Climate change, resource shortage, inhumane working conditions: sustainability is a word on everyone’s lips but it is far from being a mainstream topic. This became clear at the PSI Sustainability Summit on 7 September – a new platform for exchange between the promotional products industry, which is increasingly dealing with this issue, and representatives from private businesses. With over 50 participants from the promotional products industry, the summit served as a successful kick-off for the fourth presentation of the PSI Sustainability Awards, the only sustainability prize in this industry.
Under the guiding theme “Future-Proof Supply Chains”, the summit focused on sustainability and CSR. Discussions revolved around transparent communication as well as the necessity to be able to evidence CSR and sustainability-proofed supply chains. The panellists shared best-practice experiences acquired in their own companies to show how the promotional products industry can initiate an ongoing communicative exchange with business that fosters sustainability.
Alongside Stefan Schulze-Hausmann, representing the board of the German National Sustainability Prize and facilitator of the summit, participants in the panel discussion included Georg Schürmann, General Manager of Triodos Bank, Ralf Oster, CEO of PF Concept, the multi-promotional product specialist and Gold Sponsor of the PSI Sustainability Awards, as well as Jürgen May, CEO of 2bdifferent. “It became clear here that there are many ways to achieve the same goal,” explains Michael Freter, Managing Director of the PSI Network, and adds: “We’ve also learnt that sustainability is a permanent challenge and a dynamic process that all market players have to take part in. Comprehensive know-how is unavoidable for this. This is precisely our point of departure at the summit. We are very satisfied with the premiere.”
Most Sustainable Companies in the Promotional Products Industry
In the evening, the PSI Sustainability Awards showed successful examples of commitment to sustainability in the promotional products industry. The CSR and sustainability profile of the participating companies from the promotional products industry was recognised in seven categories. This year saw Karl Knauer once again named Company of the Year “with its exemplary linking of the three pillars and its documented cutting-edge operational excellence,” according to the jury.