Hi, it's Leïla 🌿 and I'm back with a new banger article: today, we're diving into the world of sustainable student merch — a topic that combines style, identity and responsibility.
The university world is marked by a multitude of events: student union parties, election campaigns, sports competitions, school galas, orientation weekends and festivals organised by student associations. In all these contexts, goodies and merchandise play an essential role. They help to create an identity, bring a team together and become mementos that last throughout university life.
Beyond their practicality, these items also play a strong role in identity. Wearing a promotional hoodie, a bucket hat in the colours of your association or a branded tote bag shows your belonging to a team and strengthens group cohesion. In universities and schools, these items become symbols of collective pride and leave lasting memories that extend far beyond a single event.
But with environmental concerns on the rise, it is time to rethink these classic items (from shirts to bags, caps to sweatshirts) to make them more sustainable. Choosing sustainable textiles, materials such as natural fibres or bamboo, and reusable options such as water bottles or cups is now a matter of course for associations and universities.
In this guide, we will explore why university merchandise needs to evolve, what criteria to use when choosing the right items, and how to integrate sustainable goodies into everyday campus life in France.
1. Why choose sustainable student merchandise?
Environmental impact of short-lived merchandise
For a long time, student unions have ordered basic promotional items: plastic pens, disposable key rings, poor-quality wristbands or cups, and flimsy tote bags that tear after two uses. As a result, many products quickly end up in the bin, contributing to waste and damaging the image of the school or faculty.
A poor-quality T-shirt or sweatshirt, badly printed or with poor-quality embroidery, will not withstand washing. A gift that breaks after a single event is not only a financial waste, it is also a missed opportunity in terms of communication.
The difference between a disposable item and a sustainable product is striking. For example, a well-designed organic cotton tote bag can be used hundreds of times, whereas a thin plastic bag often only lasts for one or two uses. A reusable water bottle can easily replace 200 PET bottles in a year, making it both an environmentally friendly and economical choice for university circles.
Benefits for student associations
Opting for more responsible clothing and items sends a strong message: it shows that you care as much about your team as you do about the planet. For a student union, choosing a recycled bag, a well-designed cap or a fair-priced organic cotton sweatshirt boosts your credibility and attracts new members.
What's more, these sustainable products are perfect for a university's merch selection: they last longer, can be reused at different tours and events, and remain visible on campus.
2. How can you recognise responsible merch?
Eco-friendly and recycled materials
The choice of materials is key. Favouring organic cotton, recycled cotton, bamboo or even wood for certain items significantly reduces the carbon footprint. A thick tote bag in attractive colours will be used every day by students, unlike a thin plastic bag that tears and is thrown away immediately.
Reusable stainless steel or bamboo water bottles are a great alternative to disposable bottles. Reusable cups, customised with the colours of a student festival, make perfect souvenirs.
Ethical certifications to look for
To avoid greenwashing, it is important to rely on recognised labels:
- GOTS for organic cotton and textiles.
- Fair Wear for fair working conditions.
- OEKO-TEX to guarantee that the finished product is free from harmful substances.
These certifications guarantee that your garments (from T-shirts to sweatshirts) and items (from tote bags to lanyards) meet the highest standards.
Examples of student brands and initiatives
Many brands now offer sustainable ranges: organic cotton bags, caps made from recycled materials, stainless steel water bottles, wooden or bamboo pens, and key rings made from upcycled textiles.
Some university associations in France have already adopted these practices: distributing recycled wristbands at festivals, selling embroidered organic cotton sweatshirts to fund a project, and using reusable cups bearing the university's colours. These initiatives show that personalisation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
3. Integrate sustainable merchandise into everyday life
Practical advice and recycling your items
Adopting sustainable merchandise is not just a one-off choice for an end-of-year or event giveaway, it is a long-term commitment. Here are a few tips:
- Focus on useful personalisation: a sweatshirt with embroidery on the neck will be worn for a long time because it has real perceived value.
- Consider reuse: a tote bag or sturdy bag becomes a daily ally.
- Diversify your media: alternate between clothing (sweatshirts, shirts, caps) and objects (mugs, pens, bracelets, key rings).
- Avoid single-use plastic: opt for wood, bamboo or metal instead.
- Offer a small but high-quality selection: it is better to have three durable items than ten disposable goodies.
Recycling your old clothes is also an option: many organisations collect textiles to make new items.
Conclusion
Sustainable university merchandise is no longer a trend, it is a strategic choice. For a student union, university or student association, investing in responsible items helps to limit the impact of plastic, give objects a second life and strengthen communication.
From organic cotton hoodies to embroidered caps, from tote bags to recycled fabric bags, from stainless steel water bottles to wooden pens, each gift becomes a symbol of commitment. These items are not just promotional products, they are identity markers that leave their mark on student life.
Above all, by prioritising high-quality merchandise at fair prices, schools and their teams are sending a clear message: the future of student merchandise will be sustainable, responsible and aligned with the values of the younger generations.
So, next time you are planning your events, consider requesting a quote for ethical items: they will be the perfect gifts for your students, your circles and your image.
Sustainable student merchandise: a guide for your associations and universities