Choosing eco-friendly swag shows clients, partners, and employees that your brand is thoughtful, responsible, and future-focused. From sustainable materials to transparent sourcing, your branded merchandise can do more than delight, it can do good.
Give Better, Not More This Holiday Season
As the year winds down, organizations everywhere are finalizing budgets, planning celebrations, and searching for holiday promotional products that make an impact. But in 2025, corporate gifts are no longer just about saying thank you, they’re a reflection of your company’s values.
At Ethical Swag, we help organizations turn corporate gifting into an opportunity for meaningful connection, measurable impact, and standout brand storytelling.
Your 2025 Holiday Gifting Checklist
Before you order another batch of mugs or fleece jackets, run through this checklist to ensure your gifts are sustainable, on-brand, and built to last.
1. Choose Products That Reflect Your Values
Your brand isn’t generic, your gifts shouldn’t be either. Opt for eco-friendly promotional products that align with your ESG goals and brand story.
Look for:
Recycled or compostable materials
Made in Canada or North America sourcing
Certified B Corp and Fair Trade suppliers
Carbon-neutral shipping or community-based fulfillment
Explore our Made in Canada Gift Packs and Made in USA Gift Packs to shop locally produced, sustainable sets that align with your brand’s mission.
2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
According to ASI’s Ad Impressions Study, useful branded merchandise generates thousands of impressions over its lifetime, making it one of the most cost-effective and sustainable marketing tools. The takeaway? Choose fewer, higher-quality items your recipients will actually use daily.
Reusable tumblers, upcycled cotton apparel, or FSC-certified notebooks not only stay visible longer but reinforce your brand’s reputation for responsibility.
3. Simplify the Experience with Choice-Based Gifting
One of the biggest corporate gifting trends of 2025 is choice-based gifting, allowing recipients to select their preferred item from a curated collection. It’s the perfect blend of customization and care.
That’s exactly what CarGurus discovered when they partnered with Ethical Swag for their Canadian client gifting program.
“Every single employee I’ve dealt with at Ethical Swag has shown exemplary customer service skills and always provided high-quality, ethically sourced products,” says Chris Ramey, Manager of Client Partnerships at CarGurus.
By offering a digital pop-up shop with pre-selected sustainable products, CarGurus empowered each client to choose what they’d truly use—turning a traditional gifting moment into a memorable, brand-building experience.
4. Think Circular, Not Disposable
The best eco-friendly swag lives well beyond the holidays. Choose products designed for reuse or made from recycled and renewable materials.
Use Ethical Swag’s Good / Better / Best rating system to identify options that reduce waste and support a circular economy, where materials are reused and remade instead of discarded.
Checklist Questions to Ask:
Is the product recyclable, compostable, or refillable?
Does it replace a single-use item?
Are materials locally sourced or third-party certified?
Is the packaging minimal and recyclable?
5. Tell the Story Behind the Gift
Today’s buyers and recipients want to know their gifts have meaning. Include a short note or tag that highlights your sustainability efforts, whether your swag was assembled by a social enterprise, crafted from recycled materials, or supports environmental nonprofits.
Transparency turns a simple giveaway into a story worth sharing. Learn more about our storytelling approach in Corporate Gifting in 2025: New Ideas to Inspire Your HR and Marketing Teams
6. Plan Ahead for a Smooth Holiday Rollout
Timing is everything when it comes to corporate gifting. Last minute decisions could lead to higher prices, stock option limitations, shipping challenges when crunch time comes.
But we have your back, we recorded a webinar (a quick 30 minutes) that outlines all the tips and tricks to ensure a smooth gifting experience. Reach out and ask for the link! This webinar could save you hours in planning. We also have this checklist to keep you on track.
Pro tip: If you’re ordering for multiple locations or hybrid teams, take advantage of Ethical Swag’s drop-shipping and fulfillment options to deliver directly to recipients: zero stress, zero waste.
Top Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas for 2025
Here are a few standout categories based on our eco gifting collection and 2025 trends:
Wellness Gift Packs: Encourage relaxation and self-care with sustainable spa kits and aromatherapy bundles. Shop Wellness Packs.
Eco Gifting Packs: Feature plantable stationery, reusable drinkware, and recycled home goods. Explore Eco Gifting Packs.
Made in Canada Sets: Celebrate local craftsmanship and ethical sourcing while supporting Canadian small businesses. Browse Made in Canada Packs.
Work-Day Essentials: From bamboo desk organizers to recycled notebooks, practical gifts help employees stay inspired year-round.
Every pack comes with the option to add branded elements, mission-based inserts, and customized packaging for a professional finish that feels personal without creating waste. Shop Work Day Packs.
Why Sustainable Gifting Works
Purpose-driven brands outperform their peers and gifting is a tangible way to demonstrate purpose.
Builds loyalty: 87% of consumers prefer brands aligned with their values (Zeno Group).
Improves retention: Employees who feel appreciated are five times more likely to stay (O.C. Tanner).
Amplifies visibility: According to ASI, reusable branded items generate more than 3,400 impressions during their lifetime.
That’s not just good ethics, it’s smart business.
Holiday Gifting with Heart: The Ethical Swag Difference
Ethical Swag is a Certified B Corporation that has been audited on governance, environment, community, and customer impact.
We source responsibly, measure our impact, and help clients meet their sustainability goals without compromising quality or style.
Our team handles everything from ethical sourcing and design to carbon-neutral fulfillment so you can focus on celebrating your people and clients this holiday season.
Ready to Gift with Purpose This Year?
Shop our sustainable gifting collections to make your 2025 holiday season stand out for all the right reasons.
And if you’d like some expert help designing the perfect eco-friendly swag strategy reach out to our team for a meeting to get started.
Let’s make this holiday season meaningful, memorable, and better for the planet.
FAQs: 2025 Holiday Corporate Gifting
Q1: What are the best eco-friendly holiday promotional products in 2025?
A: Recycled tumblers, bamboo utensil sets, seed paper stationery, Made in Canada blankets, and wellness gift packs are among this year’s top picks.
Q2: How far in advance should I order holiday corporate gifts?
A: Start by early October to ensure production, branding, and fulfillment timelines stay on track.
Q3: Can I customize the items in each gift pack?
A: Absolutely. You can choose from curated options or build a custom swag pack that reflects your brand values and messaging.
Q4: Are eco-friendly promotional products more expensive?
A: Not necessarily. At Ethical Swag, our Good/Better/Best pricing ensures cost-competitive sustainable options for every budget.
Q5: What makes Ethical Swag’s approach different?
A: We’re a Certified B Corp committed to transparency, supplier diversity, and measurable impact helping you gift responsibly without the guesswork.