Anyone who works in education is familiar with the rhythm of the school year. September: welcoming new colleagues and first-year students, orientation week. October 5: Teacher Appreciation Day, the perfect time to thank teachers and support staff. In childcare, this is followed by Childcare Worker Appreciation Day. December calls for a Christmas gift basket; spring brings open houses with merchandise that leaves a lasting impression on prospective students. And then there’s summer: graduation ceremonies, a well-chosen gift for graduating students, and saying goodbye to colleagues who are retiring. In between, there are professional development days, anniversary celebrations, conferences, and symposia where a speaker deserves a thoughtful token of appreciation.
At Retulp , we’re happy to help you find the perfect gift for special occasions in education. Leiden University used them to thank speakers, Agnieten College used them to congratulate graduating students, and HOGENT sells them as merchandise to students and alumni. Whatever you choose: you’ll first see a free digital proof, there are no additional costs beyond the agreed-upon price, and for every water bottle or cup sold, Retulp donates 1,000 times the contents’ volume in clean drinking water through Made Blue. Your school will receive a certificate to that effect.
Merchandise for your school or university doesn’t have to be limited to a pen or keychain. A water bottle with the school logo or a to-go coffee cup in the school’s branding is something students buy themselves at the campus store, something alumni keep as a memento, and something prospective students take home after an open house. It becomes even more personal with a first name on the bottle: think of orientation week, the school’s sports team, or an exam gift with the student’s name on it. Name engraving is available for orders of 48 or more and makes the gift extra personal and unique!
Retulp supplies many schools, universities, and educational institutions. See below for various examples of clients and the occasions for which they use our products—from staff gifts for teachers to graduation gifts for students. In addition, many universities and schools are choosing to replace disposable cups with reusable products, setting a great example in the process!
ICLON Leiden University ordered thermos cups and travel coffee cups with their logo. The thermos cups were intended as a thank-you gift for speakers at conferences: more personal than a bouquet of flowers, and the speaker is reminded of the invitation every time they have a cup of coffee. The reusable coffee cups were for students and staff in the teacher training program, to reduce the use of disposable cups.
“By giving away these cups, we hope to help eliminate single-use cups. The travel cups are very convenient to use, and your thermos bottle is also used frequently:”
– Louise de la Motte, ICLON Leiden University
Radboud University in Nijmegen chose reusable lunch bags with a logo for its students. A surprising choice compared to the usual bottle or cup—and precisely for that reason, a brilliant move. The lunch bags are ideal for carrying lunch on the go, such as sandwiches or fruit. By choosing reusable lunch bags, there’s no longer a need for plastic bags or aluminum foil. Meanwhile, the university logo accompanies students every school day, from campus to the train ride home. This makes the lunch bag both a stylish and practical gift for the academic community—one that’s used every day!
The Flemish HOGENT takes a different approach: the college regularly orders logo-printed thermos cups to sell to students, staff, and alumni. This is ideal for merchandise, because students only buy what they truly find attractive and practical. The popular tumbler thermos has proven to pass that test with flying colors: HOGENT keeps coming back for new stock. And so, the university’s logo makes its way through the lecture halls, the library, and the city every day. By choosing reusable thermos mugs, the educational institution is saving mountains of disposable cups.
“The Retulp Tumbler fits perfectly with our look and feel. Plus, choosing Retulp aligns with our commitment to sustainability.”
– Sophie Decandt, HOGENT
Avans+ University of Applied Sciences in Brabant ordered stainless steel water bottles with their logo. The water bottles have been distributed across various departments as part of their sustainable merchandise program. The stainless steel bottles are part of a larger plan, as Avans has set its sights on a goal: to become a circular school by 2030 with at least 90 percent of its waste streams recyclable. In the coming years, the university will therefore increasingly source products through circular procurement and further reduce residual and litter waste. Avans has already proven that this approach works by replacing a portion of its disposable cups in early 2023. The reusable cups saved 80,000 disposable cups and resulted in the donation of 95,000 liters of water through Made Blue.
After the summer break, Hotelschool The Hague was looking for a sustainable gift for all employees to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day. The theme of the event was connection and togetherness, and the Travel Cup coffee cups played a special role in this: colleagues gathered during breaks on campus, cup in hand. For a college that trains students in hospitality, such a gift is perfect down to the last detail: well-crafted, personal, and thoughtfully chosen. And while a theme day comes and goes, the Travel Cup simply becomes part of every subsequent workday. This makes reusable coffee mugs a fitting gift for employees in the education sector. Plus, this helps the school save mountains of disposable cups!
