Based in Montebello, NY, Custom branded merch supplier Roody is now a B (Benefit) Corp. - a designation granted to businesses that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Founded in 2019, it is now part of a global community of companies dedicated to using business as a force for good. For every piece of merch made, it plants a tree. 490,000 so far.
According to founder and former management consultant Ross Culliton, during the 10 years he worked as a consultant he visited over 100 sites and was underwhelmed by the giveaways - “boxes of branded cheap pens, hardback diaries and Fruit of the Loom t-shirts”.
So when he started his company he looked around for eco-friendly merch and found the only options were hemp t-shirts, bamboo shoe holders and cheap, poor quality cups.
He also discovered that “just because an item is made of sustainable materials, doesn't make it sustainable” - which prompted him to forget about what he was going to do and start a sustainable merch company instead.
To avoid its products ending up in landfill, Roody asks is it good quality and likely to be used; are the materials the most sustainable available; do we want it for our own company; do we have full visibility on the supply chain; are we happy workers are being paid fairly and are manufacturing processes as eco-friendly as possible?
“I love swag and merch - done correctly it's a great way of bringing a brand to life and making connections with customers and staff,” explains Culliton.
