Ben Grossman started an initiative that keeps unused and unusable promo items out of landfills by recycling them or donating them to charitable organizations.

What Is the Bess Cohn Humanitarian of the Year Award?

The Bess Cohn Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), recognizes individuals in the promotional products industry who go beyond business as usual to make a meaningful social or environmental impact. In 2022, that recognition went to Ben Grossman, founder of Grossman Marketing Group, for launching SwagCycle, a program built to solve one of the industry's most overlooked problems: where old branded merchandise ends up.

Why Ben Grossman Started SwagCycle?

Marketing campaigns move fast, and promotional inventory doesn't always keep up. Leftover branded merchandise from apparel to drinkware to trade show giveaways often sits unused in storage before eventually being thrown away. Ben Grossman created SwagCycle to change that default outcome, giving companies a structured way to recycle, donate, or repurpose promotional products instead of sending them to landfills.

How SwagCycle Is Making a Difference?

Since launching, SwagCycle has helped Grossman Marketing Group clients divert unused promotional products from landfills by connecting them with recycling partners and charitable organizations. The initiative reflects a broader shift in the promotional products industry toward sustainable promotional products and responsible end-of-life planning for branded merchandise, not just responsible sourcing at the front end.

Recognition From the Industry

Ben Grossman's Bess Cohn Humanitarian of the Year Award was covered by Advertising Specialty Institute, one of the promotional products industry's leading trade publications. Learn more about SwagCycle and our sustainability commitment

Want to give your company's old branded merchandise a second life? Learn how SwagCycle works or contact our team to build a sustainable promotional products strategy for your brand.