Choosing the Right Award Material:
Crystal vs. Wood (vs Plastic)

The material you choose speaks volumes about the recognition you give. Discover why we champion timeless, sustainable materials like crystal and wood over mass-produced plastics.

Why Your Choice of Material Matters:

When you set out to recognize someone, you aren’t just handing over an object—you are bestowing confidence, empowering an emerging leader, and celebrating the human spirit. The award you present is an enduring ambassador of your brand and your values, ideally to be cherished for years—possibly a lifetime.


When presenting awards, the medium amplifies your message, so selecting the best material for your custom trophies or plaques is one of the first and most important design decisions you’ll make. At Eclipse we are often asked about the best materials for recognition awards. While the traditional awards industry relies heavily on mass-produced plastics, acrylics, and toxic chemical finishes, we’ve taken a different path. We believe that true beauty comes from timeless and sustainable materials that people love to hold, feel and admire: crystal, glass and wood. 


Here is our guide to choosing between two of the most meaningful materials in recognition: crystal and wood—and why we say no to plastic.

1. Crystal Awards: Timeless Elegance and Brilliance

There is something inherently magical about crystal; it has fascinated people for centuries since it was first invented. The same can be said for glass. When a recipient holds a crystal award, they can instantly feel its weight, substance, and permanence. They can also see: 

  1. The Symbolism: Crystal represents clarity of vision, purity of intent, and exceptional achievement. It captures and refracts light, adding an undeniable sparkle and shine to your message of appreciation.
  2. The Craftsmanship: Crystal serves as a stunning canvas for deep sandblast engraving. Unlike surface markings, sandblasting carves directly into solid crystal using pressurized air and sand, creating a crisp, finely textured, three-dimensional engraving that is embedded into the crystal itself. In the hands of a master artisan, sandblast engraved crystal is the gold standard for premium corporate recognition.
  3. Best Suited For: Top-tier executive honors, major corporate milestones, employee recognition, deal toys, and prestigious industry certifications where timeless elegance and immutable prestige are paramount.

When you present a handcrafted, engraved crystal award, you convey that the recipient’s contributions are forever etched into the foundation of your organization.

Note: the terms crystal and glass are used almost interchangeably. At one time, crystal was made with 24% lead content, which gave it density and brilliance. However, lead crystal was phased out years ago as manufacturers shifted to lead-free alternatives. Today, Crystal (which is also known as Optic Crystal), is essentially premium quality, lead-free glass with high clarity and brilliance. 

2. Wood Awards: Warm, Beautiful, and Deeply Sustainable

If crystal represents brilliance and light, wood represents organic warmth, beauty, growth, and connection.

  1. The Symbolism: Wood is a living material with a story and energy. Every grain pattern, knot, and texture tells a story of growth, resilience, and natural beauty. It connects us back to nature and brings a grounding, authentic human warmth to any presentation.
  2. The Craftsmanship: The future of sustainability isn’t some new space-age synthetic; it is a return to simple, abundant, and beautiful organic materials like wood. Wood allows for breathtaking artistry—marking live-edge plaques and maple awards with solar-powered laser engraving. Powered by our rooftop solar panels, our solar laser process burns precise, dark artwork directly into the wood using clean energy straight from the sun.
  3. Best Suited For: Environmental leadership awards, sustainability awards, green building certifications (like LEED and Living Building Challenge), conservation programs, restoration projects, community champions, green teams, and any organizations that want their physical awards to reflect a commitment to nature. 

Awards and plaques crafted from wood look good to feel, hold and touch - bringing positive, grounded energy to each recipient.

3. Saying No to Acrylic and Lucite: a Plastic-Free Experience

You might notice that there are no acrylic or lucite awards in our catalog. Inspired by the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework (Target 7), we’ve declared war on plastics and committed to providing our clients with a plastic-free experience. Acrylic and lucite are simply other names for petroleum-based plastics. Not only do these plastics scratch easily and feel inexpensive, they are also difficult to recycle and ultimately end up lingering in landfills without breaking down, so we don’t offer them. 

Beyond the environmental impact, there is a strong social awareness about plastics these days and most people simply don't want to receive plastic awards anymore:

  1. Perceived Value: Lucite and acrylic tend to feel lightweight, lacking substance. When recognizing someone’s hard work or a major career milestone, a plastic award may actually send the opposite of your intended message.  
  2. Aligned Values: Modern recipients—especially younger leaders and eco-conscious organizations—care deeply about environmental stewardship. Presenting a synthetic plastic trophy can undermine your company's sustainability message and commitments.

We prioritize crystal, glass, and wood - materials that people love to see, hold, feel and touch - ensuring that every award we create conveys substance, authenticity, beauty, and value. 

Making Your Choice: The Medium Amplifies the Message

Whether you choose the timeless and brilliant sparkle of engraved crystal or the warm, natural feel of solar-engraved wood, remember that your choice of material speaks before a single word is read. Lucite and Acrylic may be economical, but consider the unwritten message that plastic sends to the recipient. 


At Eclipse Awards, every piece we create is designed and handcrafted with intention and infused with a sprinkle of magic. Plus every award ordered helps fund local, Indigenous-led ecosystem restoration, so your recognition also helps regenerate the planet for generations to come.


Looking to design custom, earth-friendly awards for your team or organization? Explore our collection of crystal awards or wooden awards, or reach out to our design team to bring your vision to life!

Author bio: Toby Barazzuol is the founder of Eclipse Awards, a Vancouver studio that has designed and produced custom crystal, glass, and wood awards since 1998, with a focus on sustainable recognition.

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