a mixture of our own criteria and survey methods, alongside accreditations from the likes of Good Market, SEUK and B Corporation.

You can read more about our quality control process in our guide to maximising the potential of your branded merchandise. 

Are sustainable products more expensive than regular merch?

You might be surprised to find that making more ethically conscious purchases doesn’t necessarily always mean a higher price tag. A survey undertaken by Social Enterprise UK showed that 75% of corporate partners in their Buy Social Corporate Challenge found social enterprises to be cost neutral or cheaper when compared with other suppliers. 

Even in cases where it’s the more expensive choice, there are many advantages to paying more to ensure you’re getting sustainable merch. For starters, when products are made with care for people and planet, they’re often of a higher quality and so more durable or long-lasting. Interested to know more about how sustainability is tied to profitability and employee retention? We dove into the benefits of buying from B Corps and other purpose-led brands.

Is sustainable branded merchandise right for my company?

If you’re serious about embedding purpose into your workplace, then swapping your standard products for more ethical alternatives is a good first step. 

Merchandise has long been shown to influence loyalty, but the wrong products can send the wrong message. With employees more attuned than ever to how their companies are integrating sustainability into processes and workplace products, making sure your branded merch matches your values is crucial for employee engagement and retention. Don’t just take our word for it – read how Clarke Willmott aligned their branded merchandise gifts to their ESG strategy.

I’ve never ordered branded merchandise before. What’s the process?

No problem, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Firstly, you might like to browse our website for brandable gifts or simply speak to one of our friendly team about your goals so that we can present some product ideas to you. 

We’ll send you a selection of eco-friendly, brandable product ideas together with the timelines to receive your items and quotes based on your desired quantities following our first discussion. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection we’ll share mock-ups of your branded items for you to choose from. Sign off your order and we’ll send you an invoice.

Once you’ve used up existing stores (no waste here, please), introduce your new branded merchandise to your team.

What are your best-selling promotional products?

Some of our most popular sustainable branded merchandise products include reusable water bottles and coffee cups, eco-friendly notebooks, desk gardens, wildflower seed packs and other plants. 

Can I request a sample of branded products?

Absolutely. As standard, we can provide you with mock-ups of how your logo will appear on your chosen product or products. If you’d like to see a physical sample, these can be made on request and at the relevant cost. Simply ask your account manager for details.

How long will my products take to arrive?

If you need your branded merchandise products for a specific date, it’s advisable to let your account manager know the desired delivery date. If you’re ordering items for an event date, let us know so that we can factor this into delivery times and ensure a prompt arrival.

Is there a minimum order quantity? 

Yes, we have various minimum order quantities depending on the product or products you’re interested in. As a general rule of thumb, we aren’t able to brand merch products at a lower quantity than 30. Our sales team will always communicate minimum order quantities with you based on the items you’d like, and can happily advise alternatives that might fit within your budget and desired quantity.

I’ve found a cheaper quote. Can you beat it?

If you’re looking for branded merchandise based on price point alone, then we are probably not the company for you. Rest assured, our pricing is very competitive and sustainably made branded merchandise doesn’t always come at a higher cost, but when it does you can be sure that that’s because it’s been made in good working conditions, where workers are paid fairly for their time. We understand sometimes you’re looking for a way to make a start with merch that creates impact while working to a budget and our team will always introduce you to the best ethical products for your budget.