PPAI Research has examined benchmarking data on corporate social responsibility from distributors and suppliers of all sizes. By John Corrigan The State Of Responsibility 2026 Corporate social responsibility isn’t merely a trend in the branded merchandise industry – it’s a commitment. Many companies are stepping up to make a real difference, championing sustainability, giving back through philanthropy and driving progress in diversity, equity and inclusion. As part of the PPAI 100 research program, the Association gathered benchmarking data provided by companies that appeared in the 2026 ranking of branded merch’s leading distributors and suppliers, as well as those who didn’t make this year’s list or were too small to be eligible. This report focuses on the very questions that allowed PPAI Media to score the PPAI 100 Responsibility category. Here, we look at some key performance indicators of these businesses in terms of their environmental, social and governance efforts, sharing the state of responsibility among the very largest companies in the industry, all the way down to merch’s more typical small businesses – those earning less than $3 million per year. The following sections offer a breakdown of each benchmarking statistic, with insights and reactions from decision-makers among companies who participated in the surveys. 26 • OCTOBER 2026 • Must Read | The State Of Responsibility 2026 dee karen / Shutterstock.com
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