Gone are the days where corporate gifting is an afterthought. Now it’s an opportunity: a chance to really show your employees and clients who you are as a brand and what you stand for. So if you care about the environment (and you should!) environmentally friendly corporate gifts are a brilliant way to show people that your business is serious about protecting our planet. What is Eco-Friendly Gifting? So, what is environmentally-friendly gifting? Environmentally-friendly gifting, or eco-friendly gifting, involves the process of thoughtfully selecting gifts that have minimal impacts on the environment. From materials used, production processes, packaging and disposal, eco-friendly gifts do not affect the environment in a negative way. Eco-Friendly Gift-Giving for Corporate When gifting for corporate, selecting gifts that are environmentally-friendly are now more important than ever. Don’t believe us? Let’s talk numbers. 69% of employees want their company to invest in sustainability efforts. 50% of B2B customers already give more business to sustainable suppliers, rising to two-thirds in the next three years. 92% of consumers trust brands that are socially responsible or environmentally friendly. There’s an obvious and undeniable pattern here: stakeholders really do care about the environment! So whether you’re selecting a reward for an employee, or finding Christmas gifts for your clients, make sure to choose something environmentally-friendly – it really does mean more than you think. When To Send Eco-friendly Corporate Gifts Eco-friendly gifts are appropriate to send on absolutely any gifting occasion. Some examples might include: Employee onboarding Work anniversaries Team milestones Client thank-yous Corporate events End-of-year thank-yous Holiday/Christmas gifting Post-project thank yous Remote team engagement Partnership launches And the list goes on! Really, whenever there is an opportunity to send someone a gift – whether it be an employee, a client, a partner or a customer, it’s always a good idea to give them something that aligns with your company values. Environmentally-Friendly Gifts for Staff So, why should you be giving your staff eco-friendly gifts? There is a plethora of evidence that suggests employees are more likely to be engaged when working for environmentally-friendly organisations. And when employees are more engaged, they produce better business outcomes. Moreover, companies that are actively trying to make a difference in the lives of their employees and the world through sustainable business practices are gaining a competitive edge – particularly with younger employees. So whether you’re gifting your employees holiday gifts, EOFY rewards, birthday gifts or something else, make sure that you choose something eco-friendly. Environmentally-Friendly Gifts for Clients/Partners When it comes to client and partner gifting, the same applies: your clients and partners care about environmentally friendly gifts. Companies that offer environmentally friendly corporate gifts can strengthen relationships with clients, as 65% of people prefer sustainable gifts. Just think about it: imagine you are looking for a gift for a client to mark ten years of working together. Do you send: A) A generic, plastic-branded freebie that ends up in a desk drawer B) A considered, environmentally friendly gift that actually feels worth keeping - and reflects the kind of business you are Yeah... it's not even close. Environmentally-Friendly Gift Ideas: Five Ideas for Corporate Gifts Without further ado, here are some eco-friendly gift ideas for corporate occasions: Hampers/Gift Baskets: A curated gift basket with clean snacks, drinks or wellness items Flowers: A beautiful bouquet of flowers Experiences: Indulgent experiences like a dinner or movie voucher Stationery: A beautiful recycled notebook or other plastic-free desk upgrades. Donations: A donation to their chosen cause or charity in their name. Environmentally-Friendly Gift Ideas: Digital Gift Cards It would be remiss of us not to mention that gift cards, and particularly digital gift cards, are one of the best environmentally-friendly gifts you can give. Digital gift cards eliminate the need for plastic production and waste. Unlike physical gifts, and even physical gift cards, digital gift cards exist entirely in digital form, so no plastic, paper or any other sort of material is wasted. The delivery of a digital gift card is almost instant and doesn't involve any shipping (a significant source of carbon emissions). By choosing to give your employees or clients a digital gift card, you are minimising environmental impacts, and instead give them something that is environmentally-friendly. [blogCards productHandlers="digital-mastercard, green-gift-card, digital-visa-gift-card" /] [blogButton buttonLabel="Shop Environmentally Friendly Gifts" buttonTo="/cards/all" /] TCN’s Commitment to Sustainability When it comes to our physical gift cards, The Card Network is genuinely committed to sustainability through packaging and production. To read more about TCNs sustainability efforts, check out our sustainability page on the Card.Gift website. Greener Gifting When it comes to your corporate gifting solutions, your gifting choices should reflect who you are as a brand. Eco-friendly gifts aren’t just nicety; they’re a powerful way to connect with the people who matter to your business. So for the next gifting occasion that rolls around, choose a gift that's better for the planet. Because greener gifting isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for business, too!