How the Right Promotional Products Partner Can Help Companies Tackle Sustainability Initiatives and Employee Morale at the Same Time

With 2024 right around the corner, businesses are beginning to outline the goals they’ll focus on next year. Sustainability initiatives likely have a spot on the list. Consumers increasingly prefer companies that are committed to reducing their environmental footprint, with green solutions often leading to bottom-line growth, according to Forbes. Employee engagement is another area that organizations are working to improve, according to a recent Gartner report. Specifically, companies face challenges engaging their hybrid workforces, with remote workers’ connection to the mission and purpose of their organizations at a record low, according to a recent Gallup survey.

When we read about companies’ goals and challenges, we can’t help but think, How can Fossa help? Turns out, there’s more than one opportunity for promotional products partners to help businesses protect the planet and boost their employee experience. The best part: with the right partner, you can tackle both at the same time.

Introduce companies to apparel that aligns with their sustainability initiatives

Organizations committed to making their operations eco-friendlier are looking for vendors or suppliers whose values align with their own sustainability goals and policies. At the same time, promotional products manufacturers are focused on greening up their own operations by eliminating harmful “forever chemicals” known as PFAS; focusing on thoughtful design, such as apparel made from recyclable fibers; and rethinking packing and shipping materials.

At Fossa, we’re focused on all three. We’ve incorporated a PFAS-free coating into our latest water-resistant styles, and the newest pieces in our Eco-Friendly collection are made with at least 50% recycled polyester. In 2021, Fossa also transitioned to the use of 100% recycled polybags. 

“As a woman and minority-owned family business, living up to our values is extremely important to us,” says Fossa President Michelle Chen. “From our growing eco-collection to the solar panels on the rooftop of our facilities, we’re always looking for ways to protect our planet for generations to come.”

Pick products that employees will feel good about receiving and wearing

According to the Incentive Research Foundation, tangible incentives and rewards are vital to employee engagement and retention—they outranked only compensation and work environment in a recent study that showed employees prefer incentives over appreciation and recognition programs. What types of incentives are employees looking for? Beyond cash and gift cards, they appreciate tangible gifts over travel and experiences.

There is a big opportunity for the promotional products industry to provide the type of tangible, non-cash rewards that boost employee morale. At Fossa, we’re always thinking about ways to help our clients delight their end users—the employees receiving corporate gifts. For one, we know that consumers care about sustainability, and that means the employees who wear our garments care about how they are made. We keep them top of mind when introducing new styles and product features each season.

We’re also dedicated to creating retail-inspired designs. We want end users to love our apparel just as much as they love the pieces made by their favorite brands. Our new shackets demonstrate our commitment to keeping up with what consumers want to wear this time of year.

Eco-friendly and fashion-forward go hand in hand

Fossa’s commitment to sustainability played a major role in designing the latest pieces in our Eco-Friendly collection.

For example, each Diverge Reversible Jacket is made with 10 recycled plastic bottles. The insulated jacket has a diamond-quilted exterior made from 100% recycled polyester with a PFAS-free water-resistant coating. Reverse the shirt jacket, and its cozy cotton-poly flannel interior will take you from workday to weekend in seconds.

The Parlance Jacket is also made with recycled plastic bottles. This city-inspired shacket has a clean and simple silhouette and stretchy Elasti-Shell™ for all day comfort. It’s as much of a fit for the conference room as it is the happy hour taproom.

Each piece in the Eco-Friendly collection is ready to be customized with a company’s logo for a unique look that will please even the pickiest of employees.