During the holiday season, sustainability isn’t usually the first thing companies think about when choosing swag, especially if it’s not already a priority for their business. And that’s actually backed by studies. PPAI, for instance, asked its top distributors what end buyers prioritize, and sustainability came fourth at 33.3%, behind speed, customization, and price. Only 10.4% said clients raise it frequently, while more than half said it comes up rarely or never.
When sustainability does come up, though, the conversation shouldn’t stop at choosing recycled materials or eco-friendly packaging. You also need to think about how much swag you’re ordering and whether your employees will use it. A holiday gift can arrive on time and look great, but if it ends up in a drawer or thrown in a bin, you’ve still spent money and resources producing something nobody needed.
The National Retail Federation estimated that 17% of holiday retail sales would be returned in 2025, representing $849.9 billion in merchandise. And while that figure covers retail purchases, not employee swag, it illustrates how often people end up with things they don’t want to keep. Employees usually can’t return company swag, so unwanted items are more likely to go unused. So, how do you choose sustainable holiday swag that your employees will actually want?
That’s what we discuss in this blog, where we put together 15 sustainable holiday swag ideas for employees so you can do your holiday gifting campaign sustainably. The items we included are all On Demand, meaning you only need to order 1 unit. We’ll also cover the ordering deadlines for December delivery and how sourcing and shipping decisions can help you reduce waste across your holiday gifting program.
What counts as sustainable holiday swag?
Before we delve into the swag ideas and other things you need to consider when sending sustainable holiday swag, it’s first knowing what you should be looking for in eco-friendly holiday swag and gifts.
What is the swag item made of? Look for recycled or organic materials, relevant certifications, and packaging that protects the swag without adding unnecessary waste.
Where will the swag be produced and shipped from? Checking the supplier and fulfillment location of your holiday swag is also something you should do. This is because local or regional fulfillment can reduce the need for long-distance international shipping. This, in and of itself, is also an aspect of sustainability as it lowers your swag’s carbon footprint.
How many swag items do you actually need? If you produce 500 items and only 340 employees claim them, you're left with 160 items that nobody ordered.
That last point is one reason why On Demand can work well for sustainable gifting. You can offer your employees a collection of swag without having to produce every item upfront. Each person chooses what they want, and production starts only after they place their order.
The swag still needs to be useful, though. ASI's 2026 Global Advertising Impressions Study found that 78% of people keep promotional items because they find them useful, while 85% remember the company that gave them one. Even a tumbler made from recycled materials can go to waste if your employee already has several that they never use.
Do employees care about sustainable holiday gifts?
There’s a noticeable difference between what companies prioritize when buying swag and what recipients say they care about when choosing things for themselves. That doesn’t mean every employee expects a sustainable holiday gift, but it’s worth understanding both sides before deciding how much of your budget to put toward it.
On one hand, PPAI surveyed distributors about their customers’ priorities and found that sustainability ranked fourth, behind speed, customization, and price, as we mentioned in the introduction. That’s close to what we’re hearing this holiday season. Across PerkUp clients, roughly one or two clients in ten raise sustainability during planning, and it rarely determines the final order by itself. When it does become a requirement, it usually comes from a company whose own brand already prioritizes environmental impact. In India, our team sees it come up in fewer than 10% of client conversations, mainly among manufacturing companies.
Consumers tell a different story, on the other hand. In a 2025 survey of more than 14,000 consumers across eight countries, Bain found that four out of five respondents still cared deeply about sustainability. PwC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer survey also found that consumers across 31 countries were willing to pay about 9.7% more for goods that meet certain environmental criteria. Those studies aren’t specifically about employee swag, but they help explain why sustainability may matter to the people receiving a gift, even when it wasn’t a priority in the company’s original brief. This is especially prevalent in European and UK recipients and teams, where sustainability requirements come up more consistently.
One thing to note is that sustainability can’t come at the expense of the gift itself. Employees still want something useful, good quality, and worth receiving. The aim is to find swag that meets those expectations while also fitting your company’s sustainability requirements.
