Sustainable Merchandise
Mugs, water bottles, or USB drives with logos; T-shirts; key chains; gym bags; pens; gummy bears. You’ve probably picked up items like these at trade shows and conferences or received them as a thank-you for a contribution. What you actually use varies from person to person: One person might like the water bottle, while another finds it impractical. The T-shirt might not fit right, and you probably don’t even remember what the gummy bears tasted like anymore. Some of it has ended up in the trash by now—the plastic packaging, for sure.
For universities, promotional articles are a means of communication. They strengthen relationships with prospective students and collaboration partners, show appreciation, and represent our values. Experts refer to low-cost articles that are purchased in large quantities and distributed at trade shows, information days, or conferences as “giveaways”: pens, bags, pouches, notepads, or keychains. Suitable gifts for guests or as a token of appreciation include, for example, cut flowers, mugs, notebooks, or a bottle of wine—provided their purchase price complies with TH Wildau’s current compliance rules.
By using more sustainable promotional items, TH Wildau aims to leave a positive impression while also highlighting its values as a university committed to sustainability. Since early summer 2024, we have therefore been ensuring that promotional gifts are as useful as possible and meet our sustainability criteria.
What makes promotional items more sustainable?
Fair wages and the prohibition of child labor are prerequisites—they apply to all articles. If components are manufactured abroad, our suppliers must provide proof of both.
In addition, each article must meet at least one environmental criterion. When products are manufactured locally, the transportation distances to TH Wildau are short. Short distances generally result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions than long supply chains. Such products are even more sustainable if their raw materials also come from the region. Products made from renewable or recycled materials, as well as products that can be recycled after use, also meet this criterion.
What We Purchase
We first used up our existing remaining stock before making new purchases. For our new purchases, we have reduced the number of different articles: For events with high visitor turnout, we rely on pens and notepads. Surveys of students show that pens remain in demand despite the widespread use of smartphones. By limiting ourselves to just a few articles, we reduce our resource consumption in this small area of operation.
We offer ballpoint pens and pencils. We source the ballpoint pens from a company based in Brandenburg. They are made of 100% recycled plastic, certified according to the Global Recycle Standard (GRS); their supply chain is verifiably free of companies that violate human rights. The ballpoint pen refills are manufactured in Germany. The pencils are FSC®-certified and tested by LGA/TÜV Rheinland.
We refrain from offering candy and other food items university-wide—even for articles that departments handle through their own procurement processes. This helps us avoid plastic waste during our events. Furthermore, the dietary habits and preferences of event participants are diverse; a single product rarely appeals to the majority and leaves no lasting impression.
For guest gifts, we rely on regional producers and raw materials: wooden bowls made from local wood, as well as honey, herbal tea, and soaps produced in the Dahme-Spreewald district. All bear the TH Wildau logo. We package them in paper instead of plastic.
If you’d like to bring a guest gift or thank speakers, please choose from this selection and order them from marketing at TH Wildau.
Cut flowers are still an option. Please keep in mind the distance your recipients will have to travel: Some people appreciate a jar of honey or a package of herbs more than a bouquet that might not survive a train or plane trip unscathed.
Sustainable gifts for cooperation partners
A selection of the gift items shown below can be ordered by emailing marekting(at)th-wildau.de
