In this post, we’ll take you behind the scenes. You’ll see how we give back, the systems we’ve put in place to ensure accountability, real stories of community impact, and the ripple effect your orders create locally and globally. Because when you choose to work with us, you're not just making a smart, sustainable choice for your brand. You're helping to build a more ethical future, one gift at a time.
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When we founded Ethical Swag, we weren’t just thinking about products, we were thinking about impact.
We saw a gap in the promotional product industry: too much waste, too little transparency, and too many missed opportunities to do better. So we set out to build something different. A company where every order isn’t just a transaction, but a chance to contribute to people, planet, and community.
From day one, our mission has been clear: to make swag that matters. Not just for your brand, but for the world around it. That means sourcing ethically, supporting fair wages, choosing low-impact materials, and building strong partnerships with suppliers who care about the same things we do.
We believe swag shouldn’t just be marketing, it should be meaningful.
Want to see numbers and stories in real time?
Check out our Our Impact hub where we break down metrics, case studies, and behind-the-scenes impact.
Why “Giving Back” Isn’t Optional, It’s Core to Our DNA
At Ethical Swag, giving back is not an afterthought or a marketing slogan, it’s woven into every choice we make.
We operate as a Certified B Corp, which means we’re held to rigorous social, environmental, and transparency standards
We are a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) acknowledging that supplier diversity is part of the justice journey.
We support charitable organizations with donations and Buy One, Give On" programs donating to homeless shelters and food banks across North America.
Our sourcing, audits, and supplier standards are designed to ensure that each product delivered passes through social compliance, environmental responsibility, and transparency checks.
Because of this, when you place an order with us, you’re not just buying branded swag, you’re contributing to a larger mission.
Our Impact Framework: Where Your Swag Does Good
To see real, accountable impact, we built a framework that anchors our giving and tracks progress. On our “Our Impact” page, you'll find how we measure and report our effect across multiple areas.
Here’s a closer look at the pillars:
1. Ethical Sourcing & Supply Chain Integrity
Our supply chain is not out of sight. We vet every supplier with respect to:
Fair wages, safe working conditions, and prohibiting forced or child labor.
Environmental practices such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible resource use.
Diverse ownership: we actively include women-owned, minority-owned, and Indigenous businesses where possible.
Certifications, audits, and documentation - we don’t trust unchecked claims.
We believe that what happens “upstream” in the supply chain is just as important as what happens when the product reaches your hands.
2. Operational Transparency & Accountability
We don’t hide behind poetic mission statements. We let the data speak:
Every product is audited for social compliance, environmental impact, product safety, supply chain security, and quality.
We publish real metrics, including how client orders translate into environmental or social contributions (tree plantings, meals donated, etc.).
Through our emoji rating system, you can see how each product aligns with values like “Organic,” “Recycled,” “Women-Owned,” or "Biodegradable."
3. Product-Linked Giving & Community Partnerships
One of the ways we make giving tangible is by linking purchases to real-world outcomes:
Donate‑an‑Item Programs: For example, for every pair of socks given to an event attendee, another pair is donated to a community shelter. In one case with Sydney Credit Union, swag socks were paired with donations to a mental health / shelter organization.
Strategic Partnerships: Portions of revenue from some product lines are directed to nonprofit partners. For instance, proceeds from particular items may support reforestation or community education through the Jane Goodall Foundation.
Choice-Based Gifting: In collaboration with clients like CarGurus, we give recipients the option to choose their swag rather than forcing a bundle. That reduces waste and increases utility.
These initiatives make your investment in branded goods more than just engraved logos, they become vehicles for social impact.
4. Waste Minimization & Circular Thinking
Because most promotional merchandise ends up discarded, we’re determined to do things differently:
According to research, more than 79% of promotional products get discarded within a year.
We design our systems to reduce waste via choice-based gifting, flexible orders, and avoiding overproduction.
We encourage sustainable packaging, reuse of shipping materials, and compostable or recyclable packing where possible.
Real Stories, Real Impact
Numbers are powerful, but stories bring impact to life. Here are a few examples featured on our Our Impact page that show how swag can transcend marketing.
Behind every order, there's an opportunity to do more than deliver branded items. There’s a chance to spark connections, create community benefit, and lead with values. These real examples, show what happens when swag is done with intention and how your brand can be part of something bigger.
Turning Socks into Support
When Sydney Credit Union hosted their annual charitable golf tournament, they wanted swag that went beyond the expected. Together, we reimagined their giveaway branded socks as a tool for giving back.
For every pair given to tournament participants, another was donated to The Ally Centre, a local organization supporting individuals experiencing housing instability and mental health challenges.
The result? A small item with a dual purpose: brand visibility for the credit union and warmth, dignity, and practical support for people in need. This simple shift transformed an event giveaway into a gesture of solidarity and made participants feel part of something meaningful.
Jane Goodall Foundation & Conservation Allies
Through our nature-inspired product lines, we’ve directed a portion of proceeds to support the Jane Goodall Foundation and other conservation-focused allies.