Why does shipping distance matter when it comes to sustainable gifting?
If you’re choosing sustainable swag for a global team, look at the shipping plan before you approve the order. A recycled-material item produced in one country and flown to your employees across several continents still has a carbon footprint, and that part of the program can be easy to overlook when you’re comparing product pages.
As such, here are three ways to approach it:
Produce in your recipient’s region where possible - This is particularly useful for India, where certain apparel and drinkware imports can face restrictions or additional certification requirements. If your employees can receive the same swag through domestic production, you may be able to avoid a complicated international shipment while keeping the holiday program consistent.
Check where swag inventory is actually stored - A swag management platform may ship worldwide, but still fulfill every order from one location. Ask which warehouse will send the swag to each group of employees and whether local or regional stock is available. Remember that the original journey from production to storage also counts, even if the final delivery is domestic.
Plan international sends early - Last-minute deadlines can leave you with fewer shipping options, including more expensive expedited services. Confirm production and transit times for India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and any other destinations where your orders may need additional customs planning.
Shipping distance also affects what you can afford to give employees. If a large part of your per-person budget goes toward international freight, you have less left for the swag item itself. Regional sourcing and fulfillment may give you room to choose better-quality swag without increasing the total budget.
Questions to Ask Before You Place the Swag Order
How many of the swag items will get claimed?
Start with your headcount, then look at how many employees are likely to claim the swag. If you’re ordering 500 holiday swag items in bulk and expect 340 people to redeem one, you need a plan for the remaining 160. Maybe they’ll go to new hires or another employee program, but decide that before placing the order rather than assuming you’ll find a use for them later. If you don’t have a reason to keep extra inventory, On Demand may be a better way to handle the send. You can offer everyone the same collection without producing swag for employees who never choose anything.
Where is it produced, and where does it ship from?
Ask your vendor for both locations. A swag item may be produced in one country, stored in another, and shipped to your employee from a third, so the nearest warehouse doesn’t always tell you the full story.
Does the sustainability claim have anything behind it?
If your company has specific sustainability requirements, ask for documentation rather than relying on the wording in the catalog. Certifications such as GOTS for organic textiles or the Global Recycled Standard for recycled content give you a clearer basis for evaluating a material claim. A brand’s overall sustainability commitments can be useful context, but they don’t necessarily tell you what a particular item is made from. Check the swag itself, especially if the certification is part of why you’re choosing it.
Would someone buy this for themselves?
Picture your employee receiving it. Would they use it at home, bring it to work, take it on a trip, or wear it outside a company event? If you can’t see a clear use for it, the material alone probably won’t make it a suitable holiday gift.
The thing is, you’re unlikely to find one item that every employee wants, especially in a large global team. That said, aim for something that would appeal to most of your recipients, and be more selective as your per-person budget increases. If you’re not confident about a single swag, offering a small collection of On Demand swag items gives your employees a better chance of finding something they’ll use.
What are the 15 sustainable swag ideas for employees this holiday season 2026?
All 15 items below come from PerkUp’s On Demand catalog. You can order them with a one-unit minimum, and each item goes into production after an employee chooses it, so you don’t need to buy inventory for everyone in advance. On Demand swag with PerkUp also has inclusive pricing, meaning the price you see already includes the swag item, decoration, shipping, taxes, and duties. That said, here are the swag ideas:
If your employees like the larger tumblers that have been popular over the past few years, the Pinnacle gives you that familiar 40 oz size with a straw and vacuum insulation. It’s also the only tumbler in this On Demand selection explicitly labeled eco-friendly in the catalog. You can keep a recognizable drinkware style in your holiday collection while meeting a brief that calls for more sustainable options.
At $25.99, the Sorbo Sip is the lowest-priced item on this list. It’s a 24-oz stainless steel bottle that employees can keep at their desks, bring to the gym, or carry on their commute. If your goal is to give people something they’ll use instead of buying disposable water bottles, you don’t need to spend $100 per employee to do it.
