Events are your brand on stage - make sustainability part of the performance
If it’s a leadership summit, team away day, or industry conference, corporate events are where your brand values go live. And increasingly, sustainability is at the top of what attendees, and stakeholders, expect to see.
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Sustainable corporate event swag
From single-use plastic cups to overseas speaker travel, even the most well-meaning events can quietly rack up environmental costs. That’s a problem, especially as ESG reporting becomes more rigorous and attendees more conscious. But it’s also a huge opportunity. Because when done right, sustainable events don’t just reduce impact, they elevate your brand, increase engagement, and prove that you’re serious about your commitments.
This checklist breaks down everything you need to rethink - from venue and catering to travel, giveaways, and waste. It's your blueprint for building events that impress guests, meet ESG targets, and reflect who you are as a modern business.
Choose a venue that reflects your values
The venue sets the tone for your event. Look for spaces that hold third-party sustainability certifications like LEED or Green Seal. These venues often have energy-efficient systems, water conservation measures, and built-in recycling programs that support your goals from the start.
Where your venue is located matters just as much. Try to minimise the average travel distance for attendees. A venue that’s close to public transport, or walkable from your office, can significantly reduce emissions. Bonus points if the space uses renewable energy or offers natural light, outdoor airflow, or green space.
Before you sign anything, ask the venue about:
- Their waste and recycling practices
- Water-saving or energy-efficient systems
- How they manage food waste or leftover materials
- Whether they track their carbon impact (some will share data to help with your own ESG reporting)
Reducing transportation impact
Did you know the journey to your event often creates more environmental impact than the gathering itself? Up to 90% of an event's carbon footprint stems from transportation, making this aspect a critical focus for sustainability planning. Smart transport strategies can dramatically reduce these emissions while improving the attendee experience.
Virtual and hybrid models have revolutionized event accessibility. To slash travel-related emissions while opening your events to a global audience, consider incorporating digital participation options. These formats reduce environmental impact while simultaneously increasing engagement by removing geographic barriers to participation.
When planning sustainable transportation, pre-event communications become an important factor for success. Providing detailed public transport information, highlighting bike-share options, and organising shuttle services from central locations can significantly reduce individual car trips. The secret lies in making sustainable transport choices both obvious and convenient for your attendees.
If you’re working with international guests or need to offset unavoidable flights, partner with a verified carbon offset provider. These programmes fund environmental initiatives that balance your event’s emissions with meaningful impact.
Sustainable food and beverage planning
Catering is often overlooked, but it offers one of the easiest places to make a sustainable switch. Start by:
- Choosing local and seasonal menus to reduce transport emissions
- Prioritising plant-forward meals (they generally use less water and produce fewer emissions than meat-based dishes)
- Right-sizing food quantities to reduce waste
Hydration is a huge part of this picture too. Skip bottled water and provide refill stations instead. Want to take it up a notch? Offer reusable bottles or insulated mugs to each guest - it’s a memorable touch and keeps your sustainability front of mind.
Rethink your signage and materials
Digital tools have made event materials smarter — and far more sustainable. Use mobile check-ins, QR codes, and event apps to replace printed agendas and handouts. You’ll cut down on paper waste while giving guests instant access to real-time info and updates.
Of course, some physical signage might still be needed. The key is to make smart swaps. Choose recyclable or reusable materials, or rent what you can. And whenever possible, design signs that can be repurposed for future events instead of heading straight to landfill.
When it comes to giveaways, this is where many events go off track. Most promotional items don’t make it past the first week. Think plastic pens, branded stress balls, or gimmicky gadgets. They get tossed and take your brand with them.
High-quality, practical items change the game. A reusable water bottle, like our custom stainless steel insulated range, adds real value. It’s something people will keep and use — at their desk, on commutes, in the gym — and your brand stays with them every step of the way.
Some organisers take it a step further by replacing physical swag altogether. Donating to an environmental charity on behalf of attendees is a powerful gesture, especially when it’s part of your broader sustainability story.
Just Bottle’s premium mugs and bottles are designed to do more. They reduce plastic waste, support ocean plastic collection, and deliver lasting brand visibility — all while keeping your event top of mind long after it ends.
Make swag part of the solution, not the problem
Event giveaways can either be memorable or landfill-bound. Unfortunately, most fall into the second category. Low-cost keychains, plastic pens, or stress balls rarely make it past the car park.
Instead, choose branded swag that people will actually use. Reusable drinkware, like Just Bottle’s stainless steel insulated bottles, adds real value while reducing single-use plastic. Each bottle becomes a mobile reminder of your event and your commitment to sustainability.
