The “goodie”, an item given away with a company logo or even as a corporate gift, is a gesture that has existed for several decades (there is no known exact date for the origin of the concept). It is a tradition that makes a difference both in strengthening internal bonds within teams and in building privileged relationships with partners and customers.
Its personalized side always makes its mark. However, to truly stand out and innovate in this well-established practice, the choice of goodie must make sense. It becomes the testament to an image and a company culture that one wishes to pass on with pride.
Corporate gifts can go hand in hand with eco-responsible gifts that reflect our values.
The eco-responsible goodie then stands out as an interesting option: indeed, according to a study conducted in 2017 for the French Federation of Promotional Product Professionals, 85% of French employees are said to be vigilant about the environmental dimension of promotional items.
In light of this awareness, it is time to highlight sustainable and responsible products that help preserve our beautiful planet and support fair human initiatives.
Eco-responsible goodies: many advantages
Pens, mugs, and keychains... these famous goodies tend to accumulate in cupboards. Their classic and ordinary appearance, sometimes associated with poor quality, raises questions about their sustainable and ethical aspect. Are they really useful?
On the corporate side, goodies remain a positive-impact communication tool, allowing the employer brand to be promoted.
On the user side, goodies become interesting if they stand out and are chosen with relevance and awareness. It is no longer about giving for the sake of giving, but rather about offering a keepable, sustainable, and desirable gift.
This is fortunate, because eco-responsible goodies offer several significant advantages:
1. The eco-responsible gift promotes environmental awareness within the company
Choosing eco-responsible items demonstrates the company's commitment to environmental preservation. Eco-responsible goodies convey values of sustainability, promoting the local economy and thus encouraging employees in turn to adopt behaviors that are more respectful of the planet. This approach facilitates the integration of eco-friendly habits within the company culture, promoting a positive and sustainable change.
2. The eco-responsible gift helps reduce waste production
The use of recyclable or biodegradable materials in the manufacturing of eco-responsible goodies helps to reduce waste production, thus fitting into an ecological and responsible approach.
By opting for materials such as recycled paper, organic vegan leather, or other environmentally friendly alternatives, we minimize the ecological impact associated with the production of new materials.
Furthermore, eco-responsible goodies are often designed for long-term use. Their durability encourages recipients to use them repeatedly rather than throwing them away after a short period.
On the occasion of the Slow Fashion Week in Marseille, held from June 7 to 14, 2025 under radiant sunshine and summer temperatures, the Meanwhile Boutique team opted for Made in France plantable fans. For this, we turned to Good Act, an online platform offering eco-responsible corporate goodies. Good Act designs and selects low-carbon products while guaranteeing French manufacturing for most of its products.
Thanks to their personalization tool, we were able to create goodies that reflect us, carrying a clear and committed message!
These original and eco-responsible fans were given away free to every participant of the Slow Fashion Week at Meanwhile Boutique. Entirely biodegradable, these goodies can be planted to grow beautiful aromatic plants!
3. The eco-responsible gift is part of a positive-impact approach
By adopting eco-responsible goodies, the company is more broadly part of a so-called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy, strengthening its commitment to sustainability and the consideration of social issues. This approach has a positive impact on the company's image, strengthening its credibility as a responsible player within the community and on the market.
The positive impact is also felt by the person who receives the goodie. The perception of employees, customers, and business partners about these responsible choices strengthens the bond between the company and its stakeholders by demonstrating a concrete and mutual commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Eco-responsible goodies: how to choose well?
The main thing is to give a gift that lasts over time, rather than an ephemeral object intended to be thrown away at the first opportunity.
For the recipient, receiving a gift is always a source of joy, but when it is original, useful, locally produced, and made in an environmentally friendly way with ecological materials, it becomes even more rewarding!
Whether it is a pen, a tote bag, a notebook, a pouch, a water bottle… prioritize ecological materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, recycled PET, linen… Choose eco-responsible goodies designed locally, in a short supply chain and of course by thinking about promoting Made in France: in other words, collaborating with partners whose standards and working conditions comply with French requirements.
A guarantee of quality!
Finally, personalization remains important, as does the consideration of immaterial gifts. Indeed, offering a gift card to an eco-responsible boutique bringing together several carefully selected committed brands allows recipients to make their own choice, thus constituting an ultra-personalized gift.
