TABLE 3: Has your company adopted a code of conduct that reflects a commitment to responsible environmental, social and governance structures? Yes No Other Distributors $100M+ 95% 0% 5% Distributors $25M-$100M 89% 11% 0% Distributors $10M-$25M 78% 22% 0% Distributors $3M-$10M 88% 13% 0% Distributors Under $3M 59% 41% 0% Andrea Kramer, president of City Apparel + Merch, PPAI 100’s No. 87 distributor, says the data is encouraging because it shows a corporate social responsibility mindset is spreading throughout the promo industry. “Responsibility is normalizing across the board,” Kramer says, “and the gap between small and large distributors is shrinking where it matters most. If there’s a headline here, it’s this: You don’t have to be the biggest to set the standard. And judging by these numbers, the ‘middleweights’ of our industry are happy to prove it.” TABLE 4: Has your company engaged in audits in the environmental, social or governance realms such as SMETA, BSCI, Higg FEM, etc.? Yes Audit Underway Beginning Shortly Not Yet Distributors $100M+ 53% 11% 5% 32% Distributors $25M-$100M 52% 0% 7% 41% Distributors $10M-$25M 37% 0% 11% 52% Distributors $3M-$10M 25% 0% 6% 69% Distributors Under $3M 6% 0% 0% 94% Larger distributors are leading the way when it comes to engaging in ESG audits. However, there’s still progress to be made, as more than half of respondents have yet to begin the process. TABLE 5: Does your company participate in a recycling program either through your local municipality or other third party (such as Terra Cycle)? Yes No Other Distributors $100M+ 89% 0% 11% Distributors $25M-$100M 92% 4% 4% Distributors $10M-$25M 93% 7% 0% Distributors $3M-$10M 71% 14% 14% Distributors Under $3M 67% 33% 0% PPAI • OCTOBER 2025 • 39 The State Of Responsibility 2025 | Must Read
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