Summit Goodies Tell A Sustainable Story

Promo pros attending the 2024 Product Responsibility Summit were greeted with a carefully curated group of products made with recycled materials that demonstrate some of the key values and materials covered during the three-day event.

The conference, carbon neutral thanks to sponsor 4imprint, the No.1 distributor in the PPAI 100, featured reusable drinkware for water, tea and coffee cups instead of single-use disposable pieces.

Attendees also received an 18-oz. Daydreamer bottle from Spector & Co., the No. 35 supplier in the PPAI 100. Made from durable, lightweight rPET, a form of recycled plastic that helps divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans, these BPA-free bottles feature a transparent rectangular body with flat sides, plus a black or white lid and silicone loop for easy carrying. Each was emblazoned with the event logo.

Spector & Co. - Daydreamer rPET bottles branded for PPAI Product Responsibility Summit

Spector & Co. / PPAI 168328, Gold

“The more you can do that’s recycled, the better off you are – the better off we are all going to be,” said Chris Pearson, MAS, VP of compliance for Spector & Co. Pearson was attending Summit for the seventh time. “Every year you learn new information, and it’s great to be in a room with like-minded individuals so you know you’re not alone.”

Stickers are a fun and interactive way to customize products, and attendees could choose from a selection of EcoStiks fabric patches custom-made for the event. These included 3-inch rounds bearing the Product Responsibility Summit logo and eight 2-inch squares, each featuring one of the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

EcoStiks patches for the PPAI Product Responsibility Summit & UNSDGs

The stick-on patches are made from Repreve, which is upcycled from single-use plastic bottles, and they can be used to mend holes, extending the life of other products. They are durable, waterproof, machine washable, dishwasher safe, sun-resistant and safe for snow and water gear.

EcoStiks / PPAI 818815, Standard-Base

The Summit sessions are always jam-packed with actionable information, and to help attendees take notes, alphabroder, the No. 2 supplier in the PPAI 100, provided a notebook-and-pen set made with recycled materials.

Featuring a hard cover and inner recycled felt cover made from plastic bottles, the econscious Grove Refillable Bamboo Notebook & Pen combines a modern aesthetic with sustainable materials. The inner pocket flap makes it easy to collect business cards, and a bamboo-barrel pen with black ink completes the set. The sturdy 8.5-inch by 6-inch notebook cover can be refilled with another econscious paper journal for reuse.

alphabroder / PPAI 156993, Platinum

To carry it all, Gemline – the No. 11 supplier in the PPAI 100 and officially reincorporated as a public benefit corporation earlier this year – supplied a pouch from Miir, a certified B Corp.

Only a small portion of the functional and adaptable MiiR Olympus 3L Zippered Pouch is made from virgin materials, with its recycled components tracked by Aware textile transparency technology. Koen Warmerdam, co-founder and brand director of Aware (PPAI 835662, Standard-Base), also a speaker at the event, said it’s important to collect and report reliable data to validate claims about a product’s eco bona fides.

MiiR pouches from Gemline with Aware tracing branded for PPAI Responsibility Summit

The PVC-free pouches feature a dual zippered opening and fully lined interior with interior zippered pocket. The interior also includes two QR codes:

The code on the inner tag links to the bag’s Aware tracing information.
MiiR gives at least 1% of revenue to nonprofit organizations, and the code printed on the lining provides information about what projects this particular product supports.
The “phygital” NFC tracer embedded in the bag is invisible but can be scanned for a full report. “Phygital is the holy grail of traceability,” said Warmerdam.