Need inspiration?
- Tie swag into your event themes (wellness, tech, nature)
- Offer a mix of useful items and charitable options (e.g., a tree planted for each attendee)
- Keep packaging minimal, recyclable, or compostable
Build sustainability into your vendor checklist
Your event’s footprint doesn’t stop with your choices — your suppliers matter too. When sourcing vendors, ask questions like:
- Do you have environmental certifications?
- How do you manage waste and sourcing?
- Can you accommodate reusable service items (cups, plates, utensils)?
Prioritise local and diverse suppliers when possible. It strengthens your community ties and reduces long-haul logistics emissions.
Manage waste like you mean it
Recycling bins aren’t enough. Create clearly marked, well-placed stations for:
- Recycling
- Compost
- Landfill
Use signage with icons, colours, and simple language. And don’t forget the bins backstage, your vendors need access too.
Before the event, create a plan for leftover food, flowers, or decor. Partner with local shelters or organisations who can make use of extras. It’s a simple way to avoid waste and create a feel-good story for attendees.
Track what matters — and share it
Your sustainability efforts deserve recognition, and your stakeholders want to see results.
Track:
- Total waste generated vs. diverted (e.g., recycled or composted)
- Percentage of sustainable catering items
- Single-use plastics avoided
- Number of reusable bottles distributed
- Estimated travel emissions and offsets
Sharing these stats after the event — via email, on LinkedIn, or in your ESG report—helps tell your brand story and inspires your audience to keep the momentum going.
Bonus: Event merch ideas
If you choose a product that people will use and reuse in the future, you will maximise your marketing return on spend, and build brand awareness long after the event has ended.
Reusable Coffee Mugs
A great branded event merchandise idea is stainless steel coffee mugs. These mugs are durable, reusable, and can be used to hold hot or cold beverages. They're perfect for attendees who want to stay hydrated (and caffeinated) throughout the day, and they can be used long after the event is over.
Hats
Hats are another popular choice for event merchandise, and they can help attendees keep the sun out of their eyes during outdoor events. You can choose from baseball caps, beanies, and other styles, and have them embroidered or printed with your event's logo or branding.
Reusable water bottles
With concerns about plastic water bottles on the rise, many people are looking for ways to reduce their events environmental impact. Reusable water bottles are a great way to do this, and they can be branded with your event's logo or company message.
Using brands like Just Bottle, you can achieve a high level of customisation to get the perfect product that's unique for your event.
You can even offer them as a gift to attendees when they arrive, encouraging them to stay hydrated throughout the day and ditch the plastic water bottles for good. Even better is that attendees are highly likely to use their bottle over and over again after the event is finished, maximising your brand awareness and driving future engagement with your business.
Tote Bags
Tote bags are a practical and eco-friendly idea for event merch. They can be used to carry all sorts of items, from groceries to books, and they're perfect for carrying around event materials and souvenirs. You can choose from a variety of styles and materials, and have them printed or embroidered with your event's branding.
Build events that live your values
Events are some of the most visible expressions of who your company is. When sustainability is woven into every decision — from the coffee cups to the carbon offsets, you show your stakeholders that your values aren’t just words. They’re actions.
And with sustainable event planning, you don’t have to choose between experience and impact. You can create a memorable, high-value event that reflects the future you’re helping to build.
Planning your next event? Explore our custom reusable bottles and mugs built for sustainable, unforgettable swag that people actually use.
Shop now at Just Bottle.
FAQ's
What are the key elements of a sustainable corporate event?
A sustainable corporate event focuses on reducing environmental impact through choices like eco-certified venues, plant-based catering, low-emission transport options, digital materials, and meaningful swag. These decisions show your business is committed to ESG goals while enhancing guest experience.
Why is sustainable merch important for events?
Event merch ideas that prioritise sustainability, like reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, or tote bags help reduce waste and extend your brand’s impact beyond the event. High-quality, practical items are more likely to be reused, increasing brand visibility and supporting your sustainability message.
How can I reduce waste at my corporate event?
You can reduce waste by providing recycling, compost, and landfill stations with clear signage, offering digital check-ins and materials, and donating leftover food or decor. Choosing reusable event merch also cuts down on single-use items that often end up in landfill.
What are some effective and eco-friendly event merch ideas?
Reusable drinkware, branded tote bags, stainless steel mugs, and embroidered hats are all sustainable event merch ideas that combine functionality with long-term brand exposure. These items align with the goals of sustainable corporate events and are valued by attendees long after the event ends.