The YETI Rambler is for teams that would rather invest in one durable drinkware item than send several lower-cost gifts. The 20 oz size works for everyday coffee or cold drinks, and laser engraving lets you add your logo without turning the whole tumbler into an advertisement. If you’re choosing it for sustainability, the reason is its long-term usefulness rather than a recycled-material claim.
The Adidas Women's Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt combines cotton and recycled polyester, making it worth considering for a holiday collection with a sustainability focus. It has a regular fit, a front pouch pocket, and a subtle Adidas logo embroidered on the sleeve. Employees can wear it throughout the colder months without it looking like typical company swag.
The Roller Sweatshirt is a good middle ground if your employees want something warmer than a tee but don’t need a heavy winter layer. Its mid-weight construction makes it easier to wear throughout the year, whether someone is layering it in a colder country or keeping it nearby in an air-conditioned office. For a global holiday store, offer it alongside lighter swag so employees can choose what suits their climate.
The Hanes EcoSmart uses recycled polyester and comes in at $40.99, making it the most affordable sweatshirt in this collection. It’s worth considering when you’re sending to 400 employees rather than 40 and want to keep apparel within a consistent per-person budget. The classic crewneck also gives employees something simple they can wear regularly instead of a style that only works for one season.
The Port Authority C-FREE beanie works for a winter holiday send because employees can start wearing it as soon as it arrives and continue using it through the colder months. Its recycled-material positioning also makes it relevant if you’re building a collection around more sustainable apparel. Just remember that a beanie may be a welcome gift in Toronto and an unnecessary one in Singapore, so make it part of a regional collection or give employees another option.
Richardson Pro Twill Snapback Cap ($40.99)
The Richardson Pro Twill brings back the classic 90s snapback style, with a structured six-panel design and adjustable closure. It comes in more than 24 colors, giving you plenty of options for your company branding. It's a good alternative to winter apparel if you're sending holiday swag to employees in warmer countries.
Atlantis Headwear is worth looking at if your company wants to consider the supplier’s sustainability approach alongside the item itself. This cuffed beanie gives you a familiar winter style that doesn’t require collecting individual apparel sizes. If you’re choosing between this and the Port Authority option, compare the material details and certifications behind each item rather than assuming the higher price makes one more sustainable.
Bags are one of the categories our CSMs are seeing more demand for this holiday season, and the C-FREE backpack gives you a recycled-material option under $55. It’s also easier to send across a large team than sized apparel, since employees can use it for commuting, travel, or everyday errands. If your company already gave everyone drinkware earlier this year, a backpack may be a more welcome addition to their collection.
Cotopaxi Luzon Backpack ($93.99)
Cotopaxi is a certified B Corporation, which may matter if your company considers a supplier’s wider environmental and social commitments when buying swag. The Luzon is a lightweight daypack that employees can use for day trips, travel, or everyday activities. At $93.99, it makes more sense as the main holiday gift than as one item in a larger kit, particularly if you want to offer a recognizable brand without requiring apparel sizes.
Large Eco Tote, Econscious ($32.99)
Econscious focuses on organic and recycled cotton basics, and this large tote gives you a reusable bag without the higher price of a backpack. It’s useful for groceries, commuting, and carrying things between home and work, so it has plenty of opportunities to replace disposable bags. For a holiday collection, the design matters here. A tote with artwork employees genuinely like is more likely to go out with them than one covered in a large company logo.
Adidas Defender 5 Small Duffel Bag ($74.99)
The Adidas Defender 5 is a useful holiday pick for employees who go to the gym or travel regularly. It has a water-resistant base, multiple zippered pockets, and a ventilated pocket for shoes or workout clothes. The luggage trolley strap also makes it easy to bring along on weekend trips.
Apline Fleece Fleece Throw Blanket ($44.99)
A cozy blanket is something employees can use throughout the holidays and well into the colder months. This one is made from anti-pill fleece, with a matching whipstitched trim and no external brand label. It's a simple option for a holiday send, especially if you want something employees can enjoy at home.
