Politics Does Not Stop Sustainability Push in Promotional Products, Brands
PPAI names first sustainability director...A leading master fulfillment company begins promoting sustainable brands, as the industry forges ahead to support a more sustainable future.The promotional products industry continues its push to promote sustainability and is now joined by a leading master fulfillment company in the world of brands.
Earlier this year, one of the promotional industry’s leading marketplaces, Sage, enabled searches for products based on ESG (environmental, social, governance) and diversity.
Now, the Promotional Products Association International has named Elizabeth Wimbush as the association’s first director of sustainability and responsibility. “The PPAI Board of Directors made elevating these causes a pillar of the strategic plan it developed for the industry in 2021. And the hiring of Wimbush indicates PPAI’s sincere intention to see it through,” according to a recent PPAI newsletter. PPAI is running a Product Sustainability Summit Oct. 8-11.
“There is a need to bring everybody and all this positive intent together and galvanize it into action,” says Wimbush,
an industry veteran of nearly seven years. “I want to be part of that.”According to PPAI, the native Canadian, who currently serves as Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustainability for distributor Genumark, will begin her association tenure late next month. As she is set to become one of the industry’s most important leaders and an authoritative voice on all things ESG, she says the earliest days in her new role will be for listening and collaborating.
In another move responding to the demand for greater focus on sustainability in retail brands, Links Unlimited is now promoting specific brands for their sustainability, defined by packaging that is recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable, and how materials or ingredients are sourced.
The field does not appear to have yet addressed the coming need to include customer, employee, supply chain, distribution partner, and community engagement efforts in their sustainability reporting as a result of the European Union Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
RRN: Your Partner in Success in Incentives, Rewards, and Recognition
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RRN: Your Partner in Success in Incentives, Rewards, and Recognition
Contact Bruce Bolger at 914-591-7600, ext. 230 or email Bolger@TheEEA.org when you want to get to know or get known in this growing $1.76 billion marketplace.
