A recent study found two-thirds of US consumers surveyed are willing to spend more on products that are sustainable compared to items that aren’t as sustainable, while another survey found two-thirds of respondents claimed sustainability was a consideration when it came to making purchases. While it’s obvious businesses could benefit by becoming more sustainable, it can be difficult for companies that use print-on-demand (POD) services to create and ship their products to have any real control over the materials used to make and send their merchandise.
Also, another recent study found 86% of people surveyed who were under 45 reported they’d be willing to pay a premium for items that are packaged in sustainable packaging Fortunately, there are actually quite a few print-on-demand companies using sustainable materials, including organic fabrics, eco-friendly dyes, and recycled paper to create merchandise that is shipped in sustainable packaging that is free from plastic.
For people who use Shopify, we’ve chosen a few of our favorite sustainable print-on-demand companies and outlined the key features of each organization. If you’re not already using Shopify, they currently have a free trial.
TPOP: Print on Demand
If you’ve been searching for a way to sell print-on-demand products without harming the environment, then you have to check out TPOP. This Shopify app allows you to sell sustainable items featuring your original designs or your customers’ custom designs, including tote bags, t-shirts, and posters made from organic materials. Plus, when someone purchases something from your online store, TPOP will create the item and ship it directly to your customers in plastic-free packaging that has been customized with your company’s branding.
Teemill — Sustainable Print on Demand
With teemill, you can have your very own online store to sell clothing, accessories, and other items made from certified organic materials and customized with your designs or any of the thousands of remixable graphics available with this Shopify app. After a customer purchases a t-shirt, tote bag, or jigsaw puzzle from your store, teemill will create it and send it directly to the buyer in shipping materials that are free from plastic, making it a hassle-free way to have an online business. Plus, teemill uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate images of models wearing your clothing designs, so people can easily imagine how they’ll look in your merchandise.
Inkthreadable: Print on Demand
Inkthreadable is a sustainable print-on-demand business in the United Kingdom, making it a great choice for UK-based companies that are looking for a simple way to sell more than 250 customizable products — including apparel, homewares, and accessories — made from eco-friendly inks and vegan and organic materials. Not only will Inkthreadable create a product each time someone buys something from your Shopify website, but they’ll also put it in plastic-free packaging and send it directly to the customer. Plus, Inkthreadable gives you the option of adding your company’s branding to the products, like on the neck labels on t-shirts, and putting your logo on packing slips and shipping labels.
NovaTomato ‑ Print On Demand
This Shopify plugin makes it easy for you to sell clothing and homewares made from recycled and eco-friendly materials because when someone places an order via your site, NovoTomato will make the item and ship it to the customer. While you can upload your own designs, NovoTomato offers thousands of free patterns you can use to design stylish apparel, and it also has a pattern generator you can use to create original prints. Also, because nothing is produced until an order is placed, NovoTomato allows you to operate a sustainable business with little to no waste.
AOP+ Easy Print on Demand
AOP+ is a UK-based business that will print your designs on various organic and sustainable items using vegan-friendly inks and send them to customers all over the world, not just in the United Kingdom. This Shopify plugin allows you to have your artwork printed on more than 150 different products, including t-shirts, leggings, sweatshirts, wall tiles, placemats, canvases, and coasters. Plus, AOP+ will brand various elements with your company’s logo, such as neck labels on t-shirts, and the packing slips, stickers, and thank you cards they include with your orders.