More and more organizations are rethinking how merch fits into their mission, and for environmentally focused nonprofits the stakes are even higher. When the Arbor Day Foundation approached us with a simple but powerful idea to create a line that gives back to the planet, we knew it had to be done right.
This case study shows how we brought their vision to life, the challenges we navigated, and what we learned along the way about sourcing and producing sustainable merch that makes a real impact.
Background:
The Arbor Day Foundation, a Lincoln-based nonprofit, has spent more than five decades inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Since its founding in 1972, the organization has planted over half a billion trees in over 60 countries and collaborated with environmental partners across the globe.
In July 2024, their team approached Relentless Merch with a set of pre-designed art and thoughtful concept: launch a line of sustainable merchandise where every item sold would help plant a tree. The challenge? It needed to be high-quality, reasonably priced, and sustainable at every stage in the production process.
From the first brainstorming session to the first customer order, the project spanned six months and resulted in more than 3,100 custom items. Here’s how we did it.
Challenges Faced:
One of the biggest challenges for our sales team was sourcing sustainable apparel for the Arbor Day Foundation’s designs. While the client didn’t offer specific guidelines, it was important that their merch be environmentally conscious. For us, that meant finding apparel vendors with transparent sourcing practices, ethical production principles, and verifiable reduced impact metrics.
After thorough research we selected AllMade Apparel, which is known for their climate-neutral manufacturing and fair wage employment practices. The carbon emissions of their apparel is tracked over its life cycle and is low-impact on water use. For hats and beanies, we used the equally e-conscious Atlantis Sustainable Headwear. They use recycled or low-impact materials for every part of their hats and analyze its carbon footprint using industry-recognized life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies.
We presented these options to the client along with physical samples so they could see, touch, and check the quality firsthand. We also connected them with the suppliers to guarantee full confidence and transparency in the partnership.
The client finalized their merch selection, choosing six short-sleeve tees, two long-sleeve tees, four hat styles, a hoodie, tote bag, and newborn onesie-each featuring its own unique design. To make them feel even more personalized, every item was individually bagged and labeled with a custom "100% Recycled" inside tag.
Results:
From there, we moved into production. Our screen printing and embroidery processes ran smoothly, and even though the brainstorming stage lasted six months, we still delivered within our standard 3-4 week turnaround time.
The client was pleased with the final products, so much so that they’ve since placed another order last month. The collection is now available on the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, where customers can learn about each product's sustainable specs directly from the vendors.
Lessons Learned:
We realized early on that going sustainable doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. While some U.S.A-made or specialty organic items can be pricey, plenty of brands offer affordable garments through responsible, low-impact processes. In some cases, recycled or organic cotton blends result in some of the best apparel on the market.
Another takeaway we had is that most apparel companies have some kind of sustainable merch, but the real value lies in choosing suppliers who practice sustainability at every stage - not just in their fabric selection. Can the full supply chain be traced? What labor standards do the factories follow? How are carbon footprints measured per product? These are just a few questions you could ask when looking for sustainable gear. It may take some time to filter through the options and find partners who align with your organization’s mission and values, but the right fit is out there.
Sustainability as the Medium (and the Message):
Sustainable merch can go far beyond choosing a tee with attractive eco-friendly specs. For an organization like the Arbor Day Foundation, it’s an extension of their mission, allowing folks to wear pieces that plant real trees and support a healthier planet. For us, it reinforced the importance of intentional sourcing, transparent partnerships, and clear communication at every stage of the process.
This project proved that sustainability and high-quality merch can go hand in hand. If your organization or company is exploring sustainable merchandise, our team can help you select materials and chat with reputable vendors to create something you’re proud to wear!
