Sustainable giveaways for your trade fair appearance

You're probably not just an exhibitor, but also a trade fair visitor somewhere, right? To see what the competition is doing or what's new on the market. Surely you don't want to miss out on that? This also includes getting advice. And what do you get then? That's right! A giveaway. Something that the salesperson hands you so that you keep thinking about this company. Hand on heart: How long do you keep the giveaway before it ends up in the garbage can? There are bound to be things that you can really use, like a ballpoint pen. Or a notepad or whatever. But even these end up in the bin at some point. Why not use giveaways that are sustainable? 

What does sustainability mean in trade fair construction? 

Sustainability is on everyone's lips. Not only in the private sphere, but also in business. And that's a good thing. What does sustainability mean? 

Put simply, sustainability means that we use renewable raw materials for everyday items with consideration for the next generation or use items for much longer instead of disposing of them straight away. For example, not using plastic packaging or plastics. 

So do we in exhibition stand construction. This is why we have opted for modular exhibition stand construction. Exhibition stands can still be planned individually and used flexibly. The sustainability of modular stand construction is that virtually nothing has to be disposed of after the trade fair. Dismantle, store, reuse. However, sustainability should not only be taken into account when planning and constructing exhibition stands, but also during transportation and the use of other resources. This also applies to giveaways. Unfortunately, people usually just buy something cheap in bulk, as long as they have enough of it. How about sustainable giveaways?  

What are sustainable giveaways 

The term giveaway probably doesn't need to be explained! Otherwise: Giveaways are promotional items printed with the company logo that are given away to interested parties at the trade fair stands. Ideally, these are items that are useful to the interested parties in their everyday lives. 

Sustainable giveaways are promotional items that are produced from renewable resources or can be used for a very long time. Of course, these can also be branded to your company. In addition to the sustainability aspect, there is another important advantage: sustainable giveaways are of higher quality and therefore generate greater enthusiasm among potential customers. They see a greater benefit in it. 

Where there is an advantage, there is also a disadvantage: sustainable promotional items are usually somewhat more expensive to purchase. Nevertheless, they are a very good and, compared to other advertising options, still a good method of reaching your target group directly (offline). 

Here are a few tips on what to look out for when making your choice: 

• The giveaway must have a long use for the user 
  

• It must be produced from renewable resources 
  

• Free from plastic 
  

• Free from chemicals and/or toxins 
  

• When disposed of, it should be recyclable and reusable  

In terms of sustainable giveaways, a 100% solution can be found, but trade fair construction itself cannot be realized in a 100% variant. What does that mean exactly? Every company naturally wants to be individual at its trade fair appearance and present its brand. That's why it's almost impossible to avoid, for example, having individual print products produced and then disposing of them later. But if we work together in certain areas to ensure that we operate a little more sustainably, it gives us a good feeling. Pass this feeling on to your customers and interested parties with appropriate advertising materials. You wouldn't believe how many interested parties or customers now pay attention to such “little things”. So it can definitely be a plus point.

Examples of sustainable promotional items 

What can sustainable giveaways be? To make your choice a little easier, we have listed a few useful giveaways for you.

• Flower seeds 
  

• Lunch boxes made from sustainable material 
  

• Cotton bags or pouches 
  

• Plantable pencils/seed pencils 
  

• Coffee cups (to go) made from cork or bamboo 
  

• Spices, coffee or tea from sustainable cultivation u 

Of course, there are many more ideas for sustainable giveaways or giveaways without plastic. 

Before you go wild ordering now, please note that the sustainable giveaway must also suit you as a company. If you are active in the food sector, it is easy to have giveaways. Tasting sessions or taste samples to go are a good idea. In sustainable packaging, of course. But as a car parts manufacturer, offering tea as a giveaway to prospective customers doesn't make much sense. It makes more sense to distribute a sustainable care product for the car. 

You can often add an extra message to the giveaway with a suitable slogan that will stick in the mind of the prospective customer. Take the flower seeds, for example: 

Either have them printed with the following slogan: “Growing together!” or give the prospective customer a message to take away with them. Also humorous if you like. The main thing is that it sticks in people's minds and the giveaway reminds them every time they visit your stand. 

Note: There are now a number of companies that have focused on just such items, i.e. promotional items and giveaways with the “seal” of sustainability.  

Just browse the Internet. There is now a suitable giveaway for every industry that represents the sustainability aspect. 

Your path to a sustainable trade fair presence 

Of course, it's not enough just to hand out sustainable giveaways at the trade fair. The overall concept has to be right. And that starts with the planning of the trade fair appearance. Aspects such as:

• What materials will your stand be made of? 
• How will the stand be transported to the exhibition hall? 
• What happens to the stand after the trade fair? 
• What advertising materials will I use?
• etc. 
  
  Admittedly: You probably won't achieve a carbon neutral exhibition stand, but there are many things you can do to make your trade fair presence sustainable. In addition to sustainable giveaways, you can also use reusable exhibition stand systems and manage them online.
  
  Curious to find out more? Find out more about planning and coordinating sustainable exhibition stands and giveaways in the online planning tool myWWM.