Redefining Promotional Products: Creative Ways to Repurpose Unusable Products

BySwagCycle
unusable promotional products

Did you ever receive promotional products that ended up being unusable? You are not alone as companies often give out these products to attract potential customers. Promotional products usually come with a marketing strategy making it essential that they serve their purpose. But what happens when they do not? If you’re concerned that these products are a waste, no need to worry. With just a bit of creativity, there are tons of different ways to repurpose these products and ensure that they don’t end up in a landfill. In this blog, we’ll discuss some creative ways companies can repurpose unusable promotional products instead of just throwing them away.

  • Donating Promotional Products
    One of the best ways to repurpose unusable promotional products is to donate them to a charitable organization. Several non-profit organizations can use these items in various ways. For example, old clothing and caps can be donated to shelters, while school supplies can be given to needy children. You can also donate toys or stuffed animals to children’s hospitals. Donating promotional products shows that your company cares, and it’s an excellent way to give back to the community.
  • Eco-Friendly Upcycling
    Eco-friendly upcycling is another creative way to repurpose promotional products. This process not only repurposes the unusable promotional product but also ensures that it’s environmentally friendly. For example, you can create unique planters from unusable stress balls, or use an old banner to make eco-friendly totes. The possibilities are endless, and this way of repurposing shows that your company cares about being environmentally responsible.
  • Employee Swag Exchange
    Exchange unused promotional products with employees so they can use them outside of the office. Hosting an employee swag exchange can be a fun way to repurpose promotional products. Employees can bring in items that they don’t use, and everyone can exchange them for something that they find more useful. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork and make sure that the products aren’t going to waste.
  • Recycling and Product Renewal
    Making sure promotional products are recyclable from the start is essential. Many ordinary promotional products, such as mugs, pens, and bags, can be recycled. By using easily recyclable products, your company can prevent a lot of waste from promoting your brand. Companies can also renew the old product by scraping existing logos/themes and redesigning new artwork. In this way, the promotional item can be reused or sent to charity.
  • Art, Craft, and Science Activities
    Unused or unusable promotional products can be a creative way to engage young minds. Companies can donate them to schools, summer camps, or after-school programs. Art and craft activities can be done, for example, birdfeeders can be made out of unusable CD cases. Science experiments can be done with old magnets and stress balls. This way of repurposing promotes creativity while also doing some good.

Conclusion:

Promotional products are a great way to promote your brand and reach potential clients. However, with time, some of these products go unused or become unusable. These products usually end up in a landfill, but repurposing them creatively is a better solution. In this blog, we discussed some creative ways to repurpose promotional products. These ideas demonstrate that not all promotional products need to be a waste. Whether it’s through donation to charity, eco-friendly upcycling, employee swag exchange, recycling, or using them in art/craft/science activities, there are plenty of ways to make use of these products. By taking this approach, companies can show that they care about the environment and their community while also being cost-effective. Start repurposing promotional products today!

"SwagCycle is a startup focused on responsibly managing the lifecycle of branded merchandise. When companies rebrand or get acquired, many often dispose of their obsolete branded merchandise. Leveraging our proprietary network of partners, we make this problem go away by helping companies repurpose and recycle unwanted branded items in a responsible, ethical, and affordable way.

SwagCycle is a proud portfolio company of Grossman Marketing Group, a fourth-generation marketing services firm with a deep history of corporate responsibility.

We’ve developed a simple and efficient 3-step process to address the issue of obsolete branded merchandise with companies:
(1) Assess the inventory of unwanted items;
(2) Confirm brand guidelines to determine if excess items can live on with charitable partners or should be recycled; and
(3) Match items with appropriate charities and/or recycling partners.

An important term to consider is landfill divergence. We want to ensure that items do not get thrown away, but instead, get repurposed or recycled responsibly.

The response from the charitable community has been wonderful. Some of our founding charitable partners include organizations like United Way, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and Dress for Success, among others."