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That’s why since 2021 we’ve partnered with Project Merchandise, the only UK merchandise provider who is committed to offering good quality eco-friendly branded merchandise, with a mission to make our items more sustainable – sustainable merch just makes sense!
Through this partnership, we have funded 8,150 trees around the world as part of reforestation projects in Kenya to helping the farmers of Iringa, Tanzania protect their land and bring nutrients back to the soil.
As the big plastic count starting this week and Global Recycling day coming up, we’re taking the time to consider our impact on the environment.
With this in mind, we’ve spoken to Chris Dawson, Sales Director and Jeremy Benson, Marketing Director of Project Merchandise to understand more about their organisation and sustainability. Read below for what they have to say:
How was Project Merchandise formed?
We realised at the start of the pandemic that we shared the view that the future of business needed to be more responsible. After a few chats, we found that we all had some experience of merchandise, and felt that the industry was one we could make a real impact on.
It was an industry crying out for a supplier that made it easy for clients to purchase more sustainable, was truly committed to providing quality items that people would want to keep, and sourced in a way that reduced the negative environmental impacts as much as possible.
We felt that we were the right people to make that possible!
What inspired/ motivated you to create a business centred around sustainability?
We didn’t want to create ‘just another business’ that created as many issues as it solved. We each brought our own ideas of what our business should look like, and we kept coming back to sustainability. We were aligned on the core principle of finding solutions that were both good for business and better for the environment.
What’s one of the biggest challenges you face in delivering merchandise which is sustainable?
One of the initial challenges we faced was the cost difference between sustainable and traditional merchandise. However, as consumer demand has increased, the price gap has narrowed significantly. We're often delighted to hear clients express surprise at how affordable it is to make the switch to more sustainable merchandise.
Today, our biggest challenge is navigating the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable claims. We're all used to being bombarded with "green" messages, and it can be difficult to separate the genuine from misleading.
We’re continuously scrutinising our offering to ensure our products reflect the most sustainable choices available, and more importantly, that they’re what we say they are. Our partnerships with suppliers who share our commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility makes our job much easier in this respect!
What are some of the key steps that helped you establish a sustainable business?
Sustainability has become a real buzzword, and yet so few of us are able to give a clear definition for the term. We set out to make it easier to grasp by breaking sustainability down into a set of product values so that purchasers can select merchandise based on the values that are important to them.
As well as that, we’ve made a point of building a team of like-minded individuals that get our mission and are invested in doing away with mindless consumption to bring about a positive change for our industry and our planet.
What environmentally friendly business practices does Project Merchandise adhere to?
Very early on, we set clear boundaries regarding the items we are willing to provide. Our product values have become a de-facto selection criteria, and if an item doesn’t tick any of those boxes, we won’t sell it. Simple as that! There have actually been a few occasions where we’ve chosen to turn business away because we were unable to deliver a product we were happy to put our name to. In the long run, we believe that this is the right move for the integrity of our platform.
In the interest of transparency, we’ve also collated evidence of any environmental or ethical accreditations associated with our products or their respective suppliers and factories. We make this information available on our site for anyone who wants that extra peace of mind.
Lastly, we implemented a ‘Climate Pledge’ at the start of our second year. With the help of Ecologi, we’re helping to fund global reforestation projects as well as vital carbon avoidance schemes that help reduce the effects of climate change.
For every £1,000 our customers spend with us, we help plant 25 trees and prevent 0.5 tonnes of CO2e emissions. We also share exactly how much impact has been generated with each order placed, so that they can share the great news with their teams.
What has been your proudest achievement to date at Project Merchandise?
That would have to be achieving our B Corp certification. The B Impact Assessment was a challenging but rewarding project that fundamentally shaped many aspects of the business, providing a blueprint for us to reference on the way to making this as sustainable a business as possible for people and planet.
We’re also in the final stages of our PAS2060 Carbon Neutral assessment, and very much looking forward to announcing that soon.
Regarding sustainable practices, is there anything that has particularly shocked you about the current market/ practices?
Firstly, the prevalence of unsubstantiated sustainability claims. We’ve come across many that pass the eye-test but collapse under scrutiny. In most cases, it comes from a lack of awareness rather than intentional misdirection, but in any case, we have to be incredibly vigilant. We're proud to say that over 80% of our products are independently assessed and certified, and we're actively working to raise that bar higher.
Despite a significant shift in consumer sentiment, there are plenty of providers out there that still seem to view sustainability as a passing trend. Thankfully, we've been fortunate to build strong relationships with key strategic partners (and customers too!) who genuinely share our commitment to sustainable development. Together, we're excited to continue on this journey.
For anyone looking to start their own business in the future, what advice would you give for anyone starting out?
Uphold your values: There will always be moments when compromise seems tempting. But remember, many successful businesses are built on a strong foundation of principles. To be honest, we faced plenty of scepticism for our decision to start a sustainable business during the pandemic. And while it would have been very easy for us to accept orders that didn’t align with our values, staying true to our sustainability focus has fostered lasting client trust.
Build a Strong Team: Surround yourself with experts in different fields, and trust their expertise! In the early days, we wore many hats, but having a diverse team allowed us to focus on our core strengths while ensuring all bases were covered.
Any last points you could share to inspire readers to make changes to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle?
A significant shift we can all make is to move away from the traditional "throw-away" mentality. Waste doesn't simply disappear – it ends up in landfills or pollutes our oceans.
Explore ways to repair, repurpose, or donate items that have reached the end of their original use for you. Skills like sewing, carpentry, and upholstering are fun and fulfilling, and moreover, we can use them to reduce waste and discover the joy of extending the life of the things we own.