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Connecting with people to generate leads is an essential part of live exhibitions like trade shows and conferences. Traditionally, it’s been easy to hand out stress balls, keychains and other cheap-to-produce swag to start that initial conversation. But - at what cost to the environment? And does that fidget spinner really provide the memorable impact you want it to? Let’s explore what it takes to make a disposable tchotchke and discuss the values of an alternative.

1. Item is manufactured using chemicals.

   • All manufacturing risks exposure to chemicals. However, factories that manufacture cheap (usually plastic) items outside the U.S.A., may not adhere to OSHA safety standards for PPE and safe handling instructions for chemicals. (1)

2. Item is wrapped in plastic…

   • Most plastic bags are made from polyethylene, which is extracted from crude oil or natural gas. Both the extraction of these resources and their processing have negative environmental impacts. (2)

3. …packed in a box with packing materials…

   • Packing materials like packing peanuts are made from polystyrene foam (Styrofoam), which can cause negative health impacts, easily breaks up into smaller pieces for the wind or small animals to pick up, and takes over 500 years to break down in a landfill. (3)

4. …placed on pallets…

   • Wooden pallets, the most popular option for shipping, are not often responsibly sourced for ethical wood sources, which protect against deforestation and unsafe or inhumane labor practices, and focus on local lumber to reduce GHG emissions for timber shipping. Look for products with an FSC certification. (4)

5. …wrapped in cling film…

   • Pallet wrap is also made from polyethelene like plastic bags, and is almost impossible to reuse. Recycled cling wrap is more expensive than virgin materials, providing little incentive for use. In landfills or incinerators, it can release a highly toxic chemical called dioxin, says the World Health Organization. (5)

6. …shipped…

   • Transportation of goods and people (especially internationally) is indisputably the highest GHG impact for any event. Smart Way shipping and local manufacturing help reduce this impact. (6)

7. …cling is unwrapped and trashed…

8. …packing materials and pallets are trashed…

   • Polysterene foam used for packing is generally not considered recycleable, and it easily breaks into smaller pieces for the wind or small animals to pick up, and takes over 500 years to break down in a landfill.5 If wood pallets are not reused or recycled properly, the natural resource of wood is wasted on one-time-use shipments. Pallets must be recycled separately, as most recycling centers do not accept them. (4)

9. …plastic wrapper is trashed…

   • Plastic bags take over 1,000 years to decompose. They are hard to recycle, and energy-intensive when recycling is possible. Consider the utility of a plastic bag over this type of item - is it necessary in the first place? (2)

10. While empty boxes are stored on pallets, re-wrapped in cling film…

    • Newer models for sustainable freight materials are emerging. Both wooden and plastic pallet manufacturers are becoming more aware of the sustainable impact of their products as a selling point. (10)

    • Reusable pallet wraps and straps are available as well. And cling wrap can be recycled, though it is commonly just discarded since it needs to be collected and baled separately (frequently by color) to be processed into pellets. (11)

11. ITEM IS GIFTED!

    • The moment of give away exchange can be a powerful moment of connection. But compared with experiences or higher-quality items, swag may leave potential customers unimpressed. (7)

12. Boxes are unwrapped to pack excess… then re-wrapped in cling film a third time…

    • Packaging is the number one contributor to plastic pollution. New products and systems for reuse, recycling and composting of a disposable wrapping material must be introduced to combat environmental contamination. (12)

13. …and shipped onward… or trashed.

    • We place importance on giveaway items because we always have. Shipping these items can be costly, with a high margin of error for damage, delay, or loss. A new way to think about giveaways is to prioritize experience, such as providing a manicure or massage, a moment of connection such as allowing booth visitors to vote for a charity project your company will contribute to, or an activation like a photo booth or game to give you a structured way to learn about visitors and their needs.

It’s not a secret why swag has been an important tool for client leads at events: more than half (52%) of the attendees are attracted to exhibits that offer giveaways or freebies.13 However, the value of an experience is the opportunity to stand out from the crowd. 74% of trade show attendees say engaging with exhibitors increases their likelihood of buying the products/services on display.13 In short, it’s not the item that matters. It’s the people.

When we talk about sustainable solutions for live events, Honeycomb Strategies means generating the communal power to sustain. We sustain our earth, our economy, and our connections by pivoting from disposable, damaging items and focusing on what mattered all along: human connection.

Authors: Corey Clark, Senior Sustainability Manager; Brenan Dwyer, Marketing Manager

SOURCES
(1) OSHA; https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/toxic-industrial-chemicals

(2) UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO; https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2022/02/23/issues-plastic-bags-ripple-effect

(3) RECYCLECOACH; https://recyclecoach.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-styrofoam-recycling/

(4) FSC; https://us.fsc.org/en-us/certification

(5) NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC; https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/story-of-plastic-sticky-problem-of-plastic-wrap?loggedin=true&rnd=1685998524028

(6) EPA; https://www.epa.gov/smartway

(7) Fast Company; https://www.fastcompany.com/90783717/can-we-finally-kill-off-cheap-disposable-conference-swag?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&leadId=649852&mkt_tok=NjEwLUxFRS04NzIAAAGGtsODtiE2zdBSsEOuFKMSlR1UOuaBNUittismYxxWu-k5zHmCpbiiesME25rme4ScaSrmQXG6kB_ByXtZTqWIm9bbuT3CBg7J1zUioQ

(8) World Wildlife Fund; https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/pulp-and-paper

(9) SEJ; https://www.sej.org/publications/backgrounders/styrofoam-facts-why-you-may-want-bring-your-own-cup

(10) greenbiz.com; https://www.greenbiz.com/article/why-selling-environmental-benefits-pallets-heavy-lift

(11) Industrial Packing.com https://www.industrialpackaging.com/blog/recycle-stretch-film

(12) Swap Whitepaper; https://flex.com/resources/the-swap-project-to-combat-stretch-wrap-waste#:~:text=download%20the%20SWAP%20white%20paper

(13) TSL https://www.tradeshowlabs.com/blog/trade-show-stats