These aren’t one-off donations, they’re ongoing contributions aligned with our mission to support ecological restoration, environmental education, and habitat protection. Whether it’s reforestation programs or community outreach, we believe that brands have the power (and responsibility) to move beyond “sustainable enough” and into active stewardship.
When our clients choose products that align with these themes, they’re not just making sustainable choices, they’re contributing to real-world impact that echoes far beyond the moment of gifting.
Smarter Gifting with CarGurus
With CarGurus, we took a thoughtful approach to employee and client gifting. Instead of the traditional one-size-fits-all swag box, we helped them implement a choice-based gifting experience, allowing recipients to select the item that best suited their lifestyle or preferences.
This simple shift had outsized results:
Higher satisfaction and engagement from recipients
Dramatically reduced waste and returns
Gifts that actually got used and appreciated
It’s a perfect example of how smart gifting isn’t just about sustainability, it’s also about respecting your recipients, aligning with your brand values, and eliminating waste at every step.
These stories are just a few of the ways swag can transcend marketing and become a tool for connection, care, and collective impact. When you choose Ethical Swag, you’re not just checking a box you’re choosing a partner that makes every order count.
How Your Order Becomes Amplified Impact
I know what you might be thinking: “But I'm buying swag, how does that translate into real social/environmental benefit?” It comes down to three levers:
Product-level value: The more of your order is “Good,” “Better,” or “Best” (per our emoji rating), the more impact it carries (e.g. recycled materials, carbon offset, or give-back tie-ins).
Operational commitments: We dedicate a portion of profits (20%+) to charitable causes, measure our carbon, and maintain high standards of transparency.
Strategic partnerships & matched giving: We amplify impact by partnering with nonprofits and designing product connections that trigger tangible community outcomes.
So your swag isn’t just a gift, it’s a catalyst.
Why Your Brand Should Care
You might already know this, but it’s worth repeating for brands, doing well and doing good aren’t mutually exclusive. Here’s why giving back matters in the world of promotional products:
Brand trust & loyalty: Customers and employees increasingly expect brands to act ethically. Surveys show that many people would switch to a brand aligned with their values.
Reduced waste = smarter investment: When less swag is discarded, your budget stretches further.
Stronger storytelling: Purpose-driven branding helps differentiate and deepen your connection.
Measurable ESG/CSR alignment: Many companies now need to report environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. Partnering with a promotional goods provider that reports impact helps you meet those goals more credibly.
By working with Ethical Swag, you don’t have to hope your supplier does the right thing it's baked into our model.
How to Partner With Us for Impactful Swag
Ready to make swag that gives back? Here’s how to get started:
Browse with values: Use our emoji rating filters to pick sustainable, give-back, or high-impact items from our catalog.
Design with intention: Let’s talk about how to incorporate messaging, seed paper, or tie-in campaigns to amplify meaning.
Choose partnership models: Some clients want fixed donation amounts per product. Others prefer matching campaigns or offsetting carbon.
Track & report: We’ll share impact metrics with you post-campaign so you can showcase the real outcomes behind the swag.
Iterate & improve: Over time, we’ll optimize product selection, packaging, and logistics to reduce footprint further.
Every step is collaborative, we don’t just drop a product on your desk, we partner on meaning.
And again if you want to see how all those steps come alive in numbers, stories, and cases, head over to our Our Impact page. It’s your source for transparency, accountability, and real-world evidence.
FAQ: Common Questions About Our Impact & Giving Model
Q: How much of your profits go to charity?
A: We donate more than 20% of profits annually to nonprofits and community organizations.
Q: How do you verify that your suppliers are ethical?
A: Every supplier goes through rigorous vetting audits, documentation, and compliance checks around labor, environment, and safety. We require third‑party or internal inspections.
Q: What is the emoji rating system?
A: It’s our way of making values visible. Each product gets an “emoji” (e.g. ♻️, 🌱, ❤️) showing how it aligns with recycled content, give-back tie-ins, carbon neutrality, or longevity. This helps you filter and select with confidence.
Q: Do all products trigger a donation or community impact?
A: Not all! Some products are simple, low-impact items. But many include built-in donation models or tie-ins. For products without inherent donations, our profit-sharing still ensures meaningful giving.
Q: Can you match my company’s CSR/ESG goals?
A: Absolutely. We love collaborating to tailor giving strategies, whether that means tree planting, meals, education, or community programs tied to your brand vision.
Q: How do you prevent waste or overproduction?
A: We promote choice-based gifting, flexible orders, and always plan for minimal surplus. We also reuse packaging and push for sustainable logistics.
Q: Will you share impact data after a campaign?
A: Yes. We provide impact reporting so you can showcase the outcomes behind your investment not just logos, but real stories and metrics.
Final Thoughts & Invitation to Join the Movement
In a world where many marketing gestures are transient and wasteful, we believe branded merchandise can uplift, creating connection, dignity, and real change.
When you choose Ethical Swag, you’re not just buying promotional goods. You’re making a statement: that your brand stands for more than visibility, it stands for integrity, community, and purpose.
Are you ready?
Head over to our Our Impact page now. Dive into live metrics, client impact stories, and see exactly how your next order can ripple positive change.
Let’s build a future where every branded product becomes a force for good, together.