At Meanwhile Boutique, we assist you in finding the perfect idea thanks to our charter and its 17 associated values.
If you need inspiration so that your goodies truly fit into an ethical and transparent approach, explore this charter and select the values you wish to highlight: Made in France, upcycled, vegan, certified, plastic-free, and much more goodies.
Eco-responsible goodies: 7 committed ideas
The upcycled goodie: a fanny pack made from deadstock fabrics Made in France
Fanny pack made from upcycled fabric - €65
The positive impact: Hédison is a brand of bags and accessories, designed from recycled materials, whether it is deadstock from various sewing brands or fabric scraps from their own collections.
Each element, from the product to the label, is crafted to minimize the environmental impact, respecting values such as reuse, recycling, or composting.
Why this goodie? The fanny pack made from upcycled fabric is a trendy, unisex accessory appreciated by all for its practicality. A small piece that will always make its mark and allows you to carry all your essentials without clutter.
The recycled goodie: notebooks made from recycled paper
Small notebook with lines on recycled paper - €4
The positive impact : At BTDT, a stationery brand, the notebooks and planners are made from Lebanese recycled paper, collected by Terre Liban, a non-profit environmental and eco-citizen recycling association in the country of the cedar. There is also a recipe notebook and a timeless planner, a good idea for the end-of-year holidays and to start the year off right.
Why this goodie? For organized days all year round, nothing beats a planner. A useful and necessary eco-responsible gift for the peace of mind of teams.
The natural goodie: the natural cork cardholder
Natural cork and/or bamboo printed cardholder - €22
The positive impact: The products of the Theane brand follow an entirely natural manual manufacturing process.
The brand's creations are made from a vegan "leather" made from grape marc.
Why this goodie? We use several cards daily: transport cards, bank cards for our different financial transactions, or even loyalty cards for our in-store purchases. This cardholder allows you to have a single secure place where you can put all your cards. You can also put it in the back pocket of pants or in the inner pocket of a jacket. Its design in cork allows optimal protection to keep your cards for a long time.
The vegan leather goodie: a Texon laptop sleeve
Texon vegan leather laptop sleeve - €39
The positive impact: The bags and accessories of the Akkoniq brand are made from sustainable, biodegradable and recycled materials. The vegan brand offsets its carbon footprint by planting trees, carefully selects committed partners for the planet, and develops strategies to make sustainability accessible, while raising consumer awareness of sustainable consumption habits.
Why this goodie? For equipment protection, whether in a meeting or traveling, the laptop sleeve is the ideal accessory. The slim pouch will easily fit in a bag.
This exterior in Texon vegan leather will add a touch of originality and get people talking at the coffee machine. Indeed, little known, this vegan leather is a biodegradable material made from FSC-certified wood cellulose.
The 100% biodegradable goodie: a phone case made from a mixture of corn starch and bamboo fibers
Shockproof and biodegradable phone case - €35
Positive impact: The Oceansrespect brand is committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, equipping its factories with effluent treatment plants and using vegetable-based inks, thus contributing to a negative carbon footprint.
To preserve the oceans, the brand donates 4% of its turnover to non-profit organizations committed to environmental protection and collaborates with communities around the world on sustainable initiatives, including coastal cleanups and tree planting.
Why this promotional item? With the laptop sleeve, the phone case adds to the list of essentials for the office or on the go. By offering a case, you are providing something functional that has a direct use in the daily life of your team or your clients.
These cases are available on our website for all phone models with several colors and several patterns to choose from.
The promotional item made by an Indian NGO: the organic cotton laptop bag
Organic cotton backpack - €70
Positive impact: The Hindbag brand designs all its products in France and entrusts their manufacturing to an Indian NGO, SSMI in New Delhi, which works for the empowerment of women and the education of children in India. In addition, 40% of the price is donated to the NGO in question. Several models and ranges are available in many colors and patterns, exclusive to the brand.
Why this promotional item? The laptop bag is perfect for ensuring the safe transport of equipment. Its interior compartment allows you to carefully store documents and notebooks. Its modern and elegant design makes it the ideal companion for those who cannot travel without their precious computer!
Promote promotional items that stand out, designed ethically, supporting fair and equitable working conditions. Innovation and creativity in the choice of these ethical items will surely attract attention and spark the interest of your employees, clients, and partners regarding sustainable and responsible options.
Sources:
http://www.2fpco.com/