Nomadix Original Towel ($63.99)
The Nomadix Original Towel is made from recycled plastic bottles and gives you a different direction if your team has already received plenty of apparel and drinkware. It’s useful for the gym, beach trips, travel, and outdoor activities, so employees can use it well beyond the holidays. It also belongs in a global collection where winter accessories won’t make sense for everyone receiving them.
How do you know if a sustainable swag program worked?
Once the holiday orders are complete, you’ll have a much better idea of what your employees actually want. Keep that information for next year instead of building another collection entirely around what your team thinks will be popular. This is how you can do it:
Redemption rate: Track how many of your employees claimed swag from your holiday collection. For On Demand, unclaimed items never go into production. Compare that with the quantity you would have produced under a bulk plan to understand how much unused inventory you may have avoided.
Which items did employees choose first: If you offered several options, look at the most popular ones and how preferences differed by country or employee group. You may find that the backpack was more popular than the hoodie.
What employees actually used: A short survey can help, but look at the comments and photos people share after the holiday excitement has passed, too. Someone posting their backpack on a trip tells you more about long-term usefulness than a thank-you message on the day it arrived.
What type of holiday swag should you order for December delivery?
Choose On Demand swag if…
… you’re planning your holiday swag campaign in late September, you have plenty of time to use On Demand. Everything in the list above has a one-unit minimum and an estimated turnaround of around three weeks, so you can offer employees a collection without placing a bulk order for every item. You’ll still want to give international destinations more time and confirm the available delivery window for each country.
There’s also a sustainability decision here. Say you have 500 employees, produce 500 hoodies in bulk, and only 340 people claim one. You’re left with 160 hoodies that need to be stored, used in another program, or eventually written off. With On Demand, you offer the hoodie first and only produce it for employees who choose it.
Choose bulk swag if…
… you’re reading this in September. Otherwise, opt for On Demand swag. This is because October 16 is the typical cutoff date for bulk swag ordering for many swag platforms. Any later than this and you risk the holiday swag items arriving way too late for the season. And while bulk usually costs less per unit and makes sense when you have confirmed quantities or want to build full holiday kits, you need to account for production, approvals, kitting, and shipping. This is why it’s the option if you’re starting early.
Bulk can still make sense if you know everyone will receive the swag or already has a plan for the extra inventory. You may also be able to reduce packaging or consolidate shipping with a well-planned bulk order, so On Demand isn’t automatically the lower-impact choice in every situation.
What Holiday Gifting Looks Like on PerkUp
If you’re planning sustainable holiday swag for a global team, you’ll probably need more than one ordering method. Some employees may want to choose their own apparel, another group may be receiving a curated holiday kit, and you may have destinations where a locally available gift card makes more sense than shipping physical swag.
PerkUp lets you manage those programs together while choosing the fulfillment approach that suits each group.
Flexible swag types - Use bulk swag for confirmed quantities or full swag kits that you produce and assemble ahead of time. If you want employees to choose before anything is made, On Demand swag has a one-unit minimum. You can offer both bulk and On Demand items through a swag store, while event swag management helps you plan holiday parties and year-end offsites.
Regional warehousing and suppliers - PerkUp has warehouses and suppliers in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, Hong Kong, and Australia, supporting delivery to more than 65 countries.
Sustainability - PerkUp is also a member of Pledge 1% and partners with Stripe Climate. You can read about both commitments on our sustainability page. Additionally, PerkUp’s regional fulfillment cuts back 95% of total carbon emissions.
Localized gift cards - PerkUp offers more than 5,000 gift cards, with options available by country. These give your employees another way to choose something they’ll use when a physical item isn’t suitable for their location or preferences.
Automation and integrations - More than 200 integrations connect PerkUp with HRIS and other systems, helping you keep your recipient list current as employees join or leave the company. You can also use automated milestone gifting for onboarding, birthdays, and work anniversaries after the holiday season.
