Compliance With Laws and Standards.  We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding safety of products we sell.  Where feasible and appropriate, we will meet applicable voluntary industry standards for our products and processes.

Expectations Consistently Met.  We will support and expect manufacturing processes that ensure consistently met expectations of agreed-upon product quality and functionality.

No Abuse Of Labor. We will not use any form of forced labor, including indentured, prison, bonded, or slave labor. Physical abuse, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment, verbal abuse, or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited. 

Employment Relationship. Employees shall be free to end employment at their discretion.

No Child Labor.  We will comply with the minimum ages defined by ILO Conventions on child labor, or applicable laws and regulations if they specify to a higher age requirement.

Freedom Of Association:  We respect the rights of employees to associate or organize without fear of reprisal or interference. If employees are represented by an organization recognized under law, we respect the right to bargain collectively.

No Discrimination.  We will not discriminate in employment hiring practices on the basis of age, nationality, race, religion, social status, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, disability, or other protected class as determined by local law.

Hours And Wages.  We shall not require workers to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country where the workers are employed. All overtime work shall be consensual. Employers shall compensate all overtime work at a premium rate

Workplace Conditions.  We will provide a safe, healthy, and secure workplace. We will abide by all applicable laws and regulations for safety and health.

Minimizing Adverse Impact.  We will abide by all applicable environmental laws and regulations.  We will manage our environmental footprint to minimize the adverse impact on the environment. We aim to manage our production processes, energy and water usage, and waste systems for maximum efficiency and minimal adverse impact on the environment.

Product Security Through Delivery.  We and our suppliers will implement procedures that ensure products have not been changed or tampered with from shipping point through delivery.

Ethical Behavior.  Our suppliers are expected to conduct their business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and will strictly comply with all laws and regulations on bribery, corruption and prohibited business practices. No money, assets, gifts, fees, bribes or compensation of any kind may be given to our employees or our affiliates’ employees in an attempt to unduly influence such person’s decision making abilities.

Our Company’s Commitment To These Business Principles
Our adoption of this Commitment to Ethical and Responsible Conduct Policy expresses our sincere commitment to the principles expressed. It is our guide to conducting our business decisions and relationships. However, by adoption and application of these business philosophies, we do not waive and expressly reserve all our rights granted us under applicable law.

It is the tangible presentation of what you are doing to meet the expectations of the end buyer for product safety, social and environmental assurances. It is a document a supplier can hand a distributor, and what a distributor can hand to an end buyer as a public statement of the company’s environmental, safety and quality commitments.

PPAI recommends that all members—suppliers, distributors and business services companies—adopt this voluntary Code of Conduct. Many of the largest and most well-respected companies in the industry have already adopted the Code. See the list of current adopters at the bottom of this page.

The consumer products market is becoming increasingly regulated and subject to scrutiny by many government agencies and consumer groups. The Code of Conduct is one way in which industry companies can publicly demonstrate their commitment to responsible business practices. Many end buyers, particularly larger businesses, have already adopted their own Code of Product Responsibility Conduct and often look for their business partners to adopt a code of conduct as well. 

We ask that you review the Code carefully and thoughtfully before adopting it. The Code is entirely voluntary and no audits or inspections of your company are required. However, it is important that this commitment reflect a conscientious effort on the part of the signer to aspire to be in compliance with all elements of the Code.

PPAI has created a web form that will allow you to electronically sign the Code. Once you complete the form, PPAI will update your membership records to reflect your adoption of the Code. 

PPAI has developed a Code of Conduct logo that you will be able to post on your website. This logo will link to a copy of the Code itself. Additionally, PPAI will add your company to its list of early adopters. 

No. All industry professionals are encouraged to adopt the Code at no charge.

No. The Code is entirely voluntary.

Yes. All industry professionals, members and nonmembers, are encouraged to adopt the Code. 

Nonmembers are encouraged to print a hard copy of the Code to adopt as their own; however, it will not be reflected in the member adopter list on the PPAI website. To become a member click here. 

Members are to complete a web form that will allow you to electronically sign the Code. Once you complete the form, PPAI will update your membership records to reflect your adoption of the Code and include you on the adopter list (coming soon). 

The Code is voluntary and operates on the honor system. There are no inspections, audits or penalties associated with violation of the Code. However, the statements included in the Code are already required by U.S. law and violation of those laws could result in penalties and/or fines regardless of whether or not a company adopted the Code.

The Code is not intended to limit or in any way control your selection of business partners.

You can ask your overseas partners to adopt this Code and you can require them to develop and implement internal business procedures to ensure compliance with your own company policies.

The “Freedom of Association” statement included in the Code reflects what is in United States law under the National Labor Relations Act. 

It is important to keep in mind that, with some notable exceptions (the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, CPSIA, for example), conformity with specific standards applicable to any promotional product itself is rarely required by law. Conformity is either specifically required by the end buyer or based on the promotional products supplier or distributor’s assessment of the end buyer’s and consumer’s expectations. Second, the standards development process is voluntary and decentralized, thus there is rarely “the standard” for a particular promotional product. There may be multiple standards that may apply to a promotional product, some for performance and some for design.

To help you find out what the specific requirements are for compliance with CPSIA, PPAI has developed an automated flowchart that will walk you through the testing process and identify tests and paperwork.

This information is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor and is available here.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) maintains a database of international labor standards. 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) maintains a database of international labor standards. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published its Environmental Guides. You can access environmental standards through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).