I've wondered the same thing. I'm a government scientist and we get questioned a lot about "value" in terms of what swag items are.
Some recent items I've noticed from vendors for the safety market have been things like mobile solar power banks, Yeti mugs, pens with small driver bits in them for doing repairs, a super bright magnetic pen light, chem-resistent RFID badge holders and items made from recycled materials.
One of the best items I have from a safety venue was from ACS back twenty years ago - a small MagLight - I still use it today.
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