Are plant-based products in promotional merchandise worth the hype?
As Veganuary returns, brands are rethinking more than what’s on the plate. Veganuary isn’t just about vegan food anymore, it’s about conscious choices, ethical materials and small lifestyle shifts. Sustainability conversations are now extending into promotional merchandise, with growing interest in plant-based products as an alternative to traditional materials.
From sugar-cane bottles to pineapple leather accessories, Plant based products are gaining traction across the promotional industry. But are they simply a trend or do they genuinely influence how people feel about a brand?
Let’s explore the insight, the perception shift, and the plant-based products making a real impact.
Do plant based products improve brand perception?
A BPMA survey of 200 consumers explored how switching to fully plant-based products in promotional merchandise affects brand perception.
The results were telling:
- 17% felt much more positive
- 39% felt slightly more positive
- 31% said it would make no difference
- 14% felt more negative
In total, 56% of consumers viewed brands more positively when plant-based products were used, highlighting their growing importance in brand decision-making.
What motivates consumers to choose Plant based products?
The research also looked at what increases the likelihood of choosing Plant based products:
- 25% environmental impact
- 20% animal welfare
- 23% actively avoid plant-based products
- The remainder felt neutral or undecided
Plant-based products resonate most when their environmental and ethical benefits are clearly communicated.
Explore plant-based products:
Furthermore, Veganuary is the perfect moment to explore plant-based products because it encourages people and brands to reflect on their choices, try more conscious alternatives, and start the year with more sustainable intentions.
Plant-Based Eco Bottle
This lightweight EcoBottle uses 98% sugar-cane biomass waste and comes from a design and production process based in Sweden that relies mostly on renewable energy. The natural Portuguese cork screw cap gives it a premium, minimalist feel.
Vegan Pineapple Leather Luggage Tag
This luggage tag is made from pineapple leaf fibres, a residual by-product of pineapple cultivation. The result is a vegan imitation leather that looks and feels almost identical to traditional leather.
Vegan Lip Balm in a Recycled Casing
- Casing made from 80% recycled plastic
- 100% vegan, plant-based formula
- 58% Fairtrade raw material content
- Printed in the UK to reduce transport impact
Consider plant-based for your next merchandise
As the new year begins, Veganuary offers a timely opportunity to rethink promotional merchandise and make more intentional material choices.
Sometimes, the smallest shift can leave the biggest impression.
