Leaders in all industries agree that the companies that will attract top talent and increasingly discerning customers in the future are already making positive corporate citizenship a priority. This may be even more important to promo than most industries, in fact.
In the survey used to assign points for the Responsibility category in the 2024 PPAI 100 program, questions ranged from companies’ adherence to sustainability progress and practices, DEI initiatives and product safety.
Below are several supplier and distributor firms who match the average responsibility scores of the industry’s leaders.
New Distributors Earning High Marks
The Findlay, Ohio-based distributor became a Certified B Corporation in February 2024.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based firm has policies in place to continually improve the positive contribution to the economy and social well-being of its “Music City” community.
Headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, Fairware requires employees in various roles throughout the Canadian company to be not only knowledgeable about sustainability, but also involved in the business’s environmental and social impact.
The Portland, Oregon-based distributor gives nonprofit organization One Tree Planted a $1 for every order sold. In addition, the company donates pins to other nonprofits with causes its employees believe in.
Based in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Martket Branding reports that 90% of the products it sold in 2023 were verifiably sustainable.
The Picton, Ontario-based firm has strengthened its sustainability commitment by using recycled packaging materials, incorporating third-party recycling programs where its municipal ones fall short and monitoring its energy usage, among other efforts.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based distributor has an internal sustainability team, committee or group that champions sustainability efforts across the business.
The Carey, Ohio-based firm reports that 86% of the products it sold in 2023 came from its defendable supplier list, which means they’re eco-conscious, sustainable, have a give-back associated or are manufactured in a way that ties to its core values.
Being a fully remote company, the Nashville, Tennessee-based distributor has a minimal carbon footprint. It’s also 100% cloud-based, so there are no paper documents printed on a regular basis and no shipments to and from Spark.
