The list of promo companies earning accolades for sustainability efforts is growing.

Counselor Top 40 distributor Leader Promotions (asi/287087) and Counselor Best Place to Work Image Source (asi/230121) both recently announced that they received Bronze medals from EcoVadis, placing them in the top 35% of companies assessed by the business sustainability platform in the last 12 months.

EcoVadis evaluates companies across industries for their environmental, social and ethical practices. It’s become increasingly in demand in the promo industry, in part because of its focus on supply chains.

“Sustainability has been a cornerstone of our success for now more than 30 years,” said Stephanie Leader, founder and CEO of Leader Promotions. “The EcoVadis Bronze medal is an honor, and in conjunction with our B Corp certification, it is validation of our commitment to lead the branded merchandise industry to continually become more environmentally conscious. We are dedicated to providing the best purpose-driven branded merchandise while doing our part to make the world a better place.”

Leader Promotions earned B Corp status in late 2023, noting at the time that it had put an increased focus on philanthropic efforts, upped its catalog of sustainable and purposeful merchandise, added valuable employee benefits and instituted successful global recycling programs.

Image Source said its sustainability initiatives include carbon-neutral shipping through UPS and an emphasis on sustainable and socially responsible merch. For every order, event RSVP and special program, the distributor plants a tree through its partnership with ForestNation. Since 2023, Image Source has planted more than 92,500 trees in Tanzania, supporting reforestation, reducing carbon dioxide and providing economic opportunities in local communities.

“At Image Source, sustainability isn’t just a program,” said Nancy Waters, vice president of operations. “It’s woven into how we operate, the products we source and the partners we choose. Being recognized by EcoVadis validates the work we’ve been doing and motivates us to keep raising the bar.”

EcoVadis assesses more than 150,000 organizations globally across all industries, evaluating companies on environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Last month, supplier Storm Creek (asi/89879) earned EcoVadis Gold. In July, Counselor Top 40 supplier SRG (asi/84592; Canada, asi/84595) announced that it had received a Silver medal from EcoVadis. In June, Whitestone Branding (asi/359741) garnered a Bronze rating from the platform, and in May Chameleon Like (asi/44558) earned a Silver rating from EcoVadis. In April, Counselor Top 40 supplier HPG (asi/61966) announced that it had boosted its EcoVadis rating, receiving a Platinum medal, placing it among the top 1% of companies assessed.

Leader Promotions ranked 35th on Counselor’s most recent list of the top distributors, with 2024 North American promotional products revenue of $56.5 million.

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