Sustainable Corporate Gifts We Know Are Made to Last
Whether for the holidays, a birthday, or simply to celebrate a team member’s hard work, corporate gifts are a great way to show your colleagues you care. But the problem with most corporate gift options is that they rely on cheap materials that aren’t made to last. Never fear, though; there are plenty of sustainable corporate gifts out there to choose from instead. We’ve got you covered with some of our favorite product finds to help you get started.
What are Sustainable Corporate Gifts, Exactly?
Show your team that your company values sustainability and ethical consumption by choosing an eco-friendly gift idea. A good sign of sustainability to look for is products that are handmade, made to order, or made in the USA. It also helps to pay attention to the materials that go into the product: where do they come from, and what’s their environmental impact?
Above all else, you’ll want to choose a gift that your team members will actually want to use. The last thing you need is to invest in something that will only end up stuffed in a closet – or worse, in the trash.
Top 5 Sustainable Corporate Gift Ideas: How We Chose
To compile our list of the best sustainable corporate gift ideas, we looked for products that make an effort to minimize the waste they create and their environmental footprint. We only considered brands that make an effort to give back, whether through their sourcing practices, philanthropy, or commitment to protecting the planet. You can feel good about any of these gift picks; all that’s left to do is choose your favorite!
Our Picks
All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author and DGHQ editors. However, Do Good HQ may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.
1. Custom Patagonia Sweaters & Jackets
| Great For | Whole-team corporate gifts, retreats, conferences, other events |
| Sustainability Highlights | Recycled materials, Fair Trade-Certified factories |
Patagonia is a great starting point for sustainable corporate gift ideas that will delight your team. If a sweater or jacket doesn’t tickle your fancy, the brand also offers custom vests, gloves, and more.
Highlights
As a 1% for the Planet partner, Patagonia donates a portion of its proceeds – including those from group sales – to environmental protection and restoration efforts. We know we can trust Patagonia to deliver on quality, too. Their products are all made to last, and many of them use recycled materials.
Things to Consider
If you’d like to order your customized gifts directly from Patagonia, make sure you review all of the brand’s policies so you know what to expect. All group orders must meet a 10-unit minimum to be placed.
2. Packed With Purpose Corporate Gift Baskets
| Great For | Remote workers, teams of all sizes |
| Sustainability Highlights | Certified B Corp, recyclable packaging, sustainable sourcing |
Packed With Purpose is an innovative gift basket brand offering sustainable corporate gift boxes packed with all kinds of unique goodies. Choose the theme or focus that suits your team members for a truly impactful gift!
Highlights
When you choose Packed With Purpose, you support Black- and women-owned businesses from around the country. The brand only works with its Impact Partners to supply the goodies inside each box. All Impact Partners have been rigorously vetted for fair trade practices, ethical employee treatment, and sustainable sourcing.
But that’s not all – Packed With Purpose also uses 100% recycled materials in its gift boxes. Both the box itself and the packaging inside are also completely recyclable.
Things to Consider
Depending on the boxes you choose, it’s possible that a specific product, scent, or flavor may need to be replaced if it runs out of stock. This might be helpful to keep in mind if you’re looking for something very specific or want to avoid certain food allergies.
3. Siblings Zero Waste Candle Starter Set
| Great For | Team building, holiday or birthday gifts |
| Sustainability Highlights | Zero waste, eco-friendly wax, recyclable packaging |
Ditch the traditional candle sets and opt for a zero-waste candle and wax kit from Siblings. The brand’s basic bundle comes with a reusable vessel and a bag of coconut wax, which can be added and melted to create a sustainable candle.
Highlights
All Siblings candle wax is made in the USA. The wax is made with non-toxic fragrances and essential oils, giving it an amazing smell. The bags the wax comes in are also biodegradable.
Things to Consider
While this gift might be a little more expensive than other options, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Anyone can purchase more wax refills – in the scents of their choosing, of course – to continue using their candle set for years to come.
Plus, while the basic set may come with a vessel, you technically don’t have to use a container from Siblings for your candle. Any glazed ceramic or sturdy glass vessel that’s around 3” in diameter will do. You can even make DIY candles as a team-building activity!
4. Papier Personalized Eco-Conscious Journals
| Great For | Individual gifts, creative team members |
| Sustainability Highlights | Ethically sourced materials, plastic-free packaging |
A customized journal from Papier is a simple but effective, sustainable corporate gift idea that your recipient won’t soon forget. While Papier’s journals already come with signature designs, you can modify their cover to add elements like names, messages, or quotes.
Highlights
Each Papier journal has 96 leaves of sturdy, lined paper, and you can also opt for dotted or plain pages. The paper used in the journal is sustainably sourced. These gifts have thick hardcovers. They are definitely made to last.
Things to Consider
Since these journals are a little expensive for individual units, they’re probably best saved for individual team members or special occasions.
5. Budget Find: Eco-Friendly Reusable Utensil Kit
| Great For | Team events or outings, gift baskets, small gifts |
| Sustainability Highlights | Handmade, recycled cardboard packaging |
Who said you have to spend a fortune to give something sustainable? We use utensils basically every day, so a reusable bamboo cutlery set like this find from Etsy is a safe choice no matter who you’re gifting to. We like this kit because it comes with all the essentials – a spoon, knife, fork, set of chopsticks, straw, and a straw brush – as well as a convenient carrying case.
Highlights
HippyMonkey, the Etsy seller behind this utensil set, ships all orders in eco-friendly and 100% recycled cardboard packaging. The seller also uses GreenWrap, a naturally biodegradable bubble wrap alternative, to keep your goodies safe as they travel.
Things to Consider
For this particular set, it’s important to stick to hand washing and drying. Bamboo can begin to grow mold if soaked for too long.
How to Find the Best Sustainable Corporate Gifts
As you look for sustainable corporate gifts, don’t forget to look for key details like the materials used, the brand’s reputation, and what kind of packaging the items ship in. You’ll want to choose gifts that are exciting and fun but also practical and durable. If it’s the thought that counts, it’s worth putting some real consideration into your gift purchases. What can you give that will add value to your team, and what causes or efforts can you support while doing so?
We hope these ideas help you find the right corporate gifts for your needs!
Feature Image via Papier
