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Typical corporate gifts and freebies (pens, hand fans, sticky notes, lanyards, magnets…) often have in common to be cheap in quality and either useless, thrown away within hours or forgotten in a drawer.
We believe that this unsustainable practice should be banned or replaced with a more valuable approach:
Sustainable practices also improve internal and external brand reputation (beware of Greenwashing though).
For your next corporate gift to clients or to your team members, think different. Most corporate and promotional gifts sadly end up in the waste bins. Prefer real experiences, e-vouchers, give-back actions, donations, gift of tree, etc.
If you do not have yet a sustainable procurement policy, please refer to the global sustainable procurement policy in resources to write one.
If goodies are unavoidable, choose eco-friendly or sustainable options (recyclable or biodegradable material). It is a good way to promote your CSR strategy to your customers. Choose meaningful gifts that will actually be used, don't waste resources and money with pointless items that will be thrown right away.
• Act on quantities & quality (e.g. distribute 1,000 recyclable/ eco-friendly pens versus 2,000 made in a distant country and imported by plane).
• Buy locally to limit transportation and logistics.
• Choose manufacturers with conscious of environmental and social challenges:
1- safe work environment to prevent work accidents and illness
2- employees wellbeing
3- ethical work conditions (minimum salaries levels, no forced labor, no child work...)
If you do not have yet a sustainable procurement policy, see here on how to implement one and how to write one.
If goodies are unavoidable, choose eco-friendly or sustainable options (recyclable or biodegradable material). It is a good way to promote your CSR strategy to your customers.
- Offer reusable mug or water bottle in order to limit single-use bottles
- Offer reusable bags
- Choose meaningful gifts that will actually be used, don't waste resources and money with pointless items that will be thrown right away.
Moreover,
• Act on quantities & quality (e.g. distribute 1,000 recyclable/ eco-friendly pens versus 2,000 made in a distant country and imported by plane)
• Buy locally to limit transportation and logistics
• Choose manufacturers with conscious of environmental and social challenges:
- safe work environment to prevent work accidents and illness
- employees wellbeing
- ethical work conditions (minimum salaries levels, no forced labor, no child work...)
If you do not have yet a sustainable procurement policy, see here on how to implement one and how to write one.
If goodies are unavoidable, choose eco-friendly or sustainable options (recyclable or biodegradable material). It is a good way to promote your CSR strategy to your customers. Choose meaningful gifts that will actually be used, don't waste resources and money with pointless items that will be thrown right away.
• Act on quantities & quality (e.g. distribute 1,000 recyclable/ eco-friendly pens versus 2,000 made in a distant country and imported by plane).
• Buy locally to limit transportation and logistics.
• Choose manufacturers with conscious of environmental and social challenges:
- safe work environment to prevent work accidents and illness
- employees wellbeing
- ethical work conditions (minimum salaries levels, no forced labor, no child work...)
The « sustainability journey » may feel overwhelming sometimes, but you are not alone.
Our Buddies have tried, succeeded, failed to implement change in their companies. They share their experience so you can learn, take shortcuts, get inspired and ask questions.
Everybody can become a Buddy and give back to the community; if you are keen, get in touch with us.
Before joining Chanel, I was General Manager of BSI Singapore for 2.5 years. Prior to joining BSI, I held different job assignments for the international retailer Carrefour. For them, I oversaw Quality, Food Safety and Sustainability in China and then at the Group level.
I spent most of my career working in Asia: in Shanghai, Hong Kong and I have been happily settled in Singapore for 8 years now.
I have a real passion for sustainability and nature conservation and I love to share the knowledge and experience I gained in this field. I am also a volunteer for the Singaporean NGO called Climate Conversation which aims to raise awareness on climate change.
In 2003, I joined International SOS, world leader of medical and security assistance services and relocated to Singapore in 2008 where I have spent my life since. I held different regional leadership roles and I was a founding member of the Sustainability Committee and initially led the S (Social) part. I was also leading the Environment pillar, with a special focus on the Ecovadis certification.
I enrolled at SMU back in Sept 2020 and graduated from the Sustainability and Sustainable Business executive masterclass in Dec 2020. In July 2021, I joined a local singaporean startup H3Dynamics with the ambition to decarbonize the aviation industry! And since May 2023, I am now the managing director AsiaPacific for Ecocert, world leader in certification for organic products. I am also the Singapore Ambassador (volunteer) for Ecomatcher to help brands fight climate change, one tree at a time.
Finally, I am a French Trade Advisor and part of the Sustainability Committee to strengthen bridges between France and Singapore on this crucial agenda.
I am Naomi, currently co-founder & director of givvable. I started my career as an Australian diplomat with postings in East Timor, Thailand and Switzerland then moved into private banking where my interest in ESG and sustainability was seeded.
Today my company helps businesses screen and track the sustainability profile of their suppliers to help them achieve their goals and targets.
I run a business called Bright Green where I work with corporates to engage employees in impact projects in the areas of environmental and social impact. I also facilitate sustainability learning programs to educate employees on developing an eco-friendly mindset and high impact actions they can take in their homes and daily lives.
Before founding Bright Green in 2020, I have been working in Project Management, Change Management and Continuous Improvement roles within Human Resources and Recruitment. I love that I get to work with organisations that are making commitments to net-zero and inspire employees to make an impact!
