As the promotional products industry increases its investment in sustainability, companies need to be cautious with the decisions they make.

After all, you don’t want your latest sustainability measure to run afoul of another responsibility issue.

Pesky PFAS Problems

For example, a promo firm planning to install solar panels should be aware that their coatings can contain fluoropolymers, a class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – aka “forever chemicals.”

  • On average, 23% of suppliers and 26% of distributors have invested in solar power or another form of reusable energy at their facilities, according to The State of Responsibility 2023.

The PFAS acronym describes a type of man-made chemical that has been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s.

  • PFAS are used to make textiles, electronics, wires and cables, pipes, cooking and bakeware, sports equipment, automotive products, toys, transportation equipment and musical instruments, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects.

Although the EPA isn’t expected to restrict the use of fluoropolymers, several states, including Maine and Minnesota, have recently passed laws banning the production and use of all PFAS substances.

“There’s no industry that creates a product that isn’t impacted by PFAS or other chemical bans and restrictions,” says Elizabeth Wimbush, director of sustainability and responsibility at PPAI. “Digging into what changes will come about with an update to a product should always be part of the research and development process to help account for all scenarios.”

“In this case with PFAS in solar equipment,” Wimbush adds, “there’s a strong correlation between compliance and sustainability. Both rely on transparency and an understanding of the full supply chain of a project or product. This is why it’s important to embed the principles of sustainability throughout all departments and not just, for example, marketing.” 

Be Proactive

Chemical regulation versus sustainability was the theme of a seminar session recently attended by Gerald Pinkley, vice president of compliance at Cap America –ranked the No. 11 supplier in the inaugural PPAI 100.

“We like to think that creating and marketing sustainable, eco-friendly items has all positive outcomes, but the truth is that sustainable efforts and chemical regulations are at a crossroads,” Pinkley says. “Not only that, but how you go to market is important. The FTC’s Green Guides were last updated in 2012 and since then much has changed. Knowing how to market sustainable products has become increasingly complex.”

Pinkley urges promo pros to stay up to date on how regulation can affect their business.

While attending the Product Responsibility Summit is a great starting point, he says Cap America has gone one step further by joining the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). “This has become our number-one source of information surrounding legislation that impacts the apparel industry,” Pinkley says.

Wimbush stresses that sustainability needs to be looked at holistically rather than as a compartmentalized area within a business.

“Impactful and meaningful change can’t happen in a silo or in a rush,” she says. “Compliance and product safety are integral parts of sustainability that shouldn’t get left behind in discussions.”