Our favourite earth-friendly merch trends for 2024

As B Corp month draws to a close, we’d love to share some exciting trends in eco-friendly products.

We’re big fans of low-impact, eco-friendly products here at ASB. As branded merchandise experts, it isn’t lost on us that our industry contributes a fair bit to landfill. That’s just one of the reasons why we’re committed to offering the largest, most diverse range of eco-friendly products we can, and ensuring we keep a (very green) finger on the pulse of what’s new, what’s improved and what’s around the corner.

Only a few years ago, the lean toward green was seen as trendy or ultra-progressive, but these days, most businesses are prioritising sustainability as part of responsible business practice. Demand for eco-friendly branded merchandise is soaring and advancements in eco-friendly products are happening every day. They’re often at the forefront of their fields, too, meaning you won’t lose any benefits by choosing green.

In fact, you’ll likely be gaining a whole slew of bonuses because eco-friendly products are:

Here are some of the top earth-friendly trends coming in hot in 2024.

1. Repreve

The clever folk at Repreve transform recycled plastic bottles into sustainable polyester, which is trusted as one of the best yarns in the business by some of the world’s biggest brands. At last count, over 40 billion bottles had been turned into traceable, sustainable fibre – 40 billion! Incredible to think that the plastic Coke bottle you dumped in the recycling bin can now be turned into thermo-regulating pants, moisture-repellent activewear for athletes, odour-control tees or even water-repellent phone cases.

2. The Better Cotton Initiative

The Better Cotton Initiative is on a mission to make cotton production more sustainable, while also supporting the safety and wellbeing of its workers. Better Cotton Licensed Farmers produce cotton in an enviro-friendly way, minimising the effects of fertilisers and pesticides, showing care for water, soil health and natural habitats, and committing to ethical work conditions. As a company committed to doing business better, we’re inspired by this brilliant initiative.

3. Karst’s Stone Paper

We love that Karst’s paper is 100 percent tree-free. Instead, Karst’s very cool paper goods are made from recycled stone meaning they are free of wood, bleach, acid, water and waste. It’s also one of the most beautiful papers you’ll ever scrawl on, silky smooth and delightfully durable. We’re huge fans.

4. OEKO-TEX

We all know that every time you choose eco, you reduce waste and the strain on natural resources. But the fact that many eco-friendly products are far better for your health is a very tasty cherry on top. Take OEKO-TEX certified products, for example, which test every component, from the fabric to the thread to the accessories, against a list of up to 350 toxic chemicals. Only by passing this stringent test will a product earn an OEKO-TEX label, meaning you can rest assured your health is in very good hands with an OEKO-TEX product.

5. Upparel

Leaders in textile recovery and recycling, Upparel are champions at keeping clothing from landfill (over a million items, at last count). Encouraging people to send in unwanted textiles, they sort each item into a recovery channel to be reused, repurposed or recycled. Anything recycled is turned into a revolutionary new material, UPtex, which can be used for all sorts of things from packaging to signage to homewares. It’s estimated that almost 500,000kg of greenhouse gas was saved from entering the atmosphere thanks to this inspirational circular business.

Of course, many more eco-possibilities abound and our Branded Merchandise Experts are always on hand to help you choose the best eco-friendly products for your business. Chat to us today!