Going Green: How We Choose Responsible Partners
At CompanyGifts.eu, we believe true sustainability is not a marketing slogan — it’s built through transparent, consistent practices and deep collaboration with like-minded partners. Below is how we align with suppliers who share our commitment to protecting the planet and pushing for more eco-friendly products.
Our Sustainability Philosophy
We don’t treat ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) as a side project; it’s embedded into how we operate and how we make strategic decisions. For example, XD Connects states:
“ESG isn’t a side project — it’s embedded in everything we do.”
They also certify lower-impact materials (e.g. recycled, responsibly sourced) via independent standards (GRS, FSC) to ensure verifiable credentials.
Additionally, XD Connects publishes a lifecycle assessment (LCA) tool to calculate carbon emissions for each product and makes those metrics publicly available, aiming for 95% of its catalog to be lower-impact by 2030.
MidOcean likewise integrates ESG into its core strategy. Their approach is structured around four ESG pillars — Planet, People, Change, and Promoter — with concrete objectives for reducing emissions, ensuring supply chain responsibility, adhering to social standards, and promoting knowledge sharing.
They explicitly emphasize reducing Scope 3 emissions (i.e., emissions across their value chain), product traceability, and promoting sustainable practices among all suppliers.
How We Select & Evaluate Our Suppliers
Below is a snapshot of the criteria and practices we apply when evaluating partners, drawing inspiration from industry leaders:
| Focus Area | Our Standard / Expectation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Material Certification | We favor suppliers who use certified materials (e.g. GRS, FSC, recycled content) and can provide verifiable chain-of-custody or traceability. | Ensures the environmental claims are real and reduces deforestation, waste, and resource depletion. |
| Emissions & Carbon Footprint | We seek partners who measure and publicly report their carbon emissions (including Scope 1, 2, and 3) and have targets to reduce them over time. | Helps us understand the full climate impact and choose better alternatives. |
| Product Lifecycle Assessments (LCA) | We prefer suppliers that provide LCA data for their products, allowing us to compare the environmental impact of different options. | Encourages more innovative product design and transparency. |
| Supply Chain Transparency & Audits | We require visibility over upstream production, insist on audits, social compliance, and transparency in subcontracting. | Ensures adherence to ethical standards, environmental compliance, and mitigates hidden risks. |
| Supplier Commitments & Roadmaps | We seek suppliers with published ESG roadmaps (including targets and milestones), not just vague promises. | Helps track progress and holds partners accountable. |
| Continuous Improvement & Innovation | We value partners who invest in greener innovations (e.g. eco-design, new sustainable materials, circular economy). | Keeps the product offering competitive and aligned with emerging sustainability trends. |
| Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing | We prefer partners willing to share best practices, participate in webinars, co-develop solutions, and engage in industry sustainability networks. | Strengthens the overall ecosystem and drives change beyond individual companies. |
Our Commitment to You & the Planet
- We vet suppliers rigorously using the above criteria and maintain regular reviews to ensure ongoing alignment.
- We prioritize product ranges with lower environmental impact, and strive to make them part of our core offerings.
- We are committed to openness, sharing our progress, challenges, and KPI reporting with our customers.
- We want to foster a community: we invite feedback, encourage innovation, and aim to influence other players in the promotional goods industry.