Navigating the Green Path: A Roadmap to Sustainability Within Brand Solutions

March 18 is Global Recycling Day, an opportunity for brand solutions providers to reexamine how their businesses engage in sustainable practices and highlight the eco-friendly work their team is doing.

Brand Chain staff spoke with Brett Boake (left), general manager of Score Promotions, about how their organization has grown in their commitment to sustainable practices, and how other brand solutions providers can do the same.

What advice would you offer to other brand solutions businesses looking to enhance their recycling efforts and reduce waste?

There are a number of avenues to enhance your business’ environmental responsibility, from internal stakeholders to suppliers and customers:

Employees: Take the time and educate and train employees — provide training and educational resources about the importance of recycling, waste reduction techniques and proper waste disposal practices. This keeps employees keep engaged in the company’s sustainability efforts to foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

Product offerings: In this industry, we may come across the same products so often that we become blind to the waste. Always look for opportunities to reduce waste at the source by minimizing packaging, optimizing product design for recyclability and implementing practices such as refillable or reusable packaging options. Opt for eco-friendly and recyclable materials when manufacturing promotional products, and consider alternatives (like recycled plastics, organic cotton or bamboo) that have a smaller environmental footprint.

Partnerships: Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask how your company can do better. Work closely with suppliers and partners to promote sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Encourage them to adopt eco-friendly packaging, reduce excess packaging and prioritize recyclable materials. One person cannot have all the answers, so collaboration with a sustainable supplier is crucial. Forge partnerships with suppliers who prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. Working with like-minded partners ensures the entire supply chain is aligned with eco-friendly practices. 

Customers: Educate and incentivize customers to participate in recycling programs, return product packaging for reuse or recycling and make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions. Work with clients and suppliers to establish a take-back program where customers can return used or unwanted promotional items. This allows for proper disposal or recycling, demonstrating a commitment to responsible product lifecycle management.

Take the time to recognize and celebrate achievements in recycling and waste reduction. Share the feedback you get from clients with your company, industry peers and the broader community to inspire others and drive positive change.

What specific initiatives or strategies do you use to minimize the environmental impact of your business?

We take pride in educating our team on the importance of being responsible with our packaging. Right now, we are working with a consulting company to review how we can improve and are working to have our Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody (FSC CoC) certification completed in the upcoming months. Being conscious of our environmental impact isn’t limited to just packaging — we regularly encourage carpooling amongst staff and ensure our offices have sufficient access to public transportation. Our 77 Martin Ross location is also fitted with solar panels on our roof to ensure we are doing the most we can.

We also routinely hold Donation Days and have a permanent donation box in our office to ensure we aren’t throwing items away without thinking if they could be re-loved by someone.  

Are there any specific challenges you've encountered in your sustainability journey that you think other businesses should be aware of? How did you address them?

Time. The commitment to being sustainably responsible is large, but very important. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by knowing where to start, but there are people who do this type of thinking for a living and know how to tackle it in manageable ways. We knew our limitations and brought in the right people to help.

It’s okay to start small and build on it — you’re not going to see large scale success overnight. The importance is that you’re starting now, and small steps become more impactful as time goes on. 

How can businesses effectively communicate their commitment to sustainability to clients and customers?

Ensure you are providing transparent and detailed reports on sustainability practices, including goals, progress and challenges. This could range from annual sustainability reports to environmental impact assessments or certifications from third parties.

Use clear and authentic messaging to communicate sustainability initiatives. Avoid greenwashing or exaggerating achievements, which can ruin trust with customers. Instead, focus on genuine efforts and concrete results. Authenticity is key to building trust and loyalty among customers.

Engage customers in sustainability initiatives by soliciting feedback, encouraging participation in recycling programs or community clean-up events. Provide opportunities for them to contribute to environmental causes.

Utilize multiple communication channels to reach customers, like websites, social media, email newsletters, packaging and product labeling. Consistent messaging across all channels reinforces your commitment to sustainability. Consistently demonstrate this commitment in all aspects of the business operations, from sourcing and production to marketing and customer service.

Can you share any success stories or best practices from your sustainability efforts that may inspire and guide others?

You never know what a client is going to use as a deciding factor between you and someone else. It’s a fine line between being seen as using sustainability as a gimmick to sell your business or working towards certification. When clients ask about it, it’s because it matters to them. In the last quarter alone, we’ve won multiple clients with the extra perk that we are working toward the same sustainability goals for our own reasons, not just because they asked for it.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Get FSC certified! Learn more about this process on the Forest Stewardship Council website.
 

By Bethany Larrañaga