Survey: 70% of Employees Want Sustainable Gifts

To learn more about people’s desire for sustainable company gifts, Custom Ink surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. employees between the ages of 18 and 54. Our survey is a unique window into what people value and prefer when it comes to eco-conscious corporate gifting, including how it impacts their perception of their employer. Our results show that employees prefer sustainable corporate gifts and would have a better perception of companies that gift sustainably.

Key Findings

Here are our key findings from our survey of 1,000 full-time employees on their opinions about receiving sustainable corporate gifts:

• 70% of respondents aged 25-34 indicated they’d have a better impression of their company if the employee gifts were sustainably made.
• 69% of respondents expressed a preference for sustainably made gifts and company swag.
• 60% of respondents expressed high levels of concern (“Very Concerned” or “Extremely Concerned”) about the overall state of the environment.
• 30% of respondents view their company’s efforts to minimize their environmental footprint as above average or excellent.

Sustainable Gifts Make Happier Employees

Our findings were similar when we asked respondents if they preferred to receive sustainably made gifts and swag from their company. These results show quite a trend in sustainable preferences, with 69% of respondents expressing a preference for sustainably made gifts and company swag. Digging deeper, the majority of every age demographic also prefers sustainable gifts. These findings suggest that younger employees drive the demand for environmentally conscious corporate perks. However, older respondents also appreciate them, and most respondents from older demographics have similar preferences.

It’s not just about being green—it’s about making choices that align with what your people genuinely care about.

Sustainable Gifts Improve Company Image

A 2023 Ad Impressions Study by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) reveals that “46% of consumers would feel more favorable about the advertiser who gave them a promo product if it was environmentally friendly.” We asked respondents if their opinion of their company would improve if gifts and swag given to them were made sustainably. Overall, 65% of respondents agreed that their opinion would improve, and 70% of the 25-34 age demographic agreed. Sustainable corporate gifts resonate with employee preferences and enhance the company’s overall image in the eyes of its workforce.

Majority Are Concerned for the Environment

We wanted to know how worried people are about the environment’s health. According to a Pew Research Center survey, international public concern has increased since 2015. Additionally, in the same survey, 53% of respondents in the U.S. believe “climate change is a very serious problem.” These statistics underline a significant trend of environmental concern, especially among younger employees and certain geographic regions. With nearly two-thirds of respondents aged 25-34 expressing high levels of concern about the health of the environment, it’s clear that the next generation of the workforce feels that environmental matters are a priority.

With a majority of people concerned with the environment, companies and businesses have an opportunity to incorporate sustainable practices in many ways. In a recent IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) survey, “71% of employees and employment seekers say that environmentally sustainable companies are more attractive employers.”