At the Christelijk Lyceum Veenendaal, every school employee received a Retulp Tumbler thermos cup. In a busy high school, the thermos cup proves its worth: it’s leak-proof on the way from the classroom to the teachers’ lounge, and the coffee or tea stays hot for hours. Meanwhile, students see their teachers using reusable cups every day, which sets a good example at school. For the school, this meant significantly less single-use waste—which, of course, we’re thrilled about!
“The Retulp Tumbler certainly made a difference: the use of disposable cups has dropped dramatically.”
Agnieten College, a high school in Zwartsluis, gave graduating students a stainless steel water bottle. They had the water bottles engraved with the school logo and the text “Good luck in the future” below it. You can’t get much better than that for a graduation gift: the flag and school bag are put away after a week, but the bottle goes with the student to their next educational institution, where it will serve as a reminder of their high school days for years to come. The school has placed multiple orders since then and received a certificate for no less than 132,000 liters of clean drinking water, donated to people in developing countries. This way, as a school, you ensure that there’s always someone drinking alongside you who needs it.
Childcare organization SKSG frequently orders thermos cups featuring its logo and slogan and surprised its staff last year with custom-printed sustainable cooler bags as a sustainable Christmas gift. It was important to SKSG that the cooler bag be made from eco-friendly materials. This makes the Christmas gift both sustainable and practical for employees. Anyone who works in childcare knows how few quiet moments there are in a day: having your own thermos cup means your coffee is still warm when you finally get a chance to drink it. And the cooler bag keeps lunch fresh at the daycare center, then happily doubles as a picnic bag on the weekend. The fact that SKSG placed a follow-up order after the first one shows that these reusable products are getting plenty of use at the daycare center. We’re, of course, thrilled about that!
Celebrating Christmas with colleagues wasn’t an option during the COVID-19 pandemic: due to the restrictions and work-from-home guidelines, the department at Tilburg University sought an alternative and fun way to surprise employees with a sustainable Christmas gift. They chose a Christmas gift set featuring a bamboo lunchbox and a Travel Cup coffee mug. A well-chosen combination for remote workers who would soon be returning to campus: the lunchbox for their own lunch, and the mug for coffee on the go and at the workplace.
“I’ve just received my Christmas gift package. Thank you so much for taking such good care of me!”
– Maartje van Genk, Tilburg University
More and more educational institutions are adopting socially responsible procurement practices, and this sometimes includes an SROI requirement. Retulp is a certified social enterprise and a member of MVO Nederland, so every order counts toward your Social Return on Investment. The water donation through Made Blue makes this tangible for everyone at school or university. For every water bottle or cup sold, 1,000 times its volume in clean drinking water is delivered to people in need, and your school receives a certificate with the total amount after delivery. Hang it in the lobby, include it in the school guide, or use it in class: this way, students can see exactly what a conscious choice actually achieves!
Read how Retulp helps educational institutions with sustainable SROI solutions →
Just imagine how many cups go through the coffee machine in the teachers’ lounge and the water fountain in the auditorium or cafeteria every day. Several educational institutions have already switched to reusable coffee cups to reduce single-use waste. Avans University of Applied Sciences saved 80,000 disposable cups by replacing some of them with reusable cups. That means less waste—and also less money spent on purchasing and disposing of cups. Replacing disposable cups with reusable coffee cups or water bottles is a small change with a big impact. By personalizing bottles and cups with a logo, slogan, or name, you instantly have a stylish product that people enjoy using every day!
A corporate gift for the education sector almost always has a deadline: the first day of school, Teacher Appreciation Day, holiday gift baskets, or graduation. Just let us know the occasion, and we’ll handle the ordering and delivery with ease. We’re happy to work with you—you’ll receive a no-obligation quote and a free digital proof. Multiple buildings, locations, or departments? No problem—we can also ship the order to different addresses. Would you like to give a sustainable and original gift that lets the recipient choose what they want? Then check out our combo packages featuring a Retulp product and a gift card. They’re ideal for giving teachers and school staff the freedom to choose their own gift.
Carefully selecting sustainable corporate gifts and school merchandise not only contributes to a stronger brand perception, but also reinforces a sense of unity and pride within the educational community. By providing students and staff with sustainable products such as reusable cups, they are reminded daily of the importance of environmentally conscious behavior.
By consciously choosing eco-friendly alternatives, such as reusable cups and lunchboxes, the school sets a good example and establishes a standard for responsible behavior.These products serve not only as everyday items but also as symbols of a shared commitment to a more sustainable future. Be sure to check out our staff gifts and promotional gifts for the healthcare and government sectors.
Are you interested in one of our business solutions for your office or educational institution? Or would you like advice on which solution is most suitable? Contact us today for a no-obligation quote. Our dedicated team is ready to help you make the switch to sustainable office supplies and work together for a greener future. Together, let's step up to reusable office cups and make disposable plastic a thing of the past!
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