Design and sourcing support - PerkUp’s in-house designers can help you work out the branding and decoration for the item you’ve chosen. If your sustainability requirements call for a material, certification, or type of swag that isn’t available in the standard catalog, custom sourcing offers another way to find it.
Here are examples of how PerkUp clients have approached sustainability through their swag choices and fulfillment.
Ecoworks
Ecoworks Studio, a sustainability and wellness consultancy, chose the Dipster waterproof speaker for its 2025 holiday send. It’s made from recycled ABS plastic and gives employees something portable they can use at home, outdoors, or while traveling. For a company whose own work focuses on sustainability, the choice was consistent with its brand without turning the holiday gift into a collection of small items.
Wise
Wise already had Ocean Bottle in mind, given the brand’s sustainability commitments and impact. Rather than choosing a standard bottle and then asking for a more sustainable alternative, the team had a specific supplier it wanted to use. Ocean Bottle is a bulk swag option, so it needs a different ordering timeline from the 15 On Demand items above. It’s a useful example of how companies with established sustainability requirements may approach holiday gifting: the supplier and material standards shape the shortlist from the beginning, not after the swag has already been chosen.
Key Takeaway
If you’re still putting together your holiday swag program, start with your total budget per employee, including shipping, and the countries where your team works. Those details will tell you which items are available, how much of your allowance might go toward fulfillment, and whether bulk or On Demand makes sense for your deadline. From there, choose swag your employees would want even if it didn’t have a sustainability label. Check the materials and supplier claims, find out where the orders will ship from, and avoid producing extra inventory unless you know how you’ll use it.
If you want help narrowing down the options, book a demo with PerkUp. We can go through the holiday catalog with your budget and employee locations in mind, then work out which items and ordering methods fit your December timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sustainable Holiday Gifting
What eco-friendly holiday swag options are available?
You can choose from apparel, drinkware, bags, and accessories made with recycled or organic materials. PerkUp’s On Demand catalog includes options from Stanley/Stella, Econscious, Port Authority, Cotopaxi, and Nomadix, including all 15 items in this guide. If you’re gifting to a global team, check where each item is available and whether it can be sourced or fulfilled closer to your employees. PerkUp has warehouses in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, and Australia and is a member of Pledge 1% and a Stripe Climate partner.
How do you pick sustainable holiday swag employees will keep?
Start with the same question you’d ask about any employee gift: will people actually use it? If your employees have already received tumblers earlier this year, another one may be less welcome than a backpack, hoodie, or travel accessory. Once you have a shortlist of useful items, compare their materials, certifications, and fulfillment options. If you’re unsure which item will appeal to most of your team, a swag store lets employees choose before production starts. That helps you avoid committing to quantities based on guesses about what people want.
Are there sustainable swag options for European teams?
Yes. PerkUp offers eco-conscious apparel, drinkware, bags, and other swag for European employee programs. Our CSMs also see sustainability raised more consistently by European clients, particularly when they have their own environmental or supplier requirements. PerkUp has warehouses in Europe and the UK, so you can check which items are available for regional fulfillment. If a shipment needs to move between the UK and the EU, you’ll still need to account for the relevant customs requirements.
Can you source eco-friendly items that aren’t in the standard catalog?
Yes. PerkUp’s custom sourcing feature can help you find specialty swag that meets your company’s material, supplier, or certification requirements. This can be useful for executive gifting or for teams that need something more specific than the eco-conscious options already in the catalog.
Which industries ask for sustainable holiday gifting the most?
Based on our conversations with different companies, sustainability requests are more closely tied to a company’s own environmental commitments than to one industry. Our European and UK clients raise the topic more often, including some financial services and fintech companies. In India, the requests our team receives are concentrated in manufacturing. Those observations come from our client conversations rather than a survey of every company in those industries. If you’re planning your own program, your company’s supplier requirements and your employees’ preferences will tell you more about what belongs in the holiday collection.
