5 Eco-friendly Products to Sell in 2023

Marketers repeatedly suggest that customers are ready to pay extra for eco-friendly products. Not totally convinced? Recent research by Deloitte delves deeper. Spoiler alert: sustainability alone won’t do the trick. 

Customers are looking for high-quality, sustainable products that fulfill their needs and offer good value for the price. 

Printful can help you with both. Our eco-friendly collection offers quality products at different price points, providing sustainable options that are accessible to all.

It’s important to empower customers to make better choices, and offering sustainable options is a great way to do that.

What’s an eco-friendly product?

You’ve probably noticed words like conscious or green tied to all sorts of product collections that imply being better than others. But better how? That’s often left out. At Printful, though, we have clear standards. 

When browsing our eco-friendly collection, you’ll only find products that consist of at least 70% organic or recycled materials, or such material blends. 

To verify material content, we collect valid certificates from our suppliers. As proof of the product’s organic composition, we only accept either GOTS or OCS certificates, and for recycled compositions, either GRS or RCS certificates.

Source: Printful

We suggest your brand follows a similar path. Avoid greenwashing in your eco-friendly marketing and be transparent about your criteria.

What are the benefits of selling eco-friendly products?

In 2022, Printful sold twice as many eco-friendly products as the year before, so we can say with confidence that customer demand is growing. But wait, there’s more. 

Selling eco-friendly products can provide a range of benefits for businesses.

Here are some of the more important ones:

• Meeting demand: People are becoming aware of sustainability issues and actively looking for better alternatives to lower their personal footprint. By offering eco-friendly products, you fulfill the needs of a growing customer base and increase revenue.

• Ensuring differentiation: Including an eco-friendly collection helps customers distinguish your brand from others that don’t sell sustainable options. This can be especially beneficial when selling on marketplaces where it’s difficult to stand out.

• Strengthening brand image: Having eco-friendly products in your store signals a commitment to sustainability. When combined with other efforts like sustainable packaging or waste reduction, it improves customer loyalty in the long term.

• Doing the right thing: The greatest benefit of selling eco-friendly products is that they have a lower environmental impact. And that positive impact is increased even more with on-demand manufacturers like Printful. How? By eliminating overproduction. Every item is made only after an order is placed, which means fewer unsold products wind up in landfills as opposed to conventional manufacturing.

Ok, now let’s get into the products your customers can’t wait to see in your store.

Eco-friendly hats: the perfect accessory

Hats are versatile and functional and can instantly elevate any outfit or add a touch of personality. 

Think about adding an eco-friendly option to your store—there’s one for every season:

• Organic Baseball Cap | Econscious EC7000

• Organic Bucket Hat

• Organic Ribbed Beanie | Beechfield B50

And those looking to wick away the sweat and protect their ears without ruining a good-hair day will appreciate our All-Over Print Headband. This product isn’t part of the eco-friendly collection, but it’s made of leftover materials from the manufacturing of other products. Pretty cool, huh?

Source: Printful

Organic bags: an all-time bestseller

You’re winning at life when the cashier offers you a plastic bag at the checkout, but you kindly refuse because you’ve brought your lovely little tote bag along. We can all be that person!

Tote bags and string bags come in a variety of sizes and colors. They’re lightweight and foldable, plus easy to store and transport when not in use. What’s not to love? Organic tote bags and string bags offer a convenient, stylish, and sustainable solution for carrying essentials on the go.

Here’s a selection of our most popular bags:

• Eco Tote Bag | Econscious EC8000

• Large Eco Tote | Econscious EC8001

• Organic Fashion Tote Bag | EarthPositive EP75

• Organic Cotton Drawstring Bag | EarthPositive EP76

Source: Printful

Recycled all-over print products: a designer’s dream

Are rectangle print areas too limiting for you? No problem. Printful’s all-over print products allow you to express your creativity from seam to seam.

All-over print products are cut and hand-sewn by Printful’s in-house team. And since we only produce items once an order is placed, overproduction is greatly reduced. On top of that, we started adding new all-over print products and transitioning old favorites to recycled polyester fabrics.

Here are our top apparel suggestions:

• All-Over Print Recycled Unisex Sports Jersey – great for esports teams and gamers

• All-Over Print Recycled Long Sleeve Crop Top – perfect for athletic or streetwear collections 

And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite accessory: the All-Over Print Recycled Scrunchie. Similar to our headband, it’s made from leftover materials that would otherwise go to waste. Offer it as a complement to other products in your collection.

Organic SOL’S products: affordable closet staples

SOL’S is a French brand that focuses on affordable and customizable clothing without sacrificing product quality. SOL’S has 30+ years of experience in European fashion manufacturing, and their products are now available in the US exclusively with Printful.

If you’re looking to expand your brand globally, here are fun and durable products that’ll last a lifetime:

• Unisex Organic Sweatshirt | SOL’S 03574

• Unisex Eco Raglan Hoodie | SOL’S 03568

• Unisex Organic Raglan Sweatshirt | SOL’S 03567

• Women’s Basic Organic T-Shirt | SOL’S 02077

Premium eco-friendly products: that extra oomph

It’s no secret that premium clothing can make a big difference in the way you feel. Expertly-created garments made with top-notch materials are comfy and designed to last. Details like double-layered hoods or hidden-access zippers give anyone a sense of high-quality functionality. 

When your customers invest in premium clothing, they’re not just purchasing an outfit—they’re investing in a feeling of quality and comfort.

Trying to find products that match this description? Look no further:

• Premium Recycled Bomber Jacket | Threadfast Apparel 395J

• Premium Eco Hoodie

Source: Printful

Go beyond expectations

Now that you have the perfect eco-friendly product collection, take some time to strengthen your brand’s sustainability message. Show your values, be transparent, and empower your customers to make sustainable choices.

Take sustainability seriously, and your customers will appreciate it.