The Environmental Impact of Custom Promotional Products: Sustainable Lanyards and Accessories
Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have or an add-on benefit for meeting planners and professionals. As event attendees become more aware of waste and their environmental footprints, sustainable event practices have become a top priority.
According to the 2025 Global Forecast from Amex GBT Meetings & Events, more than half (54%) of meeting professionals say that sustainability is extremely or very important. And 48% have already implemented plans to minimize disposables and prioritize sustainable materials and production.
Minimizing disposables and waste are among the most commonly implemented sustainable practices for meeting professionals. (Amex GBT, 2024)
Why is it important for your clients to think about sustainability? Because their attendees are thinking about it.
Eloisa Urrutia, head of global sustainability for Amex GBT, notes in the forecast report: “Today’s audiences prioritize sustainability: Simple issues like food waste or disposable plastics can negatively impact perceptions.”
Prioritizing sustainable promotional products and accessories allows businesses to align with their attendees’ values while reducing environmental impact. Recycled and compostable lanyards and sustainable badges are just a few ways to embrace greener alternatives without sacrificing functionality or branding opportunities.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of choosing sustainable lanyards and accessories, highlight eco-friendly materials to consider and share tips for making a positive impact through your promotional product choices.
The Problem With Traditional Lanyards and Accessories
Traditional lanyards and accessories rely on materials and production processes that can harm the environment. Some common issues include:
- Non-sustainable materials. Most lanyards are made from polyester or nylon. Both of these are derived from petroleum and are not biodegradable, meaning they can take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. Badge holders are typically made from PVC, a type of plastic that can release toxic chemicals when improperly disposed of.
- Production impact. Extracting the materials and producing products made from polyester or PVC involves energy-intensive processes that can take a toll on the environment through the emission of greenhouse gases.
- Recycling challenges. Traditional lanyards are made from materials that are not easily recyclable, leading to more landfill waste.
What Are Eco-Friendly Promotional Products?
Eco-friendly promotional products are those that have a less harmful impact on the environment. This doesn’t mean they are less functional. Many eco-friendly products are durable, attractive and customizable, making them just as effective as traditional options for branding and marketing.
Eco-friendly promotional products are characterized by the following:
- Sustainable materials. These products may be made from recycled or renewable materials such as organic cotton, recycled PET, bamboo or biodegradable alternatives.
- Production process. Eco-friendly promo products are made more sustainable in ways that reduce waste and energy consumption.
- Responsible disposal. Products that are biodegradable, recyclable or compostable can be thrown away without contributing to landfill waste.
Eco-Friendly Lanyards, Badges and Accessories
Your clients care about sustainability. Add these products to your portfolio and show them your commitment to meeting their eco-conscious expectations. Each is backed by our quality, durability and customization guarantee, ensuring they’re as practical and reliable as they are environmentally responsible.
- Recycled PET lanyards. With an unlimited range of colors and nearly endless customization options, these lanyards are designed using recycled PET material, offering a practical, earth-friendly solution without compromising style or functionality.
- Compostable organic cotton lanyards. These lanyard products are available in ⅝-inch material width in a pre-selected color range, with screen-printed artwork using water-based inks. Even the lanyard attachments are non-metallic and are fully compostable.
- Sustainable material event badges. Use MoistureTuff material or recycled paper badges instead of PVC to eliminate single-use plastic. Both are recyclable.
- Recycled PVC cards. These recycled PVC cards are made from post-consumer materials and are compatible with all desktop card printers.
- PEVA badge holders. PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) is a chlorine-free plastic material with less environmental impact than traditional PVC options.
- Compostable rigid badge holders. Fully compostable badge holders made from organic materials are a great choice for companies seeking the lowest negative environmental impact.
Benefits of Choosing Eco-Friendly Promotional Products
Choosing sustainable promotion products, like lanyards and accessories, has numerous benefits for businesses and the environment.
In addition to reducing waste, keeping plastics and synthetic materials out of landfills and reducing the carbon footprint events, your clients gain key advantages, including:
- Enhanced brand perception. A demonstrated commitment to sustainability is attractive to increasingly environmentally conscious customers.
- Attendee alignment. According to NielsenIQ, 78% of U.S. consumers say that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them. That includes the products used at events.
- Differentiation. Sustainability is an expectation for many consumers, but not all businesses are on board. A commitment to eco-friendly products can make a business stand out.
The Green Forecast: The Future of Sustainable Promo Products
In January, we attended the PPAI Expo in Las Vegas, and it was easy to see sustainability throughout the expo floor — from recycled and renewable materials to technology that uses blockchain technology to help create traceable sustainable supply chains.
It’s clear that sustainability is more than a trend; it’s what consumers expect from companies they trust. Here are a few trends to watch for in 2025 and beyond as your clients continue to lean into sustainability as a core value:
- Planet-friendly materials. From bamboo pens, banners and cutlery to organic cotton tote bags and t-shirts, consumers are looking for products made with cleaner, more renewable resources. Choose regenerative materials like bamboo and cork that are less taxing on the environment and organic cotton grown without chemicals.
- Recycled products. Recycled plastic is a great place to start, but you can also source other recycled materials like cotton tote bags or recycled denim pencils. Recycled products reduce waste while offering practical, eco-conscious branding opportunities.
- Biodegradable credentials. Biodegradable items like compostable organic cotton lanyards or biodegradable ID cards decompose naturally, reducing waste while maintaining quality and functionality.
- Plantables. Growable branded products like seed-infused business cards, planters or grow kits leave a lasting impression. These items help clients connect their brands to sustainability in a tangible, memorable way.
- Upcycled items. Recycling is about reprocessing materials to create new products, but upcycling takes it a step further by transforming waste materials into higher-value items. Popular products include bags made from billboards or promo products made from your own branded trade show table covers or banners. These products not only reduce waste but also tell a compelling story of creativity.
How to Market Green Products to Clients
Given the rising interest in sustainability and eco-friendly products, promoting greener options means positioning them as practical and forward-thinking solutions. Highlight the benefits to the environment and business perception, as well as the durability, customizability and quality of the products to demonstrate their value in meeting sustainability goals and aligning with eco-conscious trends.