By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert
Key Takeaways
Conference swag is where sustainability goals go to die: cheap plastic trinkets, useless giveaways and more tote bags than anyone can carry. Eco-conscious swag can still be exciting, useful and unforgettable, so ask four simple questions before you print a single unit.
Conferences: Where Sustainability Goals Go to Die ☠️
Let’s talk about the dark side of branded merch.
A Reddit thread recently lit up with complaints about conference giveaways — and if you’ve ever walked out of an expo with a tote bag full of junk, you already know what they were talking about.
One user in r/Anticonsumption posted about being buried in branded swag at an event:
💥 Cheap plastic trinkets
💥 Useless promotional giveaways
💥 More tote bags than any human could possibly carry or care about
And then the comments came pouring in.
💬 What Are People Really Saying About Your Swag?
“I guarantee 95% of this stuff is going into the trash.”
“Convention swag is just birthday party favor bags for adults.”
“We talk about being zero waste, then mail boxes of branded clutter.”
“I don’t use tote bags. Why would I need 20 from companies I don’t care about?”
And the real kicker?
It’s not about one notebook or one reusable bottle.
It’s about 100,000 of them — mass-produced, uninspired, and destined for the dump.
Quantity ≠ Quality
When it comes to branded merchandise for conferences, the volume is often the villain.
If your company is ordering tens of thousands of generic products that will sit in hotel trash cans, you’re not building brand love — you’re building waste.
At Go To Market Studio, we believe eco-conscious swag can still be exciting, useful, and unforgettable. The kind people want to keep, use, and even post about.
Because great branded merch doesn’t scream your logo —
It tells your story, shares your values, and makes people feel like insiders.
What Questions Should You Ask Before You Print a Single Unit?
✨ Is it carry-on worthy?
✨ Is it actually useful?
✨ Is it beautiful enough that someone would buy it in a store?
✨ Does it align with your brand’s sustainability commitments?
If the answer is no to any of these…
Put the tote bag down.
Ready to Reimagine Your Conference Giveaways?
We’re here to help you create intentional, sustainable, and standout branded merchandise that people don’t just take home — they treasure.
Let’s end the era of disposable swag and create something worth carrying.
Now, your turn — what TV show are you binging lately?
I’m watching Gilmore Girls for the first time with my 13-year-old daughter, and yes… I’m completely charmed. ☕💬
Want help building better, smarter conference merch?
Let’s chat.
FAQ
What is wrong with conference swag?
The volume is often the villain. Tens of thousands of generic products end up in hotel trash cans, which builds waste instead of brand love.
Can eco-conscious swag still be exciting?
Yes. It can be exciting, useful, and unforgettable, the kind people want to keep, use, and even post about.
What should you ask before printing swag?
Is it carry-on worthy, actually useful, and beautiful enough that someone would buy it in a store? And does it align with your brand’s sustainability commitments?