Your guide to sustainable corporate gifts

1. Why sustainable corporate gifts matter

What are sustainable gifts? We’re not talking about a never-ending box of chocolates (though we really wish we were). When we say sustainable corporate gifts, we’re speaking about eco-friendly gifts. 

Environmentally friendly gifts. Earth friendly gifts. Whatever you call them, it’s both about avoiding wasteful, planet-polluting, throwaway products and supporting organisations who follow environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. 

In one study, almost 20% of employees valued their business’s ESG (Environmental, Societal, Governance) policy as important as salary - which is pretty huge - and 70% of Millennial and Gen Z workers factor it in when choosing an employer.

When it comes to your employer brand, giving eco-friendly gifts matters - because it shows you practice what you preach, when it comes to your ESG policy (like Octopus EV!).

2. What makes a gift ‘eco friendly’?

What makes a gift eco-friendly? Does it have to be wrapped in undyed, recycled paper? Does it have to be vegan, or made from former drinks cans? Let’s take a look at what some of the most common ‘eco-friendly’ words actually mean...

Eco-friendly jargon buster:

• Sustainable: on a basic level, ‘sustainable’ means something that can last. When it comes to sustainable gifts, it means something that doesn’t come at a cost in the future, by depleting resources or doing environmental harm.
   
• Fair trade: this means that producers and workers receive a fair price for what they supply, giving a safety net for when market prices plummet. Think coffee growers. The label Fairtrade aims to certify that these fair practices are being followed.
   
• Organic: this refers to food grown without using chemical fertilisers, pesticides or other artificial chemicals. Again, organic gifts have to meet a specific criteria to be called “organic”.
   
• Recycled: this means turning waste into new items, using the reusable parts. Think old socks turned into a new purse (or actually, maybe not that…). See also: upcycled.
   
• Zero-waste: this one sort of speaks for itself. One example is refillable water bottles vs. single-use plastic bottles. 
   
• B-Corp: This refers to organisations verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It’s a fiendishly hard certification to get, so it’s a credential you can generally trust.

When you’re looking into environmentally friendly gifts - for your employee recognition, client outreach, or lead generation - you can ask a few simple questions:

• Is the brand a B-Corp?
• If not, does it hold another certification from Fairtrade or another organisation?
• How are its products made?
• How is the packaging made?
• Where are their products manufactured? 

3. Why your business should choose sustainable corporate gifts

Most of us want to do our bit to protect the planet, right? But in business, it can often take a back seat - and we get it. There are a lot of pressures to building a strong company culture and employer brand, and many of them are budgetary. But it’s worth prioritising…

3 reasons to send sustainable corporate gifts

1. Reduce your environmental impact: every little helps, and if you’re making eco-friendly choices when it comes to business gifting, then it’s more likely to flow into other decision-making in your organisation
    
2. Meet employee expectations: as discussed, your teams care about your ESG policy - and often feel implicated in your organisation’s choices, so sustainable business gifts show them they’re backing the right horse
    
3. Show clients and partners who you are: eco friendly promotional gifts could win you business or collaboration from partners, by giving you an extra edge and showing your attention to detail

4. Categories of eco-friendly corporate gifts

Not sure what to imagine, when we talk about eco-friendly corporate gifts? It’s probably more simple (and less expensive) than you think…

4.1 Reusable & zero-waste gifts

It’s pretty convenient, but often sustainable presents are the most practical. Not to mention they can often be branded too… and if you’re not keen on gifting a thermal mug, other small sustainable gifts could mean a plastic-free beauty kit, for example. 

• Reusables (mugs, bottles, stationery, canvas bags)
• Zero-waste kits and refillable items

4.2 Organic, Fairtrade & ethically made gifts

Fair trade gifts are an easy win: everyone loves a sweet treat or a comforting cuppa, after all. Other ethical gifts include those made by workers who are adequately compensated for their time and effort, and treated well.

