Creative, Sustainable Gifts Aligned With Your ESG Values For Talent And Clients

If you want to give gifts to your employees, team or clients for the holidays, but want the gifts to be aligned with your sustainable, environment-social-governance (ESG) principles, there are a lot of options, though it takes a bit of thought, digging and reading the fine print.

A new Shopify survey – of 24,000 consumers and 9,000 small and medium sized businesses – found that 40% of consumers are willing to pay more for products made and shipped sustainably, that have a lighter impact on the environment. “Expect more intentional spending; more climate-conscious shoppers seeking out brands with sustainable practices,” their news release said.

To align with those priorities, and your company’s ESG – environment, social and governance – related values, you’ll want to choose very carefully if you’re planning to give gifts this year.

This can be especially tricky for professional contacts, employees, top talent, or clients. You’ll likely want the gifts to be unisex and have a professional purpose, as well as meet the times and reinforce your company values.

Here are 10 affordable and creative ideas for professional, unisex gifts (prices vary):

1. Everybody has cords to organize: Everybody has phone chargers and earbuds or such that we hate getting lost in the bottom of a purse or briefcase. There are a range of cases made to hold these electronics so you can find them easily – and that are made sustainably. Check out Moosejaw, The Cool Down or Vera Bradley. They also have laptop cases made from recycled materials at these and other sites.

2. For the Backpack crowd: You can get them made from recycled materials. Try Sherpani or Ecocult.com

3. Charging a phone on the fly? Try the solar-powered phone charger – Good Housekeeping has a list.

4. Taking notes? Recycled notebook are a great way to reduce waste and still encourage note-taking or journals. Decomposition and Wisdom Supply Company have some made from recycled paper and materials, and in a range of patterns.

5. Encourage a park break! With a focus on managing stress and breathing fresh air, as well as enjoying the miracles of nature, you can consider giving a pass to the National Parks. It reinforces the message to get out into the great outdoors when you take a break from work, to clear your head and breathe some fresh air.

6. Cultivate kindness and feed a child – Kindness is a message everyone can appreciate, and FeedProjects offers a “Cultivate kindness” tote made from organic cotton where the purchase price also goes towards feeling hungry kids.

7. Offices or clients around the world? Check out passport wallets made from sustainable and/or recycled materials, such as burlap coffee sacks.

8. Eco Business card holder: For those of us who continue to carry business cards but want a holder that shares our values, there are several options, including one offered by Tiradia that’s biodegradable, made from recycled materials, waterproof and hypoallergenic to name a few properties they say it has. Or check out Sinbono’s vegan leather option.

9. Encourage hydrating: There are zillions of water bottles to choose from, but sustainable options are a bit tricker depending on your priorities. Etsy has a bamboo and stainless steel option, among other sustainable gift ideas.

10. Traveling colleagues always need toiletries: Here’s a cork dopp or toiletries kit for clients and/or team members who are on the road a lot.

Beware of shipping and gift wrapping

You’ll also want to make sure the company uses sustainable shipping materials. Gift wrapping can be one of the worst environmental impacts of the holidays. “During the holidays, that rises to 6.25 pounds per person per day, or 43.75 pounds each week. With a population of 330 million people, that means 2,887,500,000 more pounds of garbage are generated per week during the holidays relative to the rest of the year,” according to Brightly.eco.

If you’re in control of the wrapping, find sustainable gift wrapping, such as that made from recycled paper or companies that use fabric, which can be reused.

To align with social prioritize, focus on buying from women-, minority- and/or veteran-owned small businesses.

You’ll be reminding the recipients about your sustainable and social values, while expressing appreciation for their business or hard work this year.