24 • OCTOBER 2025 • PPAI Voices | Innovation Data Does Good EVERY MONTH, THIS COLUMN is all about transformation. And yes, the promo industry has been modernizing quickly. But that’s not just in technological terms – it’s also in our care for the planet and society all around us. The one can serve the other. Digitization has reshaped everything from order processing to product discovery, but one of the most important evolutions is happening right now at the intersection of sustainability and digital reporting. Increasingly, companies are discovering that eco-consciousness isn’t just about sourcing better materials or trimming carbon footprints – it’s about proving it through transparent, datadriven tools. More and more, clients need proof, not promises. For years, sustainability claims in the promo industry were aspirational. “Recycled materials,” “organic cotton,” or “responsibly sourced” were enough to catch a buyer’s eye. Today, buyers – especially those representing large corporate brands – expect substantiation. They want to know how a product’s life cycle affects the planet and how a supplier is reducing its impact. That expectation puts pressure on distributors and suppliers alike to deliver more than talking points. You need measurables. Enter the rise of sustainability platforms – digital tools that track, analyze and display the environmental impact of products and operations in real time. The go-to solutions for these kinds of tools include PPAI business services members like Aclymate, Aware, DayRize and Green Business Benchmark. EcoVadis and B Corp certifications have their own systems as well. The advantage of digital reporting dashboards like these is twofold. First, it gives suppliers and distributors internal visibility into their progress toward sustainability goals. Second, it provides customers with transparent evidence that Digital transformation meets sustainability with tech platforms to redefine accountable sourcing. By Tanaisha Dunbarger Increasingly, companies are discovering that eco-consciousness isn’t just about sourcing better materials or trimming carbon footprints – it’s about proving it through transparent, data-driven tools. Accogliente Design / Shutterstock.com
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