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Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is the world's most durable item of historic corporate swag?
Not really "swag" but I would say iPod socks. I still have one that I keep an altoids tin inside of for transporting small fragile components.
Good swag has insanely high ROI.
I appreciate that you used the word "continue" in your first question as tech firms have featured swag seemingly forever. I will just say that my DEC Alpha coffee mug, a multitude of lapel pins from an array of companies, and my Nokia monitor screen brush have all stood the test of time, unlike the many golf shirts, posters, lanyards, and pens. The swag you have received seems to be pitiful and wasteful.
But shirts are expensive so no one gives them anymore. They’ve shifted to the cheapest items they can find.
I usually turn down swag now and when I’m in charge of swag I always opt for t-shirts with some sort of “use the product quickly” treasure hunt task to earn one.
E.g. branded small sanitizer bottles, sunscreen bottles (X Corp cares about your health and well-being!), snacks (we're all occasionally hangry at conferences right?), etc.
They want your attention. Both at the event/when you interact with them first (probably more important), and then later. Swag is a way to get that attention. Useless swag is, as other comments have noted, cheaper than useful swag, but still gets some attention.
> What can be done to have companies think about the waste they are producing from swag?
Oh, most are aware. I think the easiest thing to do is:
* Don't take it if offered.
* If delivered, complain about it to customer service.
If enough folks do this, the value for swag will decrease, and fewer will do it. Or if they do, they'll do it well.
Swag can be a differentiator in the latter case. I can't tell you how many hours my current company, FusionAuth, has spent evaluating our swag t-shirts, but it is a big number. And we hear folks at conferences say "ooh, that's nice" (unsolicited).
I usually refuse to take them if I have the option.
This is so tiresome. No, everyone else isn't going to change their behavior to align with your personal environmentalist crusade. Leave us alone.
Lead list generation. Sales...
Is the answer. You need to entice a potential customer closer to your booth, get their name and have a chance to follow up later.
If a customer represents a few $100 or few $10ks, the customer acquisition cost of a $15 water bottle is quite low.
Here's another idea: QR codes that give you NFTs or alt coins.
You can then turnaround and donate it to a charity.
This generates customer engagement at the very least...