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Bunnings Warehouse Wellness Journal - social initiative merchandise designed by Novelli to support team member mental health

SOCIAL INITIATIVE & SUSTAINABILITY MERCHANDISE

BRANDED MERCHANDISE THAT MAKES YOUR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT VISIBLE

Consumers increasingly want to know that the brands they choose stand for something beyond their bottom line. When your brand has a genuine social or environmental commitment - supporting mental health, funding community programmes, reducing plastic waste, or improving sustainability - branded merchandise can make that commitment tangible, visible, and shareable.

At Novelli, we help brands across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland develop merchandise that brings their values to life. We've created the Fonterra Calving Pack to support 10,000 New Zealand dairy farmers, the Bunnings Warehouse Wellness Journal for team member mental health, and Woolworths' reusable bag range following New Zealand's single-use plastic ban.

Our n-viroloop programme provides a responsible end-of-life pathway for branded merchandise - worth exploring if sustainability is central to your brand. If you're also looking at fundraising merchandise or sponsorship merchandise for a cause or community partnership, we can help with those too.

Get in touch and tell us about your initiative - we'll come back with ideas.

 

Novelli social initiative and sustainability merchandise icon
Let's plan your social initiative merchandise. Tell us about your project, and we'll come back with ideas. 
CONTACT US ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE

BRANDS WE'VE SUPPORTED WITH SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE MERCHANDISE

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FONTERRA (NZ) - TAKING A BREAK

The Fonterra Co-operative understood the importance of supporting farmers through the challenging calving season.  They came to Novelli wanting to send a pick-me-up gift to thank the 10,000 dairy farmers and we created a customised 'Fonterra Calving Pack'. 
Read the full Fonterra case study
Dairy farmer on a New Zealand farm — Novelli created the Fonterra Calving Pack to support 10,000 farmers during calving season

BUNNINGS (AUS/NZ) - SUPPORTING TEAM MEMBER MENTAL HEALTH

At a time when the importance of mental health and well-being has never been more crucial, Bunnings was looking for a gift for its staff members which would support their health and wellness.  Novelli developed a beautifully presented, unique and thoughtful gift - The Wellness Journal.

Read the full Bunnings case study
Bunnings Warehouse Wellness Journal - staff mental health gift produced by Novelli New Zealand

WOOLWORTHS (NZ) - GOODBYE SINGLE USE BAGS

With the ban on single-use plastic bags in New Zealand, Woolworths needed another option. Novelli responded by designing a range of reusable bags with unique, creative artwork that proved popular with customers nationwide.

Read the full Woolworths case study
Woolworths New Zealand reusable shopping bags - designed by Novelli following the single-use plastic bag ban

MORE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE MERCHANDISE INSPIRATION

ASB first aid kits distributed to New Zealand schools as part of the St John Ambulance sponsorship - social initiative merchandise by Novelli
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ASB (NZ) SUPPORTING ST JOHN AMBULANCE
ASB (NZ)SUPPORTING ST JOHN AMBULANCE

ASB partnered with St John Ambulance to distribute branded first aid kits to schools across New Zealand - a practical, purposeful piece of social initiative merchandise that keeps the brand visible in a genuinely useful context. 

Cookie Time branded bamboo coffee cup - sustainable social initiative merchandise designed by Novelli New Zealand and Japan
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COOKIE TIME (NZ) THE CUP THAT CHANGED THE CONVERSATION
COOKIE TIME (NZ)THE CUP THAT CHANGED THE CONVERSATION

Cookie Time asked Novelli for a sustainable alternative to disposable coffee cups. The result was a branded bamboo cup that clients loved so much it ended up retailing in their New Zealand and Japan outlets.​

Bunnings Trade MATES in Construction co-branded hoodie - social initiative merchandise by Novelli supporting men's mental health
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BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR MATES
BUNNINGS WAREHOUSELOOKING OUT FOR YOUR MATES

When Bunnings Trade wanted to support men's mental health through Movember and MATES in Construction, Novelli developed co-branded hoodies that sold out across both Australia and New Zealand - turning a simple apparel item into a fundraising vehicle that resonated with their tradie customer base.  

Cure Kids Red Nose Day branded red noses and point-of-sale display - social initiative merchandise produced by Novelli for 500 retail partners
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CURE KIDS (NZ) RED NOSE DAY - OVER 100,000 NOES
CURE KIDS (NZ)RED NOSE DAY - OVER 100,000 NOES

From 2010, Novelli produced both branded merchandise and point-of-sale for the annual Red Nose campaign.  As well as designing and producing over 100,000 red noses and counter-top display units, Novelli handled the development and management of the online ordering system for retailers, warehousing and distribution to more than 500 partners across 2000 retail locations.  Novelli was proud to help Cure Kids raise funds and awareness to ensure the charity can continue to fund groundbreaking research to help children worldwide.  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE MERCHANDISE

Everything you need to know about creating merchandise that makes your brand's social and environmental values visible - and if your question isn't here, get in touch, and we'll talk it through. 

What is social initiative merchandise?

Social initiative merchandise is branded product created specifically to support, celebrate, or communicate a brand's involvement in a social or environmental cause. Rather than simply stating values in a report or press release, it gives those values a physical form - something a farmer can use during calving season, a staff member can journal in, or a customer can carry to the supermarket instead of a plastic bag.  Done well, it builds genuine brand affinity because it connects your brand to something people care about.  
What types of projects does Novelli create merchandise for? Social and community initiatives, including mental health and wellness programmes, education and apprenticeship schemes, volunteering and community support projects, and charitable partnerships. Environmental initiatives, including sustainability campaigns, plastic reduction programmes, carbon footprint commitments, and eco-conscious product launches. We've worked across all of these categories for brands including Fonterra, Bunnings, Woolworths, Cookie Time, and McDonald's. 
Can Novelli help with both social and environmental initiatives? Yes - and many of the most effective campaigns combine both. A reusable bag programme addresses environmental impact while also strengthening community brand perception. A wellness gift to staff is a social initiative that also builds loyalty and retention. We approach each brief on its own terms and develop merchandise that fits the specific purpose, audience, and values at stake. 
What types of products work best for social initiative campaigns? Products that feel genuinely connected to the cause rather than just branded for it. For wellness and mental health initiatives, journals, self-care kits, and quality everyday items that people keep and use tend to resonate strongly. For environmental initiatives, sustainable materials, reusable alternatives to single-use items, and products with a clear environmental story work well. For community programmes, practical items that the recipient will use repeatedly keep your brand visible long after the campaign ends. The right product always depends on your initiative, your audience, and what you want people to feel when they receive it. 
What's the difference between social initiative merchandise and fundraising merchandise?

The distinction is mainly one of purpose.

Fundraising merchandise is typically sold or offered as an incentive to generate donations or revenue for a cause. Social initiative merchandise is generally given or distributed to communicate a brand's values, support a community, or mark a commitment - without a direct commercial transaction.

The two can overlap: a brand might sell a limited-edition product where proceeds go to a charity, combining both purposes. We handle both, and we can advise on which approach fits your objectives. 
Can social initiative merchandise be produced sustainably? Yes. We can advise on materials, production methods, and packaging that reduce environmental impact - which is particularly important when the merchandise itself is part of an environmental initiative. Sustainable options include organic cotton, recycled polyester, bamboo, FSC-certified paper and cardboard, and biodegradable packaging. Our n-viroloop programme also provides a responsible end-of-life pathway for branded merchandise, ensuring products don't end up in landfill at the end of their life. 
What is Novelli's n-viroloop programme and how does it apply to social initiative merchandise?  n-viroloop is Novelli's branded merchandise take-back and recycling programme, designed to give promotional products a responsible end-of-life pathway rather than ending up in landfill. For brands with environmental commitments or ESG reporting obligations, this is a meaningful addition to any merchandise programme - it means the environmental story doesn't end when the product is no longer needed. It's particularly relevant for social initiative campaigns where sustainability is a core part of the brand message. 
Can Novelli handle initiative merchandise for campaigns across multiple countries? Yes. We produce and deliver across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other international markets. Social and environmental campaigns often run simultaneously across multiple territories, and we manage the supply chain, logistics, and compliance requirements for each region. You deal with us; we handle the complexity. Our Logistics page has more on how we manage international delivery. 
How can branded merchandise support an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) or sustainability commitment?

ESG commitments are increasingly scrutinised by investors, employees, and customers alike - and merchandise is one of the most visible, tangible ways a brand can demonstrate those commitments in action rather than just reporting them. A wellness programme with a beautifully produced staff gift communicates investment in people. A reusable bag or bamboo cup produced to replace single-use alternatives communicates environmental action. The merchandise becomes evidence of the commitment, not just a claim about it.
Can Novelli work with both the brand and the community organisation it supports? Yes. We're experienced in managing briefs that involve multiple stakeholders - a corporate sponsor, a charity partner, a community organisation, or a government programme. We manage the design process to ensure all parties are represented correctly and that the merchandise serves the goals of the initiative rather than any single brand. If your social initiative has a partnership or charitable dimension, we can also help with sponsorship merchandise and fundraising merchandise where relevant.