Why Grounded Goods Joined the Australasian Promotional Products Association (APPA)

Rethinking Promotional Products

The truth is, most promotional products don’t get used, they get binned. Think about the keyrings, plastic pens, or tote bags that never leave the cupboard. They represent wasted budgets, wasted materials, and in many cases, wasted opportunities to engage people meaningfully.

In Australia alone, billions of dollars are spent on promotional merchandise each year. Imagine the environmental footprint if even a fraction of that spend goes into products that are valued, reused, and built to last.

At Grounded Goods, we’ve always believed branded merchandise can do better. Done right, it can be beautiful, useful, sustainable, and proudly Australian-made. That’s why we chose to join the Australasian Promotional Products Association (APPA): to align ourselves with an organisation that sets high standards and represents the best of the industry.

Why APPA Matters

The Australasian Promotional Products Association (APPA) is the peak body for suppliers and distributors across Australia and New Zealand. It represents more than 700 members and works to ensure the industry operates with professionalism, compliance, and accountability.

APPA doesn’t just focus on business standards, it also plays a role in shaping the conversation around the future of promotional products. For us, this was crucial. If branded merchandise is to shift from being disposable to being part of a circular economy, it will take more than one company. It requires collective effort, shared standards, and collaboration across the sector.

Why We Joined APPA

1. Lifting the Bar on Quality and Ethics

Let’s face it: the promotional products industry has a reputation problem. Too many items are chosen for their low cost, not their long-term value, and end up in landfill within weeks. By joining APPA, we’re part of the movement to raise the bar, showing that merchandise can be designed with thought, quality, and purpose.

2. Supporting Australian Made and Local Jobs

Grounded Goods is proudly Australian-made, which means we keep our supply chain local and transparent. Manufacturing here supports skilled jobs, ensures ethical labour practices, and cuts the carbon emissions tied to shipping. Being part of APPA connects us with distributors and clients who share our belief that local manufacturing is both an environmental and economic advantage.

3. Building Trust with Clients

When organisations work with an APPA-accredited supplier, they know they’re working with professionals who meet industry standards. For our clients, from corporates to councils to universities, this extra layer of credibility is important. Combine APPA with our B Corp certification, and clients can be confident their branded merchandise aligns with their sustainability goals and procurement policies.

4. Driving Systemic Change in Reuse

Our bigger mission goes beyond products: it’s about ending single-use packaging. Through our closed-loop cup and container systems, we help organisations replace disposables with reuse models that actually work. By joining APPA, we’re bringing this conversation to the promotional products industry, proving that merchandise can play a part in systemic sustainability change.

What APPA Membership Means for Our Clients

Choosing Grounded Goods means you’re not just ordering branded products — you’re investing in items that have purpose and integrity. Our clients benefit from:

• APPA membership – proof of industry credibility and compliance.

• Australian made certification – supporting local industry while lowering transport emissions.

• B Corp certification – independent verification of our social and environmental performance.

• Closed-loop design – products designed to be returned, recycled, and reused.

This rare combination sets us apart from typical promotional product suppliers. It gives our clients confidence that their branded merchandise won’t just look good — it will do good.

Looking Ahead: Shaping the Future of Promotional Products

Joining APPA is not the end goal, but the beginning of something bigger. We see it as a platform to influence, educate, and collaborate with others in the industry who want to do better.

The promotional products sector has the potential to be a force for good. With the right design and systems in place, branded merchandise can inspire pride, build connection, and reduce waste — not create it. APPA membership allows us to be part of the conversation that shifts the industry in that direction.

For us, every cup, container, or product we create is a chance to prove that sustainability and branding are not at odds. They can work hand in hand.

If your organisation is looking for eco-friendly, Australian-made promotional products that go beyond branding to create measurable impact, we’d love to talk. Together, we can set a higher standard for this industry.

Click here to learn more about Branding or get in touch here.