• Coffee, chocolate, and skincare
• Ethically sourced accessories or clothing

4.3 Green gifts & gardening-based gifts

Sometimes green gifts are very literally green! From rewilding kits to fresh flowers from businesses who follow sustainable sourcing practices, environmentally friendly gifts can smell as good as they feel!

• Seed kits, grow-your-own herbs
• Flowers or plants from B-Corp brands

4.4 Digital or low-impact gifts

One obvious way to leave less of a footprint is to opt for digital gifts, like a charitable donation, or gift an experience instead. Remember: it’s not just about the gift itself, it’s about what sending a gift says to your recipient.

• Donation-based gifts
• Experiences instead of presents

5. Brand spotlight: our eco-led corporate gifting partners

At Huggg, we really care about the quality of our gifts. Our brands are hand-picked to make sure everything we offer is worth gifting - like a personal shopper in a platform! 

We want to work with brands that make a positive impact - whether that's by reducing packaging, giving back to charity, or reviewing their supply chain. Here’s a few of the brands we’re proud to work with…

5.1 dots.eco

All too often, gifting = piles of unwanted tat. But dots.eco (B-Corp) offers an alternative. The ultimate feel-good gift, they let your recipients choose to contribute to one of their 200+ global projects. From cleaning oceans to protecting wildlife habitats, there are 11 causes to choose from - all supported through their network of trusted NGOs.

When you send a ‘gift with choice’, your recipients can choose a dots.eco reward over a physical gift. With the contribution comes a personal and trackable certificate where users can follow their impact through time so the feel-good vibes keep coming.

5.2 Certified B-Corp & ethical producers

As discussed, the hard-to-get nature of the B-Corp accreditation means you can safely assume a B-Corp brand is a safe bet for eco gifts. And we’ve got several on our books:

• Bloom and Wild
• Botivo
• Candy Kittens
• Stroud Brewery
• Truestart Coffee

5.3 Gardening, plant & seed-based gifts

We’ve also got a range of literally green gifts on offer - from rewilding kits and seedballs, to succulents and growbars. You’re quite literally giving something that’s alive, and that can feel more meaningful than something consumable or disposable. 

• Seedball
• The Gluttonous Gardener

6. Seasonal gifting: sustainable Christmas gifts for teams

Piles of ripped wrapping paper. Discarded plastic packaging. Piles of unwanted gifts, and supermarket shelves full of mass-produced tat that will go to waste. Christmas can come hand-in-hand with waste, if you’re not careful, but sustainable xmas gifts can help.

Why it matters

The festive period is one of the highest-waste times of the year. Switching to eco-friendly xmas gifts - like reusable items, plant-based gifts, ethical treats, or low-impact experiences - helps cut down on unnecessary waste and aligns your organisation with what your teams and clients expect.

Top sustainable xmas gifts for corporate teams:

• Reusable coffee cups: essential for fueling the grind!
   
• Seed balls or rewilding seed kits
   
• Ethically sourced chocolate or coffee
   
• B-Corp brand gifts

These ideas are all covered by our eco-conscious ‘gift with choice’ option - take a look for yourself.

7. Sustainable gift ideas for different people or occasions

A one-size-fits-all approach to gifting doesn’t go down well - especially when gifting across teams. Here’s how to tailor eco-friendly gifts to different recipients:

7.1 Sustainable gifts for her

Everyone is different, so there’s no such thing as a ‘gift for her’, necessarily. But whether you're gifting colleagues or clients, you can provide traditionally feminine options that strike a perfect balance of thoughtful and environmentally friendly.

Here’s some examples: 

• Sustainable skincare sets
• Recycled notebooks
• Eco gifts for her sourced from B-Corp suppliers

7.2 Gifts for an eco friendly man

The same logic applies - people identifying as men will like different things. But when it comes to those who value sustainability and traditionally masculine products, look for options that blend function with low impact:

• Reusable travel cups or bottles
• Sustainable leather goods
• Eco friendly tech accessories

7.3 Eco friendly promotional items for client campaigns

Huggg is here for a wide range of use cases - not just employee gifting. Eco gifts can be the answer for sustainability-led brand awareness, too. Switch from generic merchandise to eco friendly promotional gifts like:

• Recycled notebooks
• Environmentally friendly promotional items - speak to sales if you want branding

These are also excellent as environmentally friendly promotional materials for events or outreach campaigns.

8. How to choose the right sustainable gift: 4 steps

Choosing the right eco-friendly gift doesn’t have to be complicated. Use this simple framework:

Step 1: Start with your values

Does the gift reflect your organisation’s sustainability ambitions, ESG commitments, or employee expectations?

Step 2: Think usefulness first

The best environmentally responsible gifts are ones people will actually use, not shelf-fillers that end up as waste.

Step 3: Check the materials

Look for:

• Organic, natural fibres
• Recycled or upcycled materials
• Fairtrade certifications
• Minimal packaging
• Compostable or plastic-free alternatives

Step 4: Choose reputable, ethical suppliers

B-Corp credentials and transparent sourcing make it clear that your eco friendly presents are truly sustainable.

9. How Huggg makes sustainable corporate gifting simple

You don’t have to get sustainable gifting right 100% of the time. But the old adages still apply: what matters is that you try, and that your teams and customers notice that. Here’s the ways we’re trying to make it easier:

• Curated, eco-friendly options from ethical, B-Corp, and planet-positive suppliers
   
• No addresses needed: reducing admin and helping avoid unwanted gifts (an added bonus when it comes to sustainability)
   
• Donation-led gifting for employees or teams who would really value the opportunity to give back (or just don’t want more stuff!)

Gifting can be thoughtful, low-waste and impactful - when you use Huggg.

10. FAQs: sustainable & eco friendly corporate gifting

What are the most popular eco friendly gifts for corporate teams?
Reusable items, ethical treats, plant-based gifts, and digital or low-impact experiences.

Are sustainable corporate gifts more expensive?
No! Many small sustainable gifts cost the same as traditional alternatives - but they’ve got a higher perceived value, making a bigger impact with your recipients.

What makes a gift environmentally friendly?
Responsibly sourced materials, minimal waste, ethical production, reduced carbon footprint, and longevity regarding how useful the item is.

How can I ensure my corporate gifts are genuinely ethical?
Look for third-party certifications like B-Corp, Fairtrade, or organic standards.

Can eco friendly promotional items still be branded?
Yes - many environmentally friendly promotional items (like notebooks and reusable cups) can be customised sustainably. Just talk to our sales team.

What are the best sustainable Christmas presents for clients?
Ethical hampers, sustainable treats, plantable gifts, B-Corp bundles, or donation-based presents.

Are eco friendly gifts UK-made better for the environment?
Often, yes. Reduced transportation and stricter production standards can lower total impact - though the materials used also have an impact.

What are unique eco friendly gifts I can send at scale?
Seed kits and B-Corp coffee are both great, inexpensive ideas for gifting at scale. 

How do I avoid greenwashing when choosing gifts?
Choose suppliers with transparent environmental credentials and avoid vague ‘eco’ claims that aren’t backed up by the facts.

What small sustainable gifts work for hybrid or remote teams?
Any from Huggg’s eco-conscious range, including snacks, reusable mugs, seed kits, recycled notebooks, and other products that can be sent in minutes.

11. Conclusion

Sustainable gifting isn’t about doing less - it’s about doing better. Choosing environmentally friendly, ethical gifts shows your employees and customers that your organisation cares about quality, intention, and the planet.

With Huggg’s curated selection of eco-friendly presents, recycled products, and B-Corp-led suppliers, it’s easier than ever to give gifts that feel good and do good. Go on, give the world a Huggg.