Branded apparel and other merchandise items are an integral part of many events. They are a sought after item by audiences and also an essential income stream for organisers and talent.

The event merchandise and collateral have potential sustainability issues which need to be considered and the best procurement choices made. Issues include;

• manufacturing process
• trade and labour issues
• toxicity issues
• transport impacts

When reviewing potential purchases, consider the following:

• Are the product’s raw materials grown or produced with environmental responsibility?
• Does raw material production have decent and safe working conditions?
• Are fair trade principles included in the production of raw materials?
• Are the raw materials and final product free of toxic substances?
• Is manufacture undertaken with safe and fair working and labour conditions?
• What is the transport impact of the products?
  (raw material to manufacture to you)?

What are the solutions to sustainable merchandise?

• Buy locally manufactured products.
  By choosing local you are supporting your local economy. It also the dual benefit of reducing transport impacts  and therefore greenhouse gas emissions.
• Buy products from companies which treat their workers well.
  This includes right back along the supply chain, for example workers on cotton farms. There are several independent standards, certifications and campaigns which highlight good labour practices on farms, in mines and in factories.
• Buy products where the raw materials have been fairly traded.
  Cotton is a major apparel raw material and will make up a large amount of festival and band merchandise. As a commodity, cotton prices are often fluctuating through global trade. As many developing countries are the home to cotton production, Fair Trade programs are in place to ensure a fair price to cotton farmers and consequentially fair wages and decent working conditions for those who work on the farms.
• Buy products which are manufactured with environmentally sound practices.
  This includes ensuring the manufacturing process is not polluting to the natural ecosystem or to dangerous to worker health.
• Buy products which are made from sustainable materials.
  This can include organic cotton, material made from recycled PET bottles, hemp, bamboo or other natural renewable or recycled materials.
• Buy products which have no toxicity issues.
  Many products are made from materials which have latent toxicity issues. Choose products with independent verification of being ‘toxin free’.  This can be organic certification or Oeko-100/1000 certification for apparel. Other product toxin free considerations include PVC free and BPA free.
• Buy products which have reduced packaging.
  The way individual items are packaged for delivery to the site will influence the total waste produced. If you can influence the packaging that items come in, request minimal packaging. Does each item need to come in its own plastic bag, which is then in another bulk plastic bag, and then in a box, which is packed shut with packing tape and then stacks of boxes on pallets which are then wrapped in stretch plastic? Involve your supplier in coming up with a reduced packaging solution.

Independent Certification:
The sustainability credentials of apparel and manufactured items and their supply chain are increasingly being moderated through ecolabelling and certification. This is the best way to ensure fair labour, fair trade, environmentally sound and toxin free production of the items you choose